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utumn can come too early for most, especially vegetable gardeners. It can be frustrating to just become accustomed to those fresh veggies when the first killing frost arrives. Sure, covering can help, but eventually winter will arrive. For most vegetables, preservation techniques such as freezing or canning are in order. Other crops, such as potatoes, are better stored in a controlled environment. The tuber, which is a modified part of the stem and is the vegetative structure used for reproduction, does not can or freeze well. Storage of the potato crop begins before harvest. It is best to wait for the vines to die, or cut the vines if needed. Once the vines are dead, the tuber undergoes a physiological change preparing it for dormancy. A potato — dug when the vines are green — will store fine as well, just not as long. The tubers should be left in the ground for up to a week — even longer if the soil is dry. Watch the weather, though. Wet soil will cause dormancy to break and sprouting can occur. Dig carefully as any damaged potatoes will rot in storage — eat them first. Allow the potatoes to dry, preferably in a shady area. This will cause something called “skin set,” which toughens the skin and helps the tuber retain moisture in storage. Potatoes left in the sun can turn green, which will cause them to become bitter and may cause stomach upset. Once the potatoes have been dug and dried, do not wash them. Brush the soil off instead, as this will retain the skin set. When storing, they should be in an area that has absolute darkness. It should be cold but not freezing; humid, but not damp. Sounds like a root cellar, right? An area in an unfinished basement away from the furnace will do just fine. The potatoes should be kept in something that can breathe. I still like burlap sacks, but they are getting harder to find. Containers that are unsuitable are anything plastic. The potatoes will rot if they cannot breathe. Try to store some potatoes for the winter. It’s nice to cook a meal with the product of your hard work, especially through the long winter.
JASON GOLTZ is a North Dakota State University Master Gardener Fall 2016 • Southern Valley LIVING | 7