Growing can be highly rewarding, but it’s important to properly harvest and store potatoes to enjoy your bounty all year.
This guide will walk you through best practices for harvesting potatoes at maturity and maximizing their storage potential.
Determining When Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest
There are a few key signs that potatoes are ready to be dug up. Potatoes are most mature about 2–3 weeks after the plant vines have died back from the tops of the mounds or hills.
Checking plants for maturity
Examine potato plants closely before digging. Vines should appear dry and brown rather than green and leafy. Any remaining leaves should detach easily when gently pulled.
New potatoes vs storage potatoes
Small “new” potatoes can be harvested earlier, when plants first start flowering. But leave most potatoes in the ground until the vines fully die back for optimal-sized storage potatoes.
Proper harvest timing is crucial for maximizing your potato (harvest and store potatoes) yield and storage lifespan. Getting the timing right allows potatoes to reach full size while avoiding damage from light exposure or frost.
Harvesting Potatoes for Storage
When potato plant vines have fully dried up and collapsed,. The tubers have reached their maximum growth and starch content. This makes them ideal for long-term storage.
Signs that potatoes are ready to harvest for storage
Ideally, harvest potatoes 1-2 weeks after the vines have fully died back. They should be brown. You can also test for readiness by gently tugging on a few potato plants. If the whole root system pulls up easily, they are ready.
Tools needed
A spading fork or digging fork, a garden trowel or digging tool, a bucket or containers labeled by variety. Wear gloves to protect your hands from dirt and reduce scratches that could lead to rot.
Good harvesting methods are key. They prevent bruising and keep potatoes in top condition for storage.
Proper Potato Harvesting Techniques
To harvest potatoes, start by using a spading fork to loosen the soil all around and under the potato plant. This allows you to gently lift the plant and tubers from the ground without damaging them.
Removing potato plants
Lift the entire potato plant from the soil slowly and carefully. Shake or tap the plant stems over a bucket to release the potatoes, being gentle to avoid bruising.
Collecting potatoes
Use your hands or a garden trowel to collect any remaining potatoes left in the soil. Discard any green, rotten or damaged potatoes that could spread disease. Place the cleaned potatoes in storage containers as you work.
Storage preparation
Sort through the harvested potatoes, removing any bruised or damaged ones. Potatoes can be used immediately or prepped for long-term storage.
Proper drainage is key for successful (harvest and store potatoes) storage. So before stashing potatoes away, give them some time to “cure” and heal surface bruises. This involves proper drying and ventilation.
Potatoes can be grown in an open field as well as in a basket or pot. If you like to learn about growing potatoes in baskets, then you can check out the next article on growing potato in laundry basket
Preparing Potatoes for Storage
After harvesting, spread potatoes out singly in a warm, dry location with air flow for 10–14 days. This allows skin to heal over bumps and bruises acquired during digging.
Drying and sorting Gently scrub potatoes to remove excess soil. Dry completely, then sort by size/variety into breathable containers for storage. Avoid piles that could cause sweating.
Storage Conditions and Methods
The ideal environment for storing homegrown potatoes long-term mimics their natural habitat conditions underground. Cool temperatures between 45 and 50°F (7 and 10°C) and high humidity levels between 85 and 95% will keep your potatoes fresh for months.
Using a potato cellar or bin
If space allows, a potato cellar dug into the ground provides the perfect naturally cool and humid storage. For above-ground storage, a wooden potato bin works well in a basement.
Alternatives to a potato cellar
When underground storage isn’t feasible, aim to store potatoes somewhere dark, cool, and well-ventilated, like a garage, crawl space or cold room. Avoid areas prone to light, heat fluctuations or frost.
Storage Containers
Breathable materials like burlap or mesh sacks allow optimum air circulation for long-term storage. Potatoes can also be placed in wooden crates, boxes or bins.
Choosing containers
Look for containers that allow plenty of ventilation and moderate humidity levels. Line containers with paper to absorb moisture. Check potatoes periodically for signs of decay and remove them immediately to prevent loss.
Proper storage environments and containers are essential steps in the potato harvesting process to minimize spoilage and maximize your harvest and storage yield. Controlling temperature, humidity and air flow are priority factors for success.
Maximum Potato Storage Timelines
With ideal harvest timing and storage conditions, different potato varieties can be kept healthy for various periods of time. But its important to periodically check the potatoes and use them as needed.
Typical storage periods
- New potatoes: 1-2 weeks
- Long keepers: 6–8 months
- All-purpose: 4-6 months Quick-spoiling: 2-4 months
Signs storage time is ending
Discard any soft, mushy, sprouting or greening potatoes that become inedible or develop toxins after prolonged storage. Other signs are shriveled or loose skin.
Preserving potato stocks
Save small sprouted potatoes for replanting next season rather than consumption to continue your annual crop. Cut tubers with 1-2 eyes will regrow reliably.
Proper harvest and storage techniques are essential for maximizing your potato yields. By following best practices for harvesting and storing potatoes, home growers can enjoy a bountiful potato crop for most of the year.
Summary of Techniques to Harvest and Store Potatoes
- Check plants for signs of maturity, like dead/brown vines, before harvesting
- Use gentle harvesting methods to prevent bruising of potatoes
- Allow potatoes to dry and “cure” before long-term storage
- Maintain cool temperatures between 45 and 50°F and high humidity
- Store potatoes in breathable containers in a cool, dark spot
- Inspect potatoes periodically and use promptly if they show any defects
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the difference between new potatoes and storage potatoes?
New potatoes can be harvested early, when plants start flowering, before their skins have fully formed. Storage potatoes are harvested later, when the vines die back completely. Storage potatoes will last months, while new potatoes will only last 1-2 weeks.
How long can I expect different potato varieties to last in storage?
Storage times vary by variety. Quick-spoilers last 2-4 months, while all-purpose varieties last 4-6 months. Long-term keepers like Russet Burbank can sustain 6–8 months of fresh storage when properly cured and stored.
When should I stop storing potatoes and use them?
Check potatoes periodically for signs of decay like soft spots, sprouting or greening skins, which indicate they should be used promptly. Ideally, potatoes will last until early summer, but use them promptly if any defects appear to avoid loss.
What if my potatoes start sprouting in storage?
Small sprouts are fine and can be peeled or cut off before cooking. Large sprouts indicate potatoes are past prime storage but can still be used or replanted for another crop. Try replanting sprouted potatoes in the early spring.
How can I prevent potato rot/spoilage in storage?
Use disease-free seed potatoes. Harvest them at full maturity. Gently cure them. Keep them at a cool temperature of 45–50°F and 85–95% humidity. Store them in breathable containers with good airflow. This will prevent rot and create ideal storage conditions.
How many potatoes should I plant to have enough for storage?
Plant 1 1/2 pounds of seed potatoes per person. For a family of 4, plan to plant at least 6 pounds of seed potatoes. This will be enough for fresh use and 2-3 months of storage after the growing season.
Conclusion
By employing the right methods for harvesting potatoes at full maturity and then storing them in ideal conditions, home growers can enjoy their potato crops for many months after the growing season ends.
Proper techniques are key to minimizing waste from rotting or sprouting tubers. With a little planning, harvesting and storing potatoes effectively can provide a valuable source of nutrition all winter.