Avoid plastic because it leads to moisture retention. If you plan on storing potatoes for longer than a couple of weeks (seven months or more), let them sit in storage for a couple of weeks. Potatoes need curing too, though many people don’t realize it. Place clean potatoes in boxes. How to Store Cured Potatoes Post curing, you can store your potatoes in any container that allows for ventilation, such as a cardboard box, paper bag, or laundry basket. All they’ll do is spread the bacteria to the other potatoes, even the ones you plan to use soon. So to be on the safe side, it is a good idea to meet the recommended conditions and allow the potatoes to stay in them for about a week. Newly harvested potatoes require a similar exposure to … Unlike tomatoes, cucumbers and many other garden vegetables, potatoes don’t require canning or freezing for long term storage. As you collect them, lightly brush off any dirt or soil, being careful not to damage skins. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. So, it’s critical to store them out of the light once they’ve completed the first cure. When potatoes are first dug, the skin will be rather fragile and easily damaged. Keep your potatoes away from other produce to prevent flavor transfer and premature ripening. After the spuds have cured, check them for damage. Once the potato foliage has turned brown and died back, leave the tubers in the ground for another two weeks to allow their skins to “set”. Around 50-60F will do nicely. Before storing, potatoes need to go through a process called curing. Nothing is worse than working so hard – only to have the tubers rot because you didn’t properly cure and store potatoes for long term storage in the right conditions. If they’re still excessively dirty after they’ve dried, use a soft brush and gently sweep off clumps of dirt. It’s important they form a thick skin, which stands up to the storage process better. If potatoes receive too much light, they begin to develop a toxin that turns the potatoes green. Regardless of storage method, potatoes … Begin by harvesting when the soil is dry, and not moist or wet from recent rains. But of equal importance, keep any light from hitting your potatoes. These allow the potatoes to “breathe” while you store them. To be able to store potatoes through the long winter months, you need to allow the plants to brown off and die back. Putting your potatoes away in storage. Lay your remaining potatoes out in a cool, shady spot with … When first digging up your crop, allow the potatoes to sit in the sun for a few hours to help start the drying. A week or two all that is needed for curing. In my book Organic By Choice: The (Secret) Rebel’s Guide To Backyard Gardening, I show you how to build cold frames and raised beds so you can start growing your own food. A wet, musty basement will result in potatoes that can rot easily. Using a screen or a harvest rack to have good air flow will help greatly. Lay out the tubers carefully and let them dry for 10 days to 2 weeks in a warm location with high humidity. Growing Coneflowers – The Perennial That Brings Birds, Bees & Butterflies! So, it’s critical to store them out of the light once they’ve completed the first cure. Growing Boxwood Shrubs – How To Add Year Round, Deer-Proof Foliage To Your Landscape! Do not wash potatoes until you are ready to use them. Let them cure in … Storing Potatoes. In fact, once harvested and cured, all they really need to keep for months is a cool, dark storage space. Watering Newly Planted Trees – How To Keep Young Trees Healthy! You can get it on Amazon here. She is also the author of Chickens: Naturally Raising A Sustainable Flock, which was a best seller in it’s Amazon category. How To Dry And Cure Potatoes Before Storing. Inspect your potatoes carefully, and remove any that you hit with your pitchfork or shovel. The Hershberger Garden, The Beauty Of Flowers, Food And More! Garages, back porches and even barns will work well for curing. 4 Ornamental Grass Varieties To Add Low Maintenance Style To Your Yard, Shade Loving Plants – 4 Great Perennials That Thrive Without Sunlight. You can follow Maat on Facebook here and Instagram here. How to Cure Potatoes. Be careful not to cut them too short. If you follow these storage tips, you may find your potato harvest lasts until spring. Freshly harvested potatoes ready for curing at High Ledge Farm. After harvesting potatoes and curing, here are the steps you’ll want to follow for storage: Toss any potatoes that appear to be rotting into the compost. Clean the potatoes after you dig them up and place in a cardboard box or open paper bags in a room that is 65 F. (18 C.) and humidity up to 95 percent. Maincrop potatoes that you want to store should be allowed to “cure” for one to two weeks after harvest. I handle each and every one of my potatoes. Curing will allow cuts, nicks, and bruises to heal. Allow the potatoes to cure in a dark place where temperatures are about 55 degrees. If your potatoes are homegrown, allow them to cure before you store them. Garages, back porches and even barns will work well for curing. Although delicious, new potatoes can’t be cured and stored, as they haven’t developed enough to keep. Curing Potatoes. When you harvest your potatoes makes a big difference in how they will store. Line bags or boxes with newspaper, and stack potatoes inside, or use mesh crates. on 4 Ornamental Grass Varieties To Add Low Maintenance Style To Your Yard, on Shade Loving Plants – 4 Great Perennials That Thrive Without Sunlight, See: How To Create A Simple DIY Harvest Rack. TIP: Red potatoes do not store as long as white or gold potatoes. How to Cure