holes in potatoes/potato storage question

chipmunk · « **on:** August 20, 2008, 10:48 »

Hi,

New to potato growing and have a reasonable crop of Cara to store. Need to dig them up as something that makes small (2-3 mm) holes are having a feast - what does this? Looks like whatever it is tunnels in and the potato is brown inside. Can salvage some of the flesh. Luckily, not all are affected so want to get them in soon. As the ground is very wet here, what is the best thing to do before storing them? we are going to store them in sacks in shed. Is it worth washing off most of the mud or not? Do you need to let them dry off a bit first? Not sure how I could do this with all the b****y rain!

Sorry if these questions are daft, but can't find the info in my books!

cheers,

chipmunk

gregmcalister · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2008, 10:55 »

Hi Chipmunk
In answer to your questions

The holes are probably slug especially now the weather has turned wet. My first earlies were fine but I'm noticing more and more potatoes with holes in them from the ones I'm digging up now.

The store them the best thing is to dry them off - either outside or indoors. Don't wash the dirt off. I lay newspaper down inside and just lay the potatoes out on that to dry before storing them in hessian sacks.

Hope this helps

peterjf · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2008, 11:39 »

i think your spuds have been dinner for slugs,

storing your spuds is easy,once they have dried for about 2 hours, you take out the damaged spuds then place the spuds in a paper sack , no day light and store in a cool place , like a garage ,or outdoor shed

fletch · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2008, 12:35 »

Sorry to hijack the thread a little, but is the storage technique the same for onions, i.e cool, dark garage?

Bombers · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2008, 12:39 »

Quote from: "fletch"

Sorry to hijack the thread a little, but is the storage technique the same for onions, i.e cool, dark garage?

I'd say not. You need to hang the onions, and let air circulate round 'em, but yes. to the cool dark garage bit

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #5 on:** August 20, 2008, 13:24 »

Quote from: "chipmunk"

Hi,

New to potato growing and have a reasonable crop of Cara to store. Need to dig them up as something that makes small (2-3 mm) holes are having a feast - what does this? Looks like whatever it is tunnels in and the potato is brown inside. Can salvage some of the flesh. Luckily, not all are affected so want to get them in soon. As the ground is very wet here, what is the best thing to do before storing them? we are going to store them in sacks in shed. Is it worth washing off most of the mud or not? Do you need to let them dry off a bit first? Not sure how I could do this with all the b****y rain!

Sorry if these questions are daft, but can't find the info in my books!

cheers,

chipmunk

Slugs make wide holes and wire worms (click beetle larvae) make thin tunnels.
You can eat any bits that are not damaged !

Slug damage

Wireworm damage

chipmunk · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2008, 19:26 »

Thanks for all your responses, they are all extremely helpful as usual! Think it is probably wireworm eating my spuds so will dig them up and dry indoors ASAP. Just eaten the first few for our tea yum yum!

cheers

matron · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2008, 19:34 »

We have problems with wire worm but I just use these potatoes first and store the others. We will be potato digging this weekend.

Holes in potatoes and storage Started by BabyStar on Grow Your Own	4 Replies 2132 Views	August 12, 2011, 12:23 by arugula
Potato Leaf Holes Started by topgazza on Grow Your Own	3 Replies 1294 Views	June 28, 2011, 16:18 by topgazza
potato storage Started by tomboy on Grow Your Own	3 Replies 1248 Views	February 28, 2020, 21:25 by Yorkie
Potato storage Started by Muddylou on Grow Your Own	5 Replies 2772 Views	July 16, 2009, 22:09 by Muddylou

holes in potatoes/potato storage question

chipmunk

holes in potatoes/potato storage question

gregmcalister

holes in potatoes/potato storage question

peterjf

spuds

fletch

holes in potatoes/potato storage question

Bombers

holes in potatoes/potato storage question

Aunt Sally

Re: holes in potatoes/potato storage question

chipmunk

holes in potatoes/potato storage question

matron

holes in potatoes/potato storage question

Similar Topics

Holes in potatoes and storage

Potato Leaf Holes

potato storage

Potato storage