How to Store Potatoes Underground

Potatoes can be stored in the ground during winter.

Many home gardeners face the problem of abundant vegetables which eventually rot and go to waste. While this problem is unavoidable for some crops, especially fruit, potatoes can be successfully stored for an entire winter after the harvest season. When limited indoor space is an issue, potatoes can be buried underground until they're needed. Proper precautions must be taken when planting potatoes to avoid rot and frost damage problems.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Chicken wire
• Straw
• Tarp
• Bricks

Instructions

1. Dig a hole that's at least 2 feet deep and wide enough to hold all of the potatoes. If possible, choose an area that gets protection from rainfall or snow.

2. Lay chicken wire in the hole to keep ground-boring mammals away from the potatoes. The chicken wire must cover the entire bottom and walls of the hole.

3. Dump the potatoes in the hole and cover them with soil.

4. Dig a 4-inch deep trench, starting at the buried potatoes and leading away from them. The trench must be a minimum of 5 feet long. This trench will help excess precipitation drain away from the potatoes.

5. Add 12 inches of straw to the top of the soil for protection from frost.

6. Lay a tarp over the straw. Place a brick on each corner of the tarp to keep it in place. The tarp will prevent the straw from blowing away in the wind.

References

• Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: Storing Vegetables and Fruits at Home