Where do you keep your potatoes?

woodsy · #21 02/25/11, 07:39 AM

I included my basement cold storage plan amongst others in this thread

Root cellar/basement ideas

Use Less · #22 02/25/11, 08:08 AM

Veg boxes in a side room in the basement. Keeping the door closed lets that room be cooler than the cellar. I have about 7-8#'s left from fall digging. I also keep boughten sweet potatoes, winter squash, leeks & onions in there. I separate the onions & leeks away from where the potatoes are. Sue

secretcreek · #23 02/25/11, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Immaculate Sublimity

7thswan I assume your pantry gets some sort of house heat, not like a garage or shed where things would freeze? I'd like to try my hand at planting some this year, but my concern is storage... I have NO place to put them inside. and nothing but a crawl space under the house that DOES freeze. I could probably - like the others said- get a second fridge or freezer and put it in the shed and store them in there , if that would work.

Could you use your crawl space and figure out a way to make it a bit warmer? Seems easier/cheaper, and you'd not be as susceptable to have a power outtage loss.

-scrt crk

ronbre · #24 02/25/11, 10:26 AM

gave all my taters and carrots away last year as I'm on a low carb diet now and not eating starchy veggies, will save me a lot of work growing them this year..switching mostly to perennial fruits and vegetables

suitcase_sally · #25 02/25/11, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

Got some out the other day, and they were as firm and crisp as the day they went in the cellar....where as the Kennebec always turn "rubbery" with LOTS of sprouts by now.

Those "rubbery" ones are best for fries, as most of the moisture has dried out and you don't need the fryer to remove it.

7thswan · #26 02/25/11, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanzone2001

I have an old dresser that I want to find a use for.
Can I keep the drawers in the dresser (in the root cellar) and fill them with potatoes, or do potatoes need more air than that???

That sounds like a great idea! If you are worried, just drill some holes where they can get some air movement and not light. ( I used drawers for planter flats in the greenhouse before I got all my free clean cat litter boxes)

tinknal · #27 02/25/11, 05:50 PM

Google "potato clamp". You will get a ton of ideas.

laughaha · #28 02/25/11, 09:06 PM

Since we live in a trailer and don't have a root cellar anymore- we can them. Lots and lots of them. Blue potatoes turn white and mushy in a canner. Blue potatoes are my favorite, but not when canned.

Harry Chickpea · #29 02/26/11, 01:44 AM

http://books.google.com/books?id=oCk...page&q&f=false

Popular Science Magazine November 1917 page 779 big article on the subject.

shanzone2001 · #30 02/26/11, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thswan

That sounds like a great idea! If you are worried, just drill some holes where they can get some air movement and not light. ( I used drawers for planter flats in the greenhouse before I got all my free clean cat litter boxes)

Good idea! I also like the planter flat idea....instant garden box!

taylorlambert · #31 02/27/11, 12:53 PM

Dad said that wen he was a boy they stored a damp pile of old rotted saw dust to store tater and other roots in the winter.