[purplejaguar]

Hi everyone,

Whats best way to store potatoes at this time of year until the weather gets cooler and they can go into the shed? Thanks  .

[devondave]

I've put mine about 1ft deep in the ground, as long as it not warm and light they will be ok

[purplejaguar]

Thanks devondave, are they naked when put in the ground or do you put them in a bag in the ground? I am assiming you have taken the greens off?

[Parsnip]

Some ideas here...

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=36160.0

[purplejaguar]

Thanks parsnip, have just taken a little look  .

[Babstreefern]

When we've dug them up, we store them for a couple of hours to dry off, especially with all the rain we're having.  Then I put them in potato sacks (hessian) and put them in the shed where its dry and dark.  If you put them away when they're still wet/damp, they will rot.

[purplejaguar]

Thanks Babstreefern, my o/h thought the mice might get to them in the shed, it also gets very hot in there, does the temp matter at all?

[devondave]

I remove the tops dig them up (dont remove the mud from the spuds) loosen the soil where the spuds were then dig down about 1ft place the spuds so they are not touching and cover them over with the soil, I dont bother drying them. as long as they stay cold they should'nt sprout eyes

[purplejaguar]

Ok, so the trick is to keep them cold/cool and dry, or as you do, thanks devondave  .

[home made pie]

I dug all my spuds today...50 or so plants !!!...my back is killing me, anyhow I laid them in banana boxes and left them in the sun (yes we had sun) all afternoon and now I've moved them to the shed, I'll keep checking them but I'm hoping to leave them in the banana boxes.  The worst slug damaged ones are boiling as we speak for bangers and mash

I'm well happy with all varieties, Nicola & Maris Piper from seed were the best and some unknown supermarket ones which are small but tasty all the same