Knowing when and how to harvest potatoes is unbelievable and easy. The potato plants are happy to point out and let you know exactly when you can harvest your potatoes. The part that grows your own potatoes is all the potato varieties that you have as an option.
Not only are potatoes easy to grow from seed potatoes whether you grow them in the ground or in a grow bag, but they’re also incredibly easy to harvest. I recommend growing potatoes to every home gardener. You can even grow them in a raised bed or Growth Bag. Potatoes are the simplest vegetable to grow as a vegetable beginner gardener because they require very little effort. I highly recommend planting potatoes if you have a beginner garden or especially if you are growing a garden with children. Better yet, the trees will tell you exactly when to harvest. Below you’ll find all the information you need to know EXACTLY when to harvest your potatoes, how to harvest and the best way to store potatoes for a long time.
When to harvest potatoes?
Everyone loves to harvest potatoes. My son calls it an archeological dig because that’s totally what it feels like to harvest potatoes. Kids will love it, but knowing when the time is right is the only major challenge. Here are the simplest things to keep in mind when deciding when to harvest your potatoes:
- The tree blooms at the beginning of the season
- Dry and non-sterile soil
- The tree is dead and it’s been more than 2 weeks
How to harvest potatoes?
To start harvesting potatoes is as easy as knowing when to harvest. To harvest, you will need a container to place them in before the harvest begins. This could be a bucket or pail that you can rinse off. You’ll also need a garden fork if you’re growing them in the ground and some gardening gloves.
Underground:
- Place the garden fork on the ground a foot away from the base of the tree.
- Use a garden fork to dig up the potatoes to expose the roots and tubers (potatoes) under the plant.
- Some potatoes may still be in the ground, so make sure you search carefully with your gloved hands to remove them all.
Growth bag:
- Lift and empty the planter bag wherever you want to leave the soil.
- Grab your gloved hand and move the soil around to pull all the potatoes up.
- Put all the potatoes in the box when you find them.
When you’re done harvesting, wash them thoroughly and let them dry for storage. If you choose to buy new Potatoes instead of storing them, it is important to harvest them when you plan to eat them. You can harvest them when the plants are just dead, but just eat them within a few days and keep them in a dark place until you are ready to eat them.
How to properly store potatoes:
If you want to store potatoes for a long time, they need to go through a process before being stored. You will also need a cool place for them to last longer. A root cellar is ideal but you can do it in a basement.
To cure potatoes for preservation:
- Lay your potatoes flat on newspaper or cardboard in a cool (50-60 degrees), dark place with good humidity for two or three weeks.
- Make sure that there is plenty of airflow in the area you choose to store them in.
For long-term storage:
- Get rid of damaged potatoes
- Put them in a paper bag or cardboard box with holes or anything like that.
- Keep them in 1-2 simple layers instead of a big pile.
- Then cover with newspaper to protect from light.
Where to store potatoes:
You’ll want to store your potatoes in a cool, dark place that’s cooler than where you’re curing. You can use the depth of the basement, the refrigerator (with high humidity) and about 40-45 degrees. You should remove as much light because if you take green potatoes (exposed to light), they will release a poison that damages your stomach.
If you properly store and treat potatoes, they can last for 6-8 months. If your potatoes start to sprout or turn green, make sure you brood them and let them go. You don’t want to eat these potatoes at all.
More about Potatoes including recipes:
