Where and how to store potato crops: storage methods

It's great to grow and harvest a good potato crop. But to keep this harvest intact for a long time, it's important to know the secrets and rules for properly storing potatoes under various conditions.

How to properly store potatoes at home

Potatoes are a very popular vegetable. However, they are quite demanding not only during growing but also during storage. To store potatoes properly, you need:

• harvest on time;
• Keep in a dark place for 4-7 days to dry the tubers before storing them for a long time.

Before storing, tubers should be sorted; damaged ones won't keep for long and could ruin the rest of the harvest. It's also important to keep in mind that not all potato varieties store equally well.

Deadlines

The shelf life of potatoes depends not only on storage conditions but also on the variety chosen. Early-ripening potato varieties only last until November, after which they begin to sprout and wilt.. Only mid-season and late-ripening varieties are suitable for long-term storage. They keep well until summer.

Storage conditions

Important conditions for preserving tubers are:

• correct temperature regime;
• optimal humidity;
• lack of access to light;
• the right neighborhood;
• control of tubers during storage.

Humidity

Humidity is an important factor. The optimal humidity level is approximately 80-90%. High humidity without adequate ventilation can cause potato rot.

Storage temperatures for potatoes at different times of the year

The main question is what temperature to provide for the tubers. The optimal temperature for potatoes is between 2 and 4 degrees Celsius. Potatoes can tolerate temperatures even lower. However, if the temperature drops to 0 degrees Celsius or below, the potatoes become overcooled and even freeze. This reduces the quality of the tubers, and the risk of disease in the future crop increases. At temperatures above 4 degrees Celsius, potatoes begin to sprout.

Illumination

When exposed to light, potatoes begin to sprout vigorously. Furthermore, the tubers turn green and become unfit for consumption. Therefore, potatoes should be stored in a place protected from light as much as possible.

Where to store potatoes?

The method for storing potatoes at home depends on your resources. The best way to preserve the harvest is in a cellar, where optimal storage conditions can be ensured. If you need to store potatoes in small quantities, you can also do so in a garage, apartment, hallway, balcony or loggia, or even in the refrigerator.

Potatoes can be stored in ready-made wooden boxes, plastic mesh boxes, or wicker baskets. Avoid using polypropylene or plastic bags, as they don't provide ventilation and promote rapid rotting.

In the cellar

Storing potatoes in a cellar or basement is the best option if they are cold. Keep a thermometer in the cellar and monitor the storage temperature weekly. You can build storage containers (pallets) along the walls of the cellar by knocking together planks and piling the potatoes up to a depth of no more than 50 cm. If the cellar temperature can drop below 2 degrees Celsius in winter, cover the potatoes with burlap.

Potatoes are placed in bags in small batches. In boxes, the tubers should also be stored in a thin layer, with space between boxes to ensure ventilation.

In the entrance

Storing potatoes in a hallway is worse than in a basement, but better than in an apartment. The temperature in the hallway is lower than in the apartment, so the harvest will last much longer. However, the disadvantages include temperature fluctuations in the hallway (for example, during the heating season), as well as the risk of theft.

In the hallway

Typically, the air in the hallway is dry. When stored in such conditions, potatoes can quickly begin to sprout and wilt. Therefore, to increase humidity, place a container of water next to the potatoes.

On the balcony

If you need to preserve your harvest indoors and don't have a cellar, you can do so on a balcony or loggia. You can store them in canvas bags, nets, or even boxes. However, be sure to protect the potatoes from direct sunlight. If the balcony isn't glazed, the storage chest should be insulated from the inside with a thick layer of foam and provided with ventilation holes.

In the refrigerator

Special containers are provided in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment for storing vegetables, including potatoes. These ensure proper and long-term storage conditions. However, this method is only suitable for storing small quantities of potatoes or new potatoes that are not purchased in bulk.

In the apartment

To properly store potatoes in an apartment, especially in summer, place them in a cool, dark place. This could be a pantry, under a windowsill, or under the sink. When storing potatoes under the sink, ensure there's no excessive humidity.

DIY potato box

If you can't afford a potato storage container, you can make your own. Create a frame of the required size from wooden beams, securing the beams together with steel angles. Next, nail boards to the frame. Space between the boards is essential to ensure adequate ventilation for the tubers.

Potato varieties that store best

Despite the common belief that early-ripening potato varieties don't store well, today's breeders have developed varieties that are not only less susceptible to disease and have high yields, but also store well. For winter storage, it's best to purchase varieties with an average shelf life of 90-95%.

Early ripening varieties:

"Bella Rosa" ("White Rose") - light yellow flesh, pinkish skin, medium starch content.

"Gala" - grown in most regions, yellowish flesh, medium starch content.

'Red Scarlet' - pink skin, white or light yellow flesh, medium starch content.

"Lyubava" - pink skin, white flesh, starch content does not exceed 20%.

Mid-season varieties:

"Nevsky" is a mid-late variety, grown in all regions, with creamy flesh, light yellow skin, and low starch content.

"Colombo" ("Colomba") - mid-early, yellow flesh, light yellow skin.

"Slavyanka" - pink skin, creamy flesh, a little starch.

"Sineglazka" - pink skin with blue spots, white flesh, medium starch content.

"Tuleevsky" is a mid-early variety of Russian selection, with a yellowish tuber and yellowish flesh.

Late:

‘Ivan da Marya’ (Little Red Riding Hood) – yellowish tuber with pink spots, creamy flesh.

"Picasso" - creamy flesh, yellowish skin, medium starch content.

Diseases during storage

During storage, potato tubers are susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases.

Fungal diseases:

• late blight,
• scab,
• fusarium.

Bacterial diseases:

• blackleg,
• wet bacterial rot,
• common scab.

The only methods for combating these diseases during potato storage are maintaining optimal storage conditions and promptly removing spoiled or infected tubers. If storage conditions are not met, tubers may also become deformed, crack, suffocate, turn green, and become affected by melanosis.

Reviews

Tatiana

I recommend adding a few apples to the container where you store the potatoes. They slow down the sprouting process.

Irina

To prevent potatoes from rotting, I put ginger root in the box with potatoes.

Klavdia Efimovna

My cellar occasionally gets too damp, and potatoes don't store well. I use regular beets to combat this; I place them next to the potatoes, spreading them out in a thin layer.