Potatoes The term cured sounds as though it's related to a disease, but when it comes to potatoes, curing has to do with exposure to air. And you should be excited – you’ve worked hard & should enjoy your haul! Cure the Potatoes Before Storing. To cure the potatoes indoors, store them near the furnace, packed in … Any last potatoes that you find sprouted in your box in early spring are perfect for planting in your garden. In regards to homegrown potatoes, cure them briefly at warmer temperatures and high humidity before long-term storage. By using this website, you agree that the information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not meant to treat, diagnose, or cure illnesses or diseases. Make sure they are out of the light when you do this, as the sunlight can cause the potatoes to produce solanine. Another option to help keep the potatoes cooler and dark is to store them in sand or sawdust. Proper curing all begins at harvest time. How To Cure and Store Potatoes For Long Term Storage, How to Cure and Store Potatoes for Long Term Storage Tip: Keep Out Of The Light, how to cure and store potatoes for long term storage, save 20% off the Amazon price and get the digital version for free, 10 Ways to Use Banana Peels in the Garden, 5 Pro Tips to Use Coffee Grounds in the Garden. I’ve found it’s best to lay the potatoes out during this phase – you want the air to circulate around them so they finish drying. To cure and store potatoes for long term storage (up to 7 months), the next step is to allow them to dry for a longer period, 1 – 2 weeks, this time out of the light. For the best results, potatoes should be cured in a place that is not only dark, but also mildly warm. Potatoes with deep cuts or bruises are best used right away and not stored. Ideal temperatures are 80 to 85 F. (26 to 29 C.) with a humidity level of 80 percent. Curing potatoes is a simple process….and it is very necessary if you want your potatoes to stay edible into the winter. For the first 2 weeks, the humidity should be close to 85 percent. Little did we know, you have to cure sweet potatoes to turn their starches into sugar. Now you know how to cure and store potatoes for long term storage! Harvesting potatoes when plants are still green up on top results in “new” potatoes. If any of your potatoes sprout eyes while they’re in your store room, double check the temperatures and light. Bring the potatoes inside and let them ‘cure’ in a single layer for 1-2 more days. They both release gases that ripen the other one. So, it’s critical to store them out of the light once they’ve completed the first cure. This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, publishing two articles every week, 52 weeks a year. To ensure the temperature and humidity are adequate while you cure potatoes, use a thermometer like this one. Everyone’s curing process can vary depending on how close they get to the actual recommended conditions. First, inspect the potatoes and look for bruises, bad spots, dings from the shovel or pitchfork, or anything that may cause rot later on. Now, take single sheets of newspaper and roll up each tuber separately. Once you have finished harvesting the potatoes there is a selection of those potatoes that are suitable for storage. First, if you cure your sweet potatoes, they can last up to one year. HUMIDITY This allows the soil to dry as well as the skins to harden to extend storage life. This helps to keep the potatoes dry and dark all at the same time. How to Cure Homegrown Potatoes. Have you ever seen potatoes with green skin? I recently cooked up some sweet potatoes from the Farmer’s market and discovered that they were tasteless and certainly not sweet. Sunlight causes potatoes to produce solanine, which turns potatoes bitter and is poisonous. When it comes to successfully storing potatoes, there are two big keys to success, cool temperatures, and darkness. Use a pair of gloves and handle each one. This website does not replace medical or veterinary advice by a licensed veterinarian. If you cut fresh potatoes while harvesting them you should be careful not to destroy their skin which protects them from rot. Want to know more about growing herbs? How to Store Potatoes: Cure and Store. If you spot mold or notice shriveling, check the humidity as well. Methods to Growing Potatoes, and How To Cure and Store Them Reader Contribution By Michael Perry ... and which varieties we’ve liked the best for storage through winter. Learning to grow, harvest and store your own crop of potatoes is one of the easiest ways to produce lasting food from your garden. Click here to learn more about my book, Herbs In Your Backyard. The simplest and maybe the easiest way to cure sweet potatoes is to place them in a plastic bag. How to Cure Sweet Potatoes. When this happens, the potatoes are harmful if the green portion stays on before eating. Seed potatoes may be stored at slightly lower temperatures (38° to 40° F.) for better weight loss and sprout control. Make sure your chosen storage area has good air circulation and limited exposure to the sun, so your onions don't deteriorate prematurely, or sprout. Curing your potatoes toughens up the skin and helps extend the storage life. As for storing potatoes through summer, the best method I have found is to lift them from the row and immediately bury them in broad trenches so they are covered with 6 inches (15 cm) of loose soil. To store potatoes for long term storage, once they’re dry, 6-inch bins with slatted sides like these are a good option. Be sure that your tubers are completely dry before curing potatoes. After enough time, the skins are no longer edible. Maat