It has become known how best to store potatoes until spring

To keep potatoes from rotting and sprouting until spring, they should be sorted in good time, dried, stored in a cool, dark place with good ventilation, and not kept next to apples, writes agronews.ua.

It is worth starting with preparing the harvest. After harvesting, the tubers are sorted and the damaged ones are set aside: those with cuts, cracks, dents, or signs of disease or rot. They must not be stored together with healthy ones, because rot quickly spreads to neighboring tubers. Then the potatoes are dried in a dry, cool, well-ventilated place, but not in direct sunlight.

For storage itself, the approximate temperature is 4-7 degrees Celsius above zero, although the exact conditions depend on the variety and the intended use of the potatoes. Excess moisture is named as the main threat: condensation on the tubers leads to rotting.

Among the most common mistakes is piling the harvest in a very thick layer without ventilation. Crates should not be placed directly on a cold concrete floor; it is better to use pallets or racks. In the light, tubers turn green and accumulate solanine, so they should be stored in the dark. Potatoes are also not recommended to be kept next to apples, which release ethylene.

In addition to temperature, air humidity is also important for potatoes, and a level of 70-80% is considered optimal. Even a slight increase in temperature or humidity can «wake up» the tubers, and they will start to sprout. Therefore, it is better to store potatoes in wooden crates with gaps or in mesh bags rather than in dense sacks, so that air can circulate around them from all sides. In cold weather, mesh bags with tubers can be covered with straw so that they do not freeze.

Before putting potatoes into storage, it is worth letting them lie for at least two to three weeks after digging, so that they dry out and cracks in the skin heal. Only whole, undamaged tubers should be put into the cellar, and damaged ones should be used first. For long-term storage, it is better to choose mid-season and late varieties, because early ones often sprout as early as autumn and keep only until December.

Potatoes should be sorted at least once a month, and tubers that have started to rot should be removed. If sprouts have already appeared and reached 3-4 centimeters, they can be broken off: this will not stop sprouting completely, but it will help preserve the quality of the tubers. Some growers place a few beets among the potatoes, which absorb excess moisture. It is not recommended to keep potatoes in heated rooms, because warmth and humid air promote rotting.