Every lusty and delectable meal feature everyone ’s favorite veggie : the murphy . And since they ’re a democratic option and well-off to produce , chance are you ’ve already get things cultivated and fertilized and your crop are ready to poke up . But is harvest your potatoes a hard task ? And how do you live when it ’s sentence to unearth them ?

luckily , this guide on when and how to harvest your spud is here to help oneself . We ’ll spill the edible bean on all the tools you ’ll need , the best tips and tricks to keep in mind , and more , so you ’ll be ready to hoard your potato and cook up a delicious meal for the whole sept .

While this article will focus on how to harvest spud , you may be rummy about how to plant your own crops . If you ’re seem to start small , check out our hint onhow to mature tater in a container . And if you ’re interested in a larger scale undertaking , considerhow to implant tater in your backyard .

Different colored zinnias growing in the garden

Materials You’ll Need for Harvesting Potatoes

Before you get to digging , there are a few tools you ’ll need . Fortunately , we ’ve stupefy the line - up sorted below so you ’ll be all dress for harvesting .

When to Harvest Potatoes

Before we delve into the statement for harvest Solanum tuberosum , it ’s authoritative to live when they are ready to be remove from the flat coat . Fortunately , even though Solanum tuberosum are underground , it ’s obvious when they ’re ready for crop .

novel potatoes , known as tubers , can be reap when the plant commence to flower in spring and other summer . They have thin skins that are easily damaged , so heedful harvesting is all important . That being say , harvest new white potato usually sacrifices the parent plant , meaning it will not grow mature tater after in the season .

Storage potatoes are harvested at the end of the growing season when the plant has fully mature . The foliage will become dried and shriveled , making it clear that the stump spud are quick for picking . Once the foliage has die out , wait two week to harvest , allowing the potatoes to develop thicker skins

Applying an insect relief cream

Instructions for Harvesting Potatoes

Step 1: Dig up a Test Potato

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Before you start revealing the entire crop , it ’s important to insure your spuds are in reality quick to be unearthed . That means you ’ll necessitate to dig up a test white potato . To part , seize your power shovel or spading fork , slip on your gloves , and keep a collection dish or basket nearby .

When digging for potatoes , it ’s crucial to carefully off the stain – using your hand is a bully alternative – and plagiarise around the base of the plant life to relax the potato . guarantee that the temperatures are around 13 - 18 academic degree Celsius ( 55 - 65 arcdegree Fahrenheit ) and check that to keep the potatoes out of direct sunlight .

Dog shaking off after playing in the pool-1

If your tater are ready to be harvested , they ’ll have thick skins that are firmly attached to the flesh . Simply abide by the same careful process to remove them all ( or as many as you ’d wish ) from the ground .

Step 2: Cure the Potatoes

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Once you ’ve cautiously removed the potatoes from the ground , they need to be cured . But before you bring around them , brush off any soil using a soft - briery brushing or material . Avoid washing them until you use them as this can reduce the storage life and have mold .

The curing process is rather unsubdivided , involving little attention and clock time . That being said , it ’s significant to use any potatoes damage from harvest immediately since they will not keep and will only cause other genus Tuber to mature and molder .

Farmer digging potatoes in the garden. Harvest organic potatoes.

To bring around your murphy , just allow them to ride in temperature of 7 - 16 level Celsius ( 45 - 60 degree Fahrenheit ) for two weeks . Keep them in a glowering place in a handbasket or container that allows for breathing . This will give the skins a chance to harden , pull in them ready to eat and/or store .

Step 3: Store the Potatoes

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by rights storing your tater is just as important as harvest and cooking them . white potato prefer cool , sullen spaces ( 4 - 7 academic degree Anders Celsius or 40 - 45 grade Fahrenheit ) with 90 % humidity . They should also be kept in a burlap sack or newspaper bag for proper breathing as well as protection from the light .

Also , avoid putting them in the refrigerator since this can move around the amylum into clams , affecting the taste of the cook potato . They also should n’t be kept with other produce since this can cause them to mature and rot more quickly .

Man in straw hat harvesting potatoes

Final Tips for Harvesting Potatoes

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In Summary

As it move around out , harvesting your own potatoes is just as gentle as grow them . The crop will say you when they ’re ready , and then it ’s just a topic of carefully unearth them and cleaning them off for storage . Plus , the fabric and peter you ’ll need are quite minimal , adding to the hassle - free nature of the project .

Once you ’ve reap and prepared your potatoes , it ’ll be clip to cook them up . as luck would have it , we ’ve also polish up plenty ofrecipesto get you started .

Hands holding potatoes

Potatoes stored in paper bag

Planting potatoes