Storing potatoes in the ground

15 years ago

I planted my potatoes late - about mid June. They are just having flowers now. Don't have a root cellar and my fridge is small. I was hoping I could dig them up as I need them in the Fall.

Is it OK to store potatoes in the ground until the ground is ready to freeze come December? Or will they rot?

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Comments (6)

jbest123
15 years ago
Here is a link discussing the same question on another forum.
John
http://thegardenforums.org/viewtopic.php?t=17140

Here is a link that might be useful: Johns Journal
pnbrown
15 years ago
Leave them until first frost and then store them in a hole in the ground. I've done that a few times, and they actually keep much better than in my root cellar. Just dig a hole about 3 feet deep, throw in the taters, cover with a foot or so of leaves, and top off the hole with a piece of plywood and a concrete block to keep it from blowing away. It's a good idea to dig the hole ahead of time, but don't put the taters in until late fall when the ground in the hole is good and cold.
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As stated above....Skins on potatoes mature a week or so after the plant is completely dead.As long as there is any green they will continue to grow in size. The best place to store potatoes is in the ground.I scratch around under the plant to get enough for a meal.Leave the rest in the ground until the plant is completely dead. Rub the skins with your thumb.If you can rub the skin off.....they won't keep at all and will turn brown.
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Last year I accidentally left a few potatoes in the ground all winter long. They sprouted during the following April. When I dug them up, they looked great. They were in much better shape than the main crop that I dug up in September. We have plenty of winter rain, but the ground doesn't freeze. And our soil is sandy, well draining, and can be dug reasonably even when wet. I think these factors favor leaving the potatoes in the ground. Your mileage may vary. This year, I'm leaving them in the ground and only digging up what I'm ready to eat.
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Comments (12)
I didn't mean to start a debate but did you all notice where the OP is located? The ant problems and harvest times of Texas don't apply to her location and harvesting them for sales is a marketing issue, not a potato growing issue. Believe it or not northern gardeners often store their potatoes in the ground until the ground gets close to freezing. And under a thick layer of mulch they can be left in ground until well into the winter. Even in my zone, where they get planted in March they haven't been dug yet. It is no different then storing them in a root cellar. And normally no, they do not have to be dug as soon as the tops die back. They don't attract any more pests then they did while they were growing and that is a pest control issue, not a potato growing issue I am not saying your points aren't valid but they just don't apply in this particular case. sheila83 - you can learn much more about growing and harvesting - or not - potatoes over on the Vegetable Gardening forum here. Dave
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storing potatoes?
Q
Comments (1)
You can freeze or can them - either way would work fine for roasting later. Freezing is probably easier but canning them provides much longer storage. We usually can about 25-30 quarts of potatoes each year to use all sorts of ways - mashed, fried, roasted, shredded for hash browns, scalloped, potato salad, etc. A quick and easy way to add potatoes to just about any meal. Another good way is dehydrating potato slices. That is very popular with many for long term storage and easy use. NCHFP provides the detailed instructions for both pressure canning, dehydrating, and freezing. Dave PS: linked some previous discussions here on the subject too if you want to read through them Here is a link that might be useful: potato discussions
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david52 Zone 6
15 years ago
You can do the same thing with all root crops, as well as apples.

With carrots, there are some guys around here who wait until the ground is really cold but not frozen, and cover the bed with an old piece of rug, which is enough insulation to keep the ground from freezing. The carrots they dig up in Jan / Feb are amazingly sweet.
pnbrown
15 years ago
Yeah, I should try it with apples this fall. Thanks for the thought, Dave........
allenwrench
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks!

Root cellaring.. seems like a lost art!

Do many people still do it?
blueness_comcast_net
12 years ago
Hi
I live in a warm climate (SF bay area in CA. My potatoes are ready to be harvested, and I want to know if they can be left in the ground in our comparatively warm climate. Warm summer, just now. Is it okay to leave them? Will they sprout? Cover them with heavy mulch? Dig them? Help me! Any wisdom out there?
Thanks, Naomi

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Storing potatoes in the ground

Comments (6)

jbest123

pnbrown

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Storing potatoes in the ground

Comments (6)

jbest123

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