Potatoes are one of the cheapest and tastiest sources of carbohydrates, and they are even cheaper when homegrown in abundance and properly stored. One plant can produce several potatoes. Do not store potatoes from the garden in plastic bags like those found in grocery stores. Use the following ways to store spuds from the garden, and keep them fresh for several weeks or even months without spoilage.
Precautionary Statement
Keep in mind that humidity and temperatures must be ideal to store potatoes from the garden for long periods of time. Some farms and produce warehouses use special units for storing garden potatoes. They maintain the proper temperature and humidity. Store potatoes as long as possible in the following manner, and watch for signs of spoilage. For best results, promptly discard those that begin to spoil. The length of time they will last depends largely upon handling and storage conditions, but some have been known to keep up to six months.
Cure the Spuds Before Planning to Store Them
Potatoes fresh from the garden have very thin skin, Before planning to store fresh potatoes from the garden, they should be cured or hardened. This can be accomplished by gently wiping away the loose soil by hand and placing them in a brown paper bag that has been trimmed down and ventilated with holes. Keep the open bag of potatoes on a screened porch, in a garage, or in a similar location for ten to fourteen days. Keep them out of direct sunlight. The direct sun will cause the potatoes to turn green.
Discard Diseased or Damaged Spuds
After the potatoes have been cured, examine them more closely. Wipe away remaining loose dirt with a clean dry cloth, and look for signs of disease, spoilage, or damage. When attempting to store spuds from the garden they must be in prime condition. Immediately throw away any that appear diseased. They must be kept away from the rest. Those with cuts and bruises can be separated and used within a few days.
Store Potatoes in an Ideal Location
Find a cool dark location when planning to store potatoes from the garden. The ideal temperature to store garden-fresh spuds is between forty-five and fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Any cooler and the starch will turn to sugar, and this is just one reason why it is not good to store them in the refrigerator. Store them in a location any warmer and they will begin to sprout and mature.
The area where you store the potatoes should not be too dry or they will lose valuable moisture. The relative humidity should be high when attempting to store potatoes from the garden to prevent dehydration. Ideally the humidity should range between ninety and ninety-five percent. Store them in the proper conditions and they will last well into the winter and beyond.
Sources: http://www.slhfarm.com/storing.html
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