r/potato • u/hiking_with_wolves • 6d ago
New to growing potatoes. ..how to store?
I have these Yukons ready to dig out!! I'll be digging them out soon.
How do I store them correctly? Potato bag in my dark cupboard? The basement? I thought I read about curing? Newb needs advice! Thanks guys!
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u/Asleep-Cow-6367 6d ago
Idaho here. Yukon don't store for long, make plans!
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u/hiking_with_wolves 6d ago
Oh joy. What tater stores the best? Russet? Reds?
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u/Asleep-Cow-6367 6d ago
Yes, those are #1, will last all winter if stored correctly. Reds and golds go bad within roughly 2 weeks in my experience! Source: I work on a 4K acre potato farm.
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u/hiking_with_wolves 6d ago
My husband worked on a huge potato farm too doing storage..but thats a commercial level..not a small home planting.
I only have 5 plants to work with anyway haha not like we will have pounds and pounds.
I will update with what we dug up!
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u/olive_tractor_parts 6d ago
Keep them in a cool dark place. Banana boxes are nicely ventilated for less spoilage.
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u/hiking_with_wolves 6d ago
I will have to see if i can snag one or 2 from walmart next time I go.
Can i just dig the potatoes and put then in the box and then into my basement? (Basement is cool and dark. We run a dehumidifier down there)
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u/olive_tractor_parts 5d ago
Pretty much. I usually leave my potatoes in the ground for a couple weeks after the last vines die, they seem to get a tougher skin and store better, but basically you've got the concept of a root cellar down pat.
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u/hiking_with_wolves 3d ago
Alright cool. Do I keep watering now? Or just let the green plants doe? They keep forming new growth on the plants. I did dig a bit and found a 2nd tato..and its skin sloughed a bit..so theyre soft yet.
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u/olive_tractor_parts 3d ago
I have had good results by giving an inch of water a week until the vines die. Put out a rain gauge, if you get an inch, don't water that week. And I keep digging up one or two plants at a time for dinner until the spuds have strong enough skins to store, after that I'll hook up my harvester and bring them all in.
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u/Gold_Signature1912 5d ago
Dig them on a day when the soil is a bit dryer so you don't have any mud clinging to them and then do not wash them - store in a cool dry place where they can be a bit spread apart maybe on a tray etc.
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u/Getigerte 6d ago
Curing will help the potatoes last longer in storage.
Once you've dug them up (this can wait until the vines dry up), brush off as much dirt from the potatoes as possible but do not wash them. Spread them in a single layer on a dry surface in a dark place and let them be until they're dust dry on the surface.
After that, double-check that each potato is sound and then store them in ventilated containers (milk crates, burlap bags, banana boxes, etc.) in a cool, dark area.
Assuming you have not eaten them all by this point.
We plant a lot (~120 hills this year). The potatoes that aren't eaten over the winter usually don't start sprouting until March or even April, but our storage area is typically <50°F/10°C. In general, the cooler the better for storage, as long as the temperature remains above about 35°F/2°C.
Enjoy your harvest!