Potatoes

[horseshoes]

I'm new to veg growing. I have a bed of potatoes all ready to harvest. My questions are these; do I dig them all up at once? If so, do I wash them before storing them? What shall I store them in (I don't have a wooden box as I've seen suggested in an article).

Really excited having all this lovely food to eat. Lettuces, spring onions, tomatoes, strawberries, spinach, beans, peas AND black pod peas. Not to mention a lovely dahlia bed. (I know i can't eat them, but they're so beautiful). Next year I'll also have red currants, black currants and raspberries.

T.I.A.

[gingejbee]

Not an expert...but they keep better UNWASHED.

[horseshoes]

Thank you gingejbee.

[gingejbee]

...and (just thought) they need to be stored so that air can get to them and kept cool, if possible. How about sacking....and don't let the light get to them.

[horseshoes]

I think the garage is cold enough. It's where we always keep our christmas veg:-)

Can you still get proper sacks? I'll have to google them.

[ladyalex]

When we grew potatoes, we lifted them all at once, but I think as long as there is no frost, you could lift them as you need them.
I used to leave them out for a hour or so to dry so that I could see if any were a bit eaten by something or damaged in any way.
Once they were dry and I'd removed all the 'iffy' ones for either disposal or immediate use, I used to keep them in a sack inside the house under a worktop. The important things are to keep them dry, cool and definitely out of the light. Light makes them turn green and then you cannot eat them.
Well done on your crops!

[ladyalex]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nutleys-80c-Hessian-Potato-Sack-x/dp/B008SAX6NM

These look a bit dear to me, there may be cheaper versions.

[horseshoes]

Not bad for a pack of 5 though:-)

Thank you:-)

[alavahalf]

Guess where I have been this afternoon .. digging some potatoes on the allotment.
First of all are the potatoes 1st earlies,2nd earlies or maincrop?
1st earlies are not meant to be stored, they are meant to be eaten. You can leave them in thd ground and dig them as you need them, but use them 1st. They are varieties with a very soft skin that only need washing not peeling.
The 2nd earlies are more suitable for storing but they ready to harvest a few weeks later.
The maincrop varieties are meant for storing over the months ahead. Whatever you do .. dont wash potatoes you are going to store. Just leave them out on the ground to dry before putting them in hesian ir paper sacks. I do this every year and rarely have problem.
The only thing to watch out for is one going bad in the sack, this will cause others around it to do the same.

My favourite meal of the year .. new potatoes boiled, drained and a bit of butter added and some fresh mint sprinkled on. Fresh dwarf beans and carrots and a lamb chop.. dont forget the dry white wine.
Woo hoo !

[horseshoes]

Thanks alavahalf. I THINK although I'm not sure now, that they're perhaps Charlotte potatoes. I planted some last year which were SUPPOSED to be ready at Christmas - they weren't, but I dug those up yesterday; I can't remember what they were called. The ones still in the ground, I think maybe the Charlottes, but as I said, I can't really remember.

[alavahalf]

A man after my own heart .. this year I have grown 6 rows of Charlottes ( approx 100 plants). Not to mention 10 x 30 ltr. tubs all Charlottes, started in the poly tunnel in February. Charlottes are second earlies by the way,
my favourite potato by far. My main crop are Sarpo Mira which are blight resistant, they will go into sacks and see me through the winter. If you want new xmas spuds ... start them now, as August may be too late depending on where you are geographicaly.
Ideally when you buy your seed potato, you should take note of whether it is a 1st or 2nd early... the maincrop is the last one to go in the ground.
The foliage will tell you everything you need to know. If it stands upright, then the plant is still growing. When it wilts and collapses, then you know it ready to harvest.
If you leave them in the ground for too long, you may find the slugs move in, it really is trial and error. Personally I leave them in the ground and dig Charlottes as I need them through out the summer.

[horseshoes]

Thanks again alavahalf. Really useful information there.

By the way I'm not a man!!! Lol

[Old_Geezer]

A bit of green won't worry you. You need to eat a fair old amount of it to feel ill.

[diddlydo]

We grow Charlottes every year - lift them mid to end September. Store in open boxes in dark cupboard under stairs. They last until end January.

[Maydup]

We grow spuds and lift as we go, leaving them in the ground is the very best storage method available until the frosts come, then its different. But ours are usually eaten and finished by then.