[rosie-ros]

Hi, I'm a complete novice with an allotment!! beyond an abundant crop of couch grass, we also managed to harvest a sack or so of spuds, albeit a bit small as the worms and slugs loved the jacket spud sized ones.  

Currently in a veg shop double paper sack, tucked over but they have all started shooting.  they are inside the house in a back room as no garage, only greenhouse (too light??) and shed -with a mouse!!  Reading some of the info on here i wonder if its that i didnt pierce any air holes in the sack, so maybe too warm/little ventilation?  

My question is how to store the potates and how long should they store for?  

any advice welcomed. Many thanks...

[Val H]

This might help Storing the surplus. You need to leave the sack slightly open to allow ventilation. I get this problem about February/March time even though they are in a shed with a section particularly designed for storing. Answer, knock off the sprouting bits, they're still fine to eat!

[DD.]

Hi rosie-ros, firstly welcome to the forums. Perhaps you could pop along to the "Welcome" forum & tell us a bit about yourself.

I would think that being in the house, they are too warm. If they are in a paper sack, they should not need airholes.

Being in a sack, the light in the greenhouse should not be a problem, but even with a little sun it can get warm in there.

Bottom line is, I think, they need to be cooler.

[Val H]

And welcome to the forums. :santa:  :santa:

[rosie-ros]

thanks for the advice.  i will use the softer ones now and knock off the rest of the shoots.  I think i prob need hubbie to sort out the mouse and get them out in the shed as soon as poss otherwise same willhappen.  we do have a solid wooden box which i was thinking of getting some straw to layer them.  but should the box have air holes if its been varnished? (years ago). we are planning to build a potato box out of some cedar we have.

[Val H]

I've never tried storing them layered so can't help you there. Hessian sacks are the best I've found. You do need to get rid of little mouse and get them into a cooler place. Don't allow them to get too cold though as potatoes should preferably be stored above 5 deg C as below that the starch turns into sugars, which can give them a sweet taste. The optimum temperature range is between 5 and 10° C.

[rosie-ros]

Hi Val, thanks for your advice, i think for now, we should concentrate on the mouse and think about the box another time.  I think this is a really great site. Well done everyone.

[Val H]

Get yourself over to Welcome to the Forums and introduce yourself .