The potatoes that I dug weighed about 17 lbs. I think I dug about half of this variety.
Here are some tips on storing potatoes. Potatoes should never be washed before storing as this will promote decay. Initially potatoes should be kept at temperatures between 50-60 F at about 95% humidity for 2-3 weeks. This will permit the skin to cure and wounds to heal. For long-term storage (up to nine months or longer), you should gradually drop temperatures to about 38-40F. The potatoes should maintain this temperature through the storage season. Good air circulation will reduce storage rots and sprouting. Humidity levels should remain high to minimize shrinkage due to moisture loss.
Avoid storing raw potatoes in the refrigerator because potato starch can change to sugar. This can result in excessive browning during cooking and an undesirable sweet flavor. Do not store potatoes close to fruit. Ripening fruit give off ethylene. Ethylene is a plant hormone that encourages potatoes to sprout prematurely. Do not store potatoes where they will be exposed to light. This causes them to green.
In the past I have kept my potatoes in baskets away from light in the coolest spot in the basement for the winter. They store pretty well this way. This year we are going to move them to the stairs on the outside entrance to the basement when fall and winter arrive. This will keep the potatoes at a cooler temperature for winter storage.
What's been going in or out of you Kitchen Cupboard or stores lately???
Great potatoes! I grew just a few in pots and some for my mother in a barrel. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteHi there Happy Gardener! Thanks a bunch!
DeleteVery nice! I haven't touched my Yukons yet (they're my favorite too) and definitely will keep them for winter. So far we've been picking what we need to eat (and what others asked for) so I wash mine right away because I hate to give them away dirty :)
ReplyDeleteJenny, you are much better then me. I give everything away dirty! You gotta love those Yukon Golds!
DeleteI've just had things "trickling in" too, and have some serious harvest envy going on. Your potatoes look great. Now, make sure your new area is mouse-proof. I tried storing mine there a couple years back-and the mice sure had fun. Didn't know I HAD mice until that point!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on the mice. I didn't even think about it since we have never had a mouse here.
DeleteWe love Yukon Golds too. We have been enjoying them baked. Ours did surprisingly well this year, given the weather. That's some great info on storing potatoes!
ReplyDeleteWe are having baked Yukons tonight! I can't wait!
DeleteRight now my harvests are just trickling in. Well except the chard. Boy does chard put out a lot of weight in the garden.
ReplyDeleteDaphne, I'm starting to get anxious with the garden. I sure hope it rains soon and the veggies start rolling in, instead of trickling!
DeleteRobin, good information on the potato storage. I am sure there are many not aware. I love my shop in the back of my garage. I keep it at 40 all winter and have had very good luck storing vegetables there. This time of year I am buying potatoes still and I get 50# at a time and they keep even now just great at it always stays cool in there. I have never had a problem with mice eating my potatoes and they pretty much have free range out there in the winter. I have collected old coolers for some things so the mice can't get to them like apples which they love. Also will have a small refrig out there this winter. One that works and one that doesn't.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have a nice cool place to store your veggies.
DeleteI had very good luck storing my root crops in the stairwell of our basement. My potatoes seem ready very early this year and it is way to warm in that stairwell, so I am going to have to come up with some serious rodent proof boxes to put them in the real root cellar. Boy, there is always something that wants to eat the food we work so hard for.
ReplyDeleteYep, between mother nature and pests, we sure do have a hard time growing and keeping our food.
DeleteI so wish we had a root cellar like we did at my mother's farm.
Robin, I tried growing Yukon Gold, my favorite, the last two years but they just didn't turn out very well. I barely made the seed back. This year at the new garden my neighbor was in charge of the potatoes and planted Pontiacs and they are doing great. They are just in the blooming stage. There's really not enough this year to store as the nine hills will get eaten before winter sets in.
ReplyDeleteI too have harvested my first tomato and plan to have that first of the season bacon lettuce tomato sandwich. I see many more blush tomatoes so the harvest is about to begin. Yea!! I haven't set up the canning station outside yet and really do not like to heat up the house with canning during the hottest time of the year. I hope to be able to start more canning next year.
Have a great garden harvest day.
