Harvesting & Storing Potatoes

Harvesting and storing a potato crop is the way many people insure that they will have potatoes to eat in the wintertime. No fancy equipment is needed, but depending on how firm the dirt has become over the growing season, harvesting the potatoes can become labor intensive. Storing the potatoes for the future is a much simpler task.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potato fork or shovel
• Cool, dry storage area
• Cardboard boxes or wooden crates
• Newspaper (optional)

1. Dig the potatoes when the visible plants have turned brown. Use a potato fork or a shovel and begin digging approximately 1-foot away from the individual plants. Pull the potatoes from the dirt and brush off any remaining soil.

2. Lay the potatoes in a single layer on a tarp or grassy area to begin drying. Leave the potatoes for a day if the weather is warm and dry. Do not leave the potatoes exposed to sunlight for more than 12 hours and this can cause the skins to turn green.

3. Pack the potatoes loosely in cardboard boxes or wooden crates. If cardboard boxes are used, cut numerous air vents into the sides of the boxes so that air can circulate around the potatoes.

4. Store the boxes in a cool, dry place. A dark corner of a garage or outdoor shed is perfect as the potatoes are less likely to sprout in the dark. Potatoes can be stored for 6 months or longer, depending on the potato variety. White potatoes generally store longer than red varieties.

5. Check the potatoes often and use any that have begun to spout or soften as soon as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• To further inhibit sprouting, each potato can be individually wrapped in newspaper before storage.
• Sweet potatoes can be harvested and stored in the same way as regular potatoes.
• If the potatoes become wet, lay them out in a single layer and allow them to dry before repacking in boxes.

[tracysmith159]

on 6/10/2009 Thank you so much for this article. I've saved this for harvest. I planted and grown the potatoes but have no clue on what else to do until I found this artile. I like the idea of using a box to keep the potatoes in. Although I have some dark locations in the home they do get some light from people being in that room to get items. The box should take care of that.

[Flybyknight]

on 6/1/2009 A article on how to harvest and store potatoes. I will definitely need this come harvest time. I've got red, regular, and sweet potatoes in the ground. right now. Do you have an organic solution to the red "Lady Bug" like bugs that grow on the potato plants? Thanks 5*!