I love potatoes because of their versatility. It can be used for several meals and found in numerous food recipes – making it an important ingredient in homes. This also makes its preservation important for any home cook or gardener.
It is important to create the right conditions to prevent your potatoes from sprouting, shrinkage and spoilage.
In this article, I will discuss how to create and maintain these right conditions to ensure your potatoes remain firm, flavourful and ready to use even after the harvest season is long gone.
Understanding the best storage methods for your potato is a big deal. I struggled with this some years ago until I discovered this simple hack I will share with you.
Therefore, if you are struggling to preserve your potatoes for the long term, read this article till the end to find out HOW.
Why Should You Store Potatoes From the Garden?
Before we discuss how to store your potatoes from the garden properly, I need to further convince you of the importance of employing the storage techniques I will be sharing with you.
Here are the reasons you should not joke with properly storing your potatoes from the farm.
How to Store Potatoes From the Garden
Now, let us delve into the various methods you can employ while trying to store your harvested potatoes in the garden. These strategies are simple but effective enough to preserve your crops for a long time.
Pro Tip
Before employing one or more of these storage methods, it is important to clean your potatoes before storing them. THIS CAN BE THE GAME CHANGER for you. Brush off the soil from them and make sure they are completely dry.
1. Store in a cool, dark and dry space
If you want to preserve your potatoes from sprouting, then don’t expose them to sunlight. This was my mistake some years ago.
Several gardeners feel that they need to expose their crops to sunlight after harvest. That is the wrong approach. Once your potatoes are constantly exposed to the sun, they will begin to sprout.
Furthermore, ensure the temperature of the room is below 60 degrees (F). In addition to that, keep the room DRY. Moisture speeds up the decaying process of your potatoes. You want to avoid that.
2. Place your Potatoes in Storage Containers
When I discovered this method, I got it wrong at first! Don’t use plastic bags to store your potatoes. They need air. They need to breathe. This is why you should use containers like crates, food storage bins, cardboard boxes and brown paper bags.
3. Separate Your Potatoes from other fruits
Some crops like apples and onions release gasses, which cause the decay of potatoes. If you have one of these crops in your store, don’t place your potatoes near them. This is an important tip as well.
4. Always watch out for Sprout
Potatoes love to replenish. Therefore, constantly check them. Remove any sprouts from your potatoes to keep them from dehydration, prolonging their life span.