has been featured on NBC, CBS, AOL Finance, Community Chickens, the Huffington Post, Chickens magazine, Backyard Poultry, and Countryside Magazine. To cure potatoes, place in a cooler, dry area for a few weeks. Do not refrigerate potatoes; the air in a refrigerator is too dry for potatoes and can cause them to shrivel. Pieces of cut up seed potato should be cured prior to planting to prevent disease. So just how do you cure potatoes? Feeding Cardinals In The Winter – How To Attract & Feed Redbirds. For best results, you never want the temperature to rise above 60 to 65 degrees, or fall below 40. Here is a look at the simple basics of harvesting and preserving a potato crop. The best potatoes for storage are late maturing types or a second crop sown later in the season. It was because they were not cured before sale. To cure sweet potatoes you will store them in a temperature of 80-85 degrees F with a humidity of 80-90% for a period of 5-10 days. This lets the potatoes fully mature and develop the skins needed for storing. November 15, 2019 by Autumn Leave a Comment. Rub off as much of the left over dirt as you can (being careful not to damage the skins). After this phase of the curing potatoes process is complete, move the potatoes to a dark storage area where temps are cooler – no more than 40 degrees F. A cellar in your home – or a root cellar if you’re so lucky – is a perfect spot. To ensure the temperature and humidity are adequate while you cure potatoes, use a thermometer like this one. Once your potatoes have sat for about 10 days take a little time to inspect and do a rough clean of your potatoes. It has both a humidity and temperature gauge, and it’s cheap enough – it’s a sound investment. Cure them in a dark, cool (55 – 65 degrees Fahrenheit) place with humidity of 90% or so. Another option that’s recommended is to use perforated plastic or paper bags. At this point, it is okay to have a bit of humidity in your storage location, as it … They're fine for tonight's dinner but won't hold up to long-term storage. Just be sure critters can’t get into the bins. by Maat van Uitert | Oct 2, 2017 | Homestead Hacks, Preserving, Sustainable Living, Table of Contents (Quickly Jump To Information). The cure allows the thin skins to toughen up and it prepares them for storage. ... (I grow purple flesh ones as well) and size and they get put back into the crates for garage storage. Stack the wrapped sweet potatoes in a cardboard or wooden box of your choosing (or one that allows aeration), without a lid, and place it in a basement or other room where the temperature is as … I usually just line a big section of my floor with newspaper and then lay all the potatoes out on that in a single layer for a more days to ensure their skin is tough enough for storage. Curing allows the potatoes to heal nicks and small blemishes, and dry out a bit to prevent rot. Potatoes can actually be harvested at any point during the growing season – but need to be mature when trying to store. This will shorten their storage life. The consistent temperature is important; if temps are higher, your potatoes might sprout eyes or even start to shrivel. At this point, it is okay to have a bit of humidity in your storage location, as it helps in the curing process. How To Sort and Cure Fresh Potatoes. Then lay them on a couple of newspaper pieces in a shady spot for a week or two. Place the potatoes where there are moderate temperatures but high humidity for ten days. Fortunately curing them is really easy. After curing, sort the potatoes and discard those that are soft or discolored. (Product Link : Mesh Storage Bags). In general, the optimum, long-term storage temperature for processing potatoes is approximately 45° F. For fresh market potatoes, a temperature of 40° F. is recommended. When wet, the dirt actually hinders the drying of the potatoes, and results in poor storing of the crop. To cure potatoes, brush off any remaining dirt and store dry potatoes between 45 to 60 degrees F and a relative humidity of 85 to 95 for 10 to 14 days. So keep this in mind when growing them. We’ll also cover how to prepare potatoes for storage after they’ve gone through the cure process. Next, move your potatoes to a cooler, covered location and spread out to cure. Maat van Uitert is a backyard chicken and sustainable living expert. Don’t wash them – just let them dry. It is very simple but it is important to follow the instructions carefully and the process should be successful. This, also, allows them to withstand the long time in storage and remain fresh. Store them in a cool, dark place; a temperature between 32 and 40 degrees is best. If you are purchasing from a farmers market, ask the growers which varieties they recommend for long term storing potatoes. The drier the soil the better, as the potatoes will shed off most of the dirt. Your onions are now ready for storage! Before fresh harvested potatoes are stored, they should be cured. Washing them could result in dampness or mold. To ensure the temperature and humidity are adequate while you cure potatoes, To store potatoes for long term storage, once they’re dry, 6-inch bins with slatted sides, Backyard Chickens: Frequently Asked Questions. This is a time tested process for how to cure and store potatoes for long term storage that our ancestors used! Allow the potatoes to cure in a dark place where temperatures are about 55 degrees. This article may contain affiliate links. Plant potatoes that have started to sprout. She lives on her farm in Southeast Missouri with her husband, two children, and about a million chickens and ducks. 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