That's too bad that you haven't had any luck with Yukon Golds. I'm sure you'll get things organized this year so you can really start canning next year.
DeleteLove your Golds! I grow every kind of potato I can get my hands on! I just love to grow them and eat them. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynda, I love digging potatoes too....it's such fun to find them.
DeleteI have absolutely no place in or out of my house that is suitable for storing potatoes, and this year the harvest has been excellent for the small amount of seed I planted. We're just eating as many as we can, and giving lots away. Some must be stored in the fridge (I've always done that, I guess we're used to the flavor change and have never even noticed it). Others are stored in the garage, where it's still quite warm, but dark.
ReplyDeleteWell Granny, I guess it's time to build a root cellar :)
DeleteYou know, we do have a crawl space under the house. Unfortunately, my knees won't take climbing down there and back out, and Mr. Granny doesn't fit any more :-)
DeleteYou could always send Annie or Otto in.....or maybe the little blondie :)
DeleteThey don't like black widow spiders. Really, I could bug bomb the entrance and at least push a box of stuff in through the hole. Actually, I could get in there if someone would pull me back out :-)
DeleteRobin, Those are some great looking golds!
ReplyDeleteI borrowed your salsa recipe and canned the salsa. It turned out really good, I've posted my results on my blog and also referenced your blog for the recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipes :-)
Thanks Sandy, we just love that salsa recipe. I'm glad you liked it too. I also posted a green tomato salsa recipe last year which was given to me by another blogger. It's really good for the end of the season when you have a lot of green tomatoes left.
DeleteThanks for the tater' tips Robin... this is only my 2nd season growing potatoes and I could use all the tips I can get. BTW, we're not to far from each other. My best friend lives near Michaux State Forest and shops the Carlisle Farmer's market all the time. The Dickonson School Gardens are amazing too.
ReplyDeleteYour Welcome Chili, we live about an hour from Carlisle. Jody at Spring Garden acre lives out your way.
DeleteMister Linky available today? If not here's my link for Summer Fruit Crisp
ReplyDeletehttp://ediblegardenspointloma.tumblr.com/post/27042463795/thursdays-kitchen-cupboard-summer-fruit-crisp
Thanks for joining in. I guess Mr. Linky wasn't working when you stopped by.
DeleteLovely looks potatoes. I never seem to have luck storing them. but that may be because we leave them in the ground too long
ReplyDeleteThanks MrsP, I guess you better get those taters out of the ground a little earlier this year :)
DeleteHi Robin, I am growing potatoes for the first time this year and planted Yukon Gold too. The instructions said they would be ready in 90 to 120 days and 90 days will be July 29th. Will be checking one and hoping I find potatoes! Nancy
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your potatoes. FYI, the potatoes are ready to harvest when the plants die. You can get early potatoes from the plants after they bloom.
DeleteGreat tips!
ReplyDeleteI hope they have been helpful!
DeleteI love discovering new blogs through Thursday's Kitchen Cupboard and Harvest Monday. Thanks. Susan
ReplyDeleteYour welcome Susan, It's always fun to find new blogs!
DeletePotato love!! My Grandma and Mom would place them in crock pots in the pantry or veggie cellar in the basement. They stayed in good shape for a long period, but they do need to be used up or they can rot. Your garden haul is looking good. Tomatoes this year have been iffy.
ReplyDeleteI take it you love potatoes! Hopefully, you'll have some nice tomatoes!
DeleteThanks for the storage tips - I've never heard that before. Where do you store them in the first 2-3 weeks that has such high humidity?
ReplyDeleteSo, when I buy in. Few years I need a house with a basement. Or one where I can build one. Good to know :)
I keep them in a warmer area in the basement.
DeleteYes, you have to have a home with a basement. I have never lived in a house without a basement.
I'm just deciding which varieties to plant this year. I've never really had many storage issues because I never really have so many potatoes that storage is a huge issue. Maybe one day...
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun planning the garden!
DeleteThanks for the potato storage information. I never encountered the storage problem before but this year I am growing a bit more so this is a timely post.
ReplyDeleteYour welcome Norma, I'm sure it will be a treat to have some extra potatoes for storage this year!
Delete