For storage potatoes, start harvest soon after the vines have died back in a natural way on their possess and have been dead for about two months. To check maturity, dig up 1 or two take a look at hills of potatoes. The skins on mature potatoes ought to continue to be firmly connected to the tubers when rubbed with a finger. If the skins on the tubers are slender and rub off simply, the crop is not completely experienced and will not shop effectively. Wait a several far more days right before harvesting.
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Potatoes can tolerate a light frost, 30 to 32 degrees, although still in the ground, but heavier frost will affect potato high-quality and shorten their storage life. Freezing temperatures bring about the potato flesh to flip gray or black.
Decide on a heat, dry day to harvest. With a spading fork, dig up the hills staying cautious to dig considerably plenty of away from the principal plant to stay away from bruising, skinning, or slicing the tubers. Carefully brush off a majority of soil, but do not clean them. Washing decreases storage lifestyle and improves the probable for rots.
Kind out any potatoes destroyed for the duration of harvest and use them for clean taking in as quickly as doable. Ruined potatoes are very likely to rot in storage.
Curing and storage
Before positioning potatoes in storage, the tubers really should be cured. Remedy potatoes at a temperature of 45 to 60 degrees and substantial relative humidity (85-95%) for two weeks. Therapeutic of minor cuts and bruises and thickening of the pores and skin occurs in the course of the curing system. Use perforated plastic bags to deliver the substantial humidity necessary throughout curing.