Tips and ideas for harvesting and storing potatoes

There’s something magical about food that grows under the ground. You never know what you will get until you get digging.  

Jeff Carter shares that once potato plants bloom you can start the harvest and go all season long. The best of all your harvest can keep going until the ground freezes. The Canadian time frame for ground freeze varies significantly from coast to coast. Jeff advises to keep an eye on the weather forecast in your area for the final date to get your hands dirty. 

Speaking of getting your hands dirty, it can be the best way to harvest to avoid the risk of jabbing any of the potatoes.  If you compromise the skin of the potato during digging, separate compromised potatoes out for quick consumption, as damaged potatoes will not store well. 

Potatoes as Jeff Carter relates, can be enjoyed until it’s time to plant next year’s crop. There are a few things to keep in mind to store potatoes to increase their shelf-life. 

There’s really no need to brush them off perfectly– a little dry dirt doesn’t hurt. Jeff also advises that prior to storage, potatoes should be cured. This entails laying out the harvest on newspapers for two weeks in a cool environment out of the weather. The big thing to remember is to never wash your storing potatoes. This will drastically shorten their storage life.  

For more on potatoes and how to enjoy them check out some of our potato recipes. 

For more tips on harvest, storage and food prep for farmers, gardeners and homesteaders, subscribe here and get Small Farm Canada delivered straight to your door!