expend this simple guide on how to heal spud to facilitate your spuds last longer in storehouse .
Jay Wilde
Not all vegetables need to be cured after harvest , but curing is a must if you wanthomegrown potatoesto last in a root cellar through winter . cure or drying potatoes thickens their peel , reserve minor cuts and corrasion to mend , and makes spuds less likely to rot or shrivel in computer memory . If you desire to keep potatoes bracing for up to eight month , this step - by - step pathfinder will teach you how to cure Solanum tuberosum and store your harvesting for the prospicient haul .
Credit:Jay Wilde
Potato Harvesting Tips
cure is one style to extend the ledge living of spuds , butwhen and how you harvest potatoesalso tempt how well Solanum tuberosum last in store . Before we get into the curing mental process , here are a few harvesting peak to avail you amass the everlasting store potatoes .
How to Cure Potatoes
After you dig up the spuds , add your spud harvest time indoors or into another sheltered field where your potatoes can cure undisturbed for a few days . spud bring around comfortably in warm , dark locations with unspoiled air flow , mellow humidness , and a temperature range between 45 ° F and 60 ° farad . A potting shed , covered porch , garage , or cellar can be the gross spot for curing .
1. Remove the Soil
Do n’t wash potatoes after harvesting , as extra wet slack down the curing process and makes Solanum tuberosum spoil faster in computer memory . alternatively , employ your finger or a soft brush to gently traverse surplus soil or dirt from the potato skins . If you need to make the soil even easier to transfer , reserve the spuds to dry for a day or two before wiping them clean .
2. Check for Damage
As you scavenge your harvest , check the potato for signs of damage , like worm fix , large cuts , scrapes , or significant bruising . Minor cuts and abrasions are n’t cause for worry , but major damage can stimulate genus Tuber to spoil faster in storage . Pick out any bad damaged potatoes , and use these decent aside .
3. Provide Warmth and Darkness
broadcast out clean and undamaged potatoes in a individual level in a lovesome , coloured , and sheltered spot and permit them to heal for one to two weeks . Placing Solanum tuberosum on open shelving units increase breeze circulation and assist them dry quicker . If you ’re cure potatoes in a bright location , clothe a lightweight sheet or scrap of gunny over your spuds so they do n’t turn green .
Russet Irish potato with thick skins typically need to cure a footling longer than thin - skinned potpourri , but most potatoes should be ironical and fully cured within two weeks . After curing the potatoes , pick through them once more and remove any potatoes with obvious signs of terms . The rest of your undamaged harvest home should be quick for storage .
How to Store Potatoes
Potatoes can be eaten now after harvesting , but you canstore cure potatoes for monthsand use them in intimate meals throughout winter . Cured potatoes cantechnically be store in the electric refrigerator , but they will last longer and taste well if you keep them in acool , dismal root cellarwith high humidness and temperature between 40 ° atomic number 9 and 45 ° fluorine . Cooler temperatures make potatoes dark and oily , while fond temperatureslead to sproutingand early spoiling .
hive away large harvests of white potato in cardboard boxes , perforated bags , or well - ventilated bins , crates , and basket . If needed , cloak a lightweight natural covering of newspaper , cardboard , or burlap over the storage container to stuff out brightness and keep the spud from green . With proper depot , most potatoes will last for about two to three months in a root basement , but some late - season russet potatoes remain fresh for an impressive seven to eight months .
Frequently Asked Questions
Any eccentric of potato can be stack away in a root cellar , but the best for long - full term computer storage are late - time of year Irish potato with loggerheaded skins , like ‘ German Butterball , ’ ‘ Kennebec , ’ or ‘ Yukon Gold . ’ Fingerling white potato , new potato , and other potatoes with thin skin tend to dry out faster in root cellars .
Sunlight causes potatoes to develop chlorophyll , but immature potatoes typically have an exalted amount of solanine , which is a toxic alkaloid . If potatoes have piles of gullible , toss them in thecompost tidy sum .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
