Potatoes are tubers that belong to the family of eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers. The best time for harvesting potatoes is fall. If you are growing potatoes in your home garden.
Sometimes it happens that you have an abundance of production so you want to store them for future use. In this article, we are going to discuss with you how to store potatoes for months. This can happen if you store them properly.
Best Potato Varieties For Long-Term Storage
For storing potatoes, you must choose those varieties that are late maturing. There are over 200 varieties of potatoes available. It is better to select the correct variety for long-term storage.
White and yellow varieties are best for storing purposes rather than choosing red or purple varieties of potatoes. New potatoes are much sweeter.
Elba is one of the most preferable storage potato varieties. This variety has thick skin and you can eat it through June of the following year. Following are the varieties that can easily store for over 6 months if you provide favourable conditions to them.
A regular inspection is needed so your potatoes are in good condition. If you find any spoiled tubular then discard them at once.
- Russet
- Yukon Gem
- Yukon Gold
- Red Pontiac
- Red Chieftain
- Katahdin
- Kennebec
- Yellow Finn
- Elba
- All Blue
- German Butterball
- Burbank Russet
Harvesting And Curing Potatoes For Long-Term Storage
Before storing potatoes you must follow some important steps.
DON’T WASH POTATOES
You should keep in mind that the potatoes you want to store should not be washed. Unwatch potatoes for a long time then wash potatoes. Knock of the soil at the time of the harvesting. You can wash potatoes before using them.
WAIT UNTIL THEY DIEBACK
You should wait at least a couple of weeks until the foliage on the top dies back. After that, the plant shifts its energy towards growing potato tubers. Now those potatoes are ready for storage.
DON’T WAIT TOO LONG
You should not wait for a long time for storing potatoes. As fall starts then you can take advantage of the low temperature of winter and store potatoes for months.
TRY NOT TO DAMAGE THEM
During the harvesting, you should be careful because a pitchfork or shovel can damage potatoes. These potatoes cannot be stored so you should use your hands for the harvesting process.
ALLOW THEM TO CURE
Now you are thinking about what is curing. This is a process in which the skin of the potatoes is allowed to thicken for storage. For this purpose, you have to lay a single layer of potatoes on a rack, shelf, or table.
Make sure the potatoes are not touching each other. You should also be careful about the airflow. For curing, the temperature should be higher around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. After 7 to 10 days, you can easily store potatoes in boxes, bins, crates, or bags for future use.
Tips For Storing Potatoes
Potatoes are among those crops that have high energy and you can store them until the next growing season.
If you want to store potatoes for a long time then you should be careful about some considerations so you will be successful in preserving potatoes and getting their great taste.
1- DARK PLACE
For long-term storage, you must keep the potatoes in a dark place. Light encourages the production of toxic chemicals that will result in sprouts. Sunlight encourages the photosynthesis process in the potatoes soon they start turning green and eventually rot.
2- AIRFLOW
Fresh air is needed to store potatoes for a long time. Good airflow can extend the shelf life of potatoes. It is better to place the potatoes in a well-ventilated area because potatoes release water and carbon dioxide in the form of vapor.
So it is better to keep them in paper or a mesh bag. Avoid keeping potatoes in plastic bags. A clear plastic bag is not ideal for storing potatoes.
3- KEEP POTATOES SEPARATE
You should make some research about storing potatoes as apples and some fruits release gases that encourage sprouting in potatoes. As a result, potatoes spoil very quickly and you will fail at storing them for a long time.
Never store potatoes with onions because onions also release gases like potatoes that decrease their shelf life. You should choose a separate spot for potatoes where they can be kept in solitude.
4- CHECK POTATOES REGULARLY
Just like apples, one bad potato can spoil the whole batch. It means you should be very careful and examine them regularly. During the inspection, if you found any rotten potato then discard it at once.
5- LABEL DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF POTATOES
In case, you are storing more than one variety of potatoes in your storage room then you should label them. For instance, if you are storing 5 different varieties then with the help of labeling you can easily recognize all five varieties.
You have to just paste a piece of masking tape on any variety of containers and write the name of the type of potato on it with the help of a marker.
6- REMOVE THE SPROUTS
Potatoes are such a vegetable that can replenish themselves. It starts sprouting itself by growing its eyes. If you want to keep them fresh for a long time then you can remove the sprouts to keep them from dehydrating.
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- How To Grow Purple Potatoes In Containers
- Simple Steps To Grow Potatoes In Bags In Greenhouse
- Grow Sweet Potatoes In Containers
Where To Store Potatoes From The Garden Without A Root Cellar
You can keep potatoes for up to 8 months if you store them in a cool and dark place. The suitable temperature for storing the potatoes is about 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the temperature is above 60° Fahrenheit and potatoes are exposed to the sunlight they will start sprouting. A root cellar is an underground space where the temperature and humidity level are ideal for keeping potatoes fresh for a long time.
In case you don’t have a root cellar for storing your favourite food then the other options are as follows.
BASEMENT
The basement is a cool storage place. You should use storage cells in your basement for storing your food items. You can easily store potatoes even in the late spring or early summer months.
The higher humidity level of the basement will support potatoes from shriveling so you should not worry about it.
CRAWLSPACE
If you don’t have a basement then a crawl space also provides a suitable environment for keeping potatoes fresh but less ideal than a basement.
GARAGE
Another option for storing potatoes is the garage. It can be an ideal location for storing potatoes but it depends upon the climate in which you are living.
The temperature should be between 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When you store potatoes in your garage then you should carefully examine them regularly because the garage has a less stable temperature.
Storage Container Options For Potatoes
Following are the options for storing potatoes for the long term. Make sure that potatoes can breathe. Plastic bags are not included in our options so you must avoid them because, in these bags, potatoes can rot.
CRATES
Wooden crates can be used for storing potatoes. They are sturdy and breathable so they are ideal.
FOOD STORAGE BINS
Plastic food storage bins are used for transporting different vegetables and fruits after harvesting. These bins can be used for storing potatoes as they are durable and breathable. You can ask local veggie farmers about these bins.
They will tell you where you can buy them. Foldable storage bins are also available and they are a very good option because you can conveniently use them.
CARDBOARD BOXES
Sturdy cardboard boxes are cheap and the best option for storing potatoes. To make them breathable, you should poke holes or cut openings for ventilation.
BROWN PAPER BAGS
Before using brown paper bags, fork some holes in these bags for airflow. This option of storing gives you great results.
Related Articles:
- How To Grow Purple Potatoes In Containers
- Simple Steps To Grow Potatoes In Bags In Greenhouse
- Grow Sweet Potatoes In Containers
3 Signs Potatoes Have Gone Bad
The process of photosynthesis of potatoes does not stop even after harvesting. Continuously releasing moisture and carbon dioxide easily spoils the stored potatoes. Following are the signs that show potatoes are past their prime time.
1- Skin Blemishes
When you see soft spots on the skin of potatoes it means potatoes have gone bad. At this stage, potatoes start sprouting and start germinating new plants. You can eat sprouted potatoes after removing the sprouts.
2- Wrinkled Texture
When the potatoes pass their primetime then their texture starts becoming wrinkled rather than firm.
3- Green Colour
The green color is a clear sign that potatoes are not good to eat. The taste of green potatoes is bitter. Different varieties of potatoes come in golden, white, purple, red, and purple but not in green.
Too much light can turn potatoes green due to a chemical named solanine. It means you should be careful about light exposure because it can turn potatoes toxic.
In case, if only the skin of the potatoes turns green then you can cut off the green part of the potato and use the rest. If you see a large portion of the potato is green then you can add it to your compost pile and don’t use it.
