This is how you stored potatoes in the old days when you had no other option. My dad calls it “hole’n up potatoes”. Dig a small round hole, layer it with straw pour your potatoes in and put a thick layer of straw over them, then a layer of dirt, a tarp/or plastic, another layer of dirt, and another piece of tarp/plastic… and weigh it down…. Keeps them dry and cool throughout the winter. These were buried in mid November, got them out today…. Notice how fresh they look. They have aged as well and became more flavorful. My father said this is how people kept access to potatoes during the winter and early spring before the next crop came in
Can this be done in any climate? Hot and humid? Or Cold and frozen ground?
In places where it can't be done in the ground, they are made into a mound. I seen a few sweet potato farmers in South Carolina still doing this.
I’m in the south. To warm would be more of my issue.
I've read about that method. It's called a "clamp". Great book - The Self-Sufficient Life and How To Live It by John Seymour
Just added this to my Amazon cart!
That’s so neat!
I use a cooler full of sand. Layer sand, tater, sand, tater etc until the cooler is full. Leave in garage over winter.
I’m gonna try this this year thanks
Works with carrots too.
Ive had little luck growing carrots but potatoes do good by me
Works with any kind of root vegetables
What kind of sand?
Probably doesn't matter, but play sand should be free of harmful stuff. At least I hope so.
Thank you! I'll try this.
That's pretty clever. I wonder why they don't start growing or rotting.. or why burrowing animals don't get to them?
It’s the mixture of straw and the tarp. The straw keeps the potato’s dry (from humidity) as well as keeping them away from dirt and sunlight, which keeps the potato from sprouting. The Tarp(s) protect not only from Snow/rain but also keeps animals from digging straight down getting to the potatoes.
Stupid question but if want to make my own straw what should I cultivate?
uhm, any kind of grain, really. Oats are easy to process at home without any equipment, and grows crazy fast, so that's probably a good choice.
I just emptied out my bin of those as the rats got into them. Literally a sack of soil kept dry. Kinda sad as the farts were great for driving my sister insane
Can't believe a literal potato motivated me today
How did you store them
How do potatoes stay fresh for that long?
Keep them cool and dry. I stored my Harvest in the Basement. They last easily for 6-9 Months
Very nice bounty.
Hope you consume them quickly. Those lenticels are a sign that they won't last long out of the ground and can quickly grow bacteria unsafe for humans... such as those that can cause listeria, botulism and salmonella.
Everyone should watch the episode of Story Bots that talks about the life cycle of potato’s.
Yes it’s for children but you’ll still learn something while being entertained
Now boil them
I know! I was looking for the kitchen prep photo! A nice scalloped potato dish .. roasted golden..latkes... 😋😋😋
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