Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1911-12-29
HOW TO STORE POTATOES
By Prof. J. C. Hogenson, Extension
Utah Agricultural College.

1t is one thing to grow good pota-
such way that they will keep fresh
and firm SO that when the tubers are
to be sold, eaten or planted, they will
be in prime condition.
First-Potatoes when dug should
not be allowed to lie for any length
of time in the warm sun to wilt, be-
cause they will never again regain
their firmness and crispness.
Second-Potatoes should be handled
in such way as not to injure, bruise
or break the skin because when the
potatoes are bruised or the skin brok-
en-, diseases find an easy foothold.
Having harvested the potatoes in
good shape, the next question is to
store them properly. Wherever .pota-
toes are stored they should be kept at
an even, low temperature and perfect
ly dry.
If it is desired to keep the potatoes
in pit, hole may be dug in the
about four feet wide and as long as
needed for the quantity of potatoes to
be pitted. A we'll drained spot should
be chosen for the pit, so that water
will not stand around or in the pit.
About six inches of clean straw may
then be spread over the bottom of the
pit. This, however, is not necessary
and is not desirable if a shovel is to
be used in removing the potatoes
from the pit. The potatoes are then
piled neatly into the pit, so that the
face of the pit at the center will be
three or four feet high. Cover the
potatoes with from three to six inches
of clean, dry straw, then cover the
straw with soil, beginning at the bot
tom and piling 1t toward the apex.
Do not put too much soil on at first.
The ridge of the pit should not be
covered with soil until after the pota-
toes have gone through the sweat"
Dig a ditch all around the pit, using
the soil for the covering. If possible,
the bottom of the ditch should be
lower than the bottom of the pit, and
should have an outlet SO that water
will drain off and insure dry bottom
for the pit.
AS the weather gets colder more
soil must be added and the ridge en-
tirely covered with the exception OF
small hole about every eight feet,
which should be left free from soil
and covered with more straw or hay
to afford ventilation for the potatoes
If potatoes are not kept at a tenn
perature between 33 degrees F. and
40 degrees F. they loose considerable
moisture, wilt, their vitality is low
cred to a great extent, diseases creep
in and hence the potatoes come out in
the spring little better than no pota-
toes. If potatoes stored in this way
are used for seed, many do not grow
at all and those that do grow produce
weak and sickly plants.
If potatoes are stored in the damp,
wet pits, they absorb moisture to
such an extent that their breathing
or respiration is interfered with and
they lose their power to grow, so
that, while the potatoes come out in
| the spring very hard and crisp (more
SO than when they were put into the
pitt, they are not good for planting.
II potatoes are to be stored in a
cellar it should be constructed so that
it will keep perfectly dry, well ven
tilated, and an even low temperature.
Have a raised board floor in each bin
SO that air can circulate under the
potatoes as we!l as over them. Keep
the cellar dark.
A large percentage of the failures
to get good stands of potatoes can
rightly be laid to poor storage of the
seed tubers. Improve upon this one
point and potato growers will find
that their years of failure become
fewer and fewer.