Potato Storage

[Doris_Pinks]

Have a half plot load of spuds, never grown so many before and now thoughts are turning to how am I going to store them? I realise they need to be kept cool and dark, but what do you all store yours in? I don't wan't to have to go out and buy potato sacks if there is a cheaper alternative!
Thanks DP

[Doris_Pinks]

[supersprout]

If you have a local pet shop that bags up their own bird seed from bulk they may give you FREE  ;D hessian bags which their bird seed came in. I am getting a supply from a local market stallholder and wish I'd known about this before. The good news is that the birdseed sacks aren't as big as the farmers' sacks so they'll be more manageable full :P. Then they should store fine in a cool and frost free place, especially if you dry them off well between digging and sacking. I'm going to try these sacks with other roots too.

When I had a lottie many years ago, we clamped our spuds (in a pile protected by straw, then earth). It worked fine and we were very proud of our potato mountain, but it was such a hassle to get the spuds out of the clamp we gave up before the supply of spuds did! ;D ;D ;D

[Mrs Ava]

I planned ahead DP!  See, not always such a dumb blonde!  ;D  I didn't grow masses and masses of spuds last year, so had to buy over the winter months, but bought from a local farm shop where they came in lovely brown paper sacks.  I saved these sacks, and am now happilly refilling them!

What about old duvet covers, if you have such things?  Put one inside the other for a little added protection, then fill them up and keep them in your shed.  Just an idea.

[aquilegia]

Not that I'll need many (only have four maincrop potato plants!) but I'll be asking my local farm shop if I can have paper sacks they will be throwing away. Probably only need one (well two to separate the different varieties!) Actually I'll probably end up only needing an A4 envelope!

[daisymay]

LOL - an A4 envelope!  ;D  feeling optimistic today Aquilegia?!?

ours are the same if it is any consolation! we have 4 plants as well and dug one up a couple of weeks ago and only got 4 small potatoes from it. Never mind - will have lots more room next year with our lottie  :)

[keef]

I reckon paper sacks work best as they let less light in. Even if you do buy some they will last quite a few years. Then put them in the garage/shed , but be careful that they dont freeze if it gets really cold in your garage/shed.

[Doris_Pinks]

Looks like my Mum's garage might be pretty full this year ;D  Thanks for your replies

[redimp]

My mate went to a mushroom farm yesterday and because he knew I wanted some he aquired some paper sacks.  I have sent him back to ask about spent compost.  ;D

[Doris_Pinks]

Had a thought, am going to give our local Chippy a ring to see if they have any spare! ;)

[moonbells]

Do you wash the spuds before storage or does that encourage rot?

I've never had enough to warrant sacks before! Though after having felt pleased with self about getting some hessian sacks cheap, I noticed that one of them had a label on saying it was impregnated with fungicide and a big DO NOT RESELL FOR FOOD USE notice. Now if I hadn't randomly picked the labelled one... urk!

Stuck them in the washing machine pronto!  ;D ;D

moonbells

[wardy]

I didn't wash mine as I agree could encourage rot (like the wet ones in plastic bags from the supermarket).  I left mine on my paving at home to dry off in the sun for the day and then when they were dry and just gently rubbed the dirt off with my hands.  Mine weren't muddy as I grew mine on manure.  While you're doing that you can be checking them to make sure you only store good ones.  All the slightly dodgy ones I put to one side for eating straight away and some went into the compost bin.  I got my sacks from Marshall and have used one for my onions as well  :)

[moonbells]

Thanks Wardy.

Spuds duly dry scrubbed (soil carefully put back in bucket to go back to lottie) and weighed. Slightly disappointed - only 1kg per plant off the Pink Firs and the Rattes.

Oh well - £1.04/kg is the cheapest that the local supermarket does bog standard organic spuds  and these cost 15p for 2.2lb of 100% organic (let alone the extra for uncommon varieties) it's still an awful lot cheaper  :)

All the rejects are now sitting in a pan of water ready to go in the steamer for tea!

moonbells

[wardy]

The rejects are ok generally though once the holey bits are lopped off.  I got a big tray full of those but unfortunately put them under cover in outhouse and my husband took the cover off to use it as dust sheet or something and the spuds began turning green  >:(  Used some the other night in some soup I made  :)

I got loads of Desirees (slugs don't like them apparently as they're rock hard) - make great chips and roasters

Caras grown in compost in tubs are very good but only bought a few of those to try.  Tall foliage so trying Picasso next year instead.