Excessive damage will lead to increased problems in store and eventual down grading of the produce. Extra care will be needed at later harvests as cold potatoes damage more easily. Drying To prevent the development of skin blemish diseases and soft rots, tubers should be dried as quickly as possible after lifting. Drying within 48 hours using positive ventilation systems has been shown to significantly reduce the development of silver scurf. Curing The curing period immediately following harvest, often referred to as the 'wound healing period', is one of the most important storage phases.
Wound healing occurs most rapidly at high temperatures and high humidity.
However, these conditions also favour the development of rots and skin diseases. Ventilating the store on dry afternoons during the curing period will normally provide suitable conditions for this to take place. The recommended storage temperature depends on the end use and length of storage period. When the temperature of the potatoes has been reduced it is of utmost importance not to allow warmer air of high humidity to enter the store. This will result in condensation on the surface of the tubers and subsequent disease development.