I've just harvested a bunch of potatoes in upstate New York and I'm hoping to save many of them for planting next season. It's my first time attempting to store seed potatoes, so I need some advice on how to keep them successfully through the winter. I know they need to be kept in a ventilated, dark space between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. My basement is heated to prevent the pipes from freezing, which keeps it at around 65 degrees. Outside, it will soon get below 35 degrees. I'm wondering what my best options are. Should I consider putting in a root cellar or something similar?
5 Answers
I'm thinking about just using my fridge to store the potatoes since it usually stays below 40 degrees. The downside is space, and I’d hate to take up room in there for 6 months. A mini-fridge might be too much trouble. I'm also unsure about those coolers you can bury in the yard for air flow.
I kept my potatoes in an empty flower pot in my garage last fall. By spring, they had sprouted! Instead of tossing them, I planted them, and they turned out great. You might give that a try if you have a suitable space.
Last year, I stored my potatoes in a container filled with dry dirt in my shed, and it worked fine as long as they didn't freeze. I'm in a warmer zone, so it might be riskier for you if it gets too cold.
Yeah, it gets a lot colder here, so freezing might be an issue with that method.
I'm in a similar spot and considering digging a hole deeper in my crawl space as a 'root cellar'. The waterproofing guys said I might be able to convince them to help dig it for some food and drinks! It might be easier than trying to figure out a spot outside.
For me, it's not just potatoes but other tubers too, so I need to find the best option for all of them!
If you have part of your basement with bare cement walls or floor, that area might be cooler than the air temperature. You could use a metal box that sits flush there and insulate it from the warmer air. That's a good workaround if you're worried about the heat.
I have dirt and stone down there, so I wonder if there's a cooler spot. Good point!
I thought about burying a cooler too, but I have the same concern about airflow. It's tricky!