Potatoes-Stop Them From Sprouting

[Jennykenny]

I buy good quality potatoes, store them in a cotton sack lined with black material, in a dark cupboard, but within days they have started sprouting.
Tried old fashioned tips such as putting an apple in with them, avoiding storing them with onions, used different types - Charlotte, King Edward etc.
Any thoughts??

[Robinia]

It depends how many you have but if it's not too many to sort through you can gently remove the sprouts as they appear to stop them growing.

[Clanad]

Dark is good... cotton sack is good... but any warmth is bad...

Be sure to keep them in a cool place... even a hall closet or than upstairs room that's too cold to sleep in...

Here in the U.S., potato farmers nerby that raise thousands of tons of potatoes each year store them in a semi-underground bunker and they keep until the next years crop are ready to store. Simply keep them in the dark and somewhere around 35 degrees (F) works every time.

[237SJ]

My Dad used to keep them in a double paper sack in the garage. I have mine in a pottery potato pot in the kitchen and they sprout. I think it`s the warmth that does it.

[Maydup]

I suggest you try storing the sack in a cooler place. Can you keep them in the shed or garage and just get a few out as you use them? It sounds as though your cupboard is just a bit too warm.

[Old_Geezer]

I suspect the others here are right. I keep my spuds in a lightproof pottery container and they still sprout. I don't think one can do much to stop them, but maybe they aren't encouraged to bother if they sense it's too cold to grow and look for light ?

[Jennykenny]

Thanks to all. I think you're right about the heat. To the shed they will go.

[ummmm]

I keep mine in a fridge. Not in the main fridge, a small fridge that is kept at a higher temp; they never sprout.

Saying that...they never last long enough to sprout.