Comments on: Storing potatoes

By: stonehead

stonehead — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 17:03:17 +0000

I’d suggest lining the bins with 25mm (or even 50mm) insulation board. I considered this for ours, but decided to chance it with just straw this year.

We get temperatures down to -15C or so outside, and -10 or so in the hay shed, byre and workshop. So far this winter, the potatoes in the bins down the centre of the hay shed have stayed around 5C or so.

The bins along the walls get much colder, but I’ve used the potatoes stored in them and now keep barley and sow rolls in them.

If you do decide to try our method, do remember to ensure there is some ventilation out the top of the bins. If the potatoes are warmer than the outside temperature, you’ll get condensation on the underside of the lids and this can encourage rot.

I slid a couple of wooden wedges under the edge of the lids, leaving a clearance of about 5mm. This seemed to do the trick.

By: Cheryl Walker

Cheryl Walker — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:48:21 +0000

Just a question about your storage method - I’m trying to find a way to adapt it to my use in Western Canada. I’m wondering how cold it gets in the bin. My old house doesn’t have any sort of root cellar, but I do have an uninsulated back entrance. The back entrance gets to about minus 15 Celsius, and I think that’s likely too cold to keep potatoes even with insulation.

Thanks for your assistance, and I enjoyed reading your blog.

By: stonehead

stonehead — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 05:42:48 +0000

We quit the Aberdeenshire Freecycle as it was taken over by the something-for-nothing crowd, as opposed to the original concept of seeing things get re-used and recycled.
When you offered something, you’d get 50 or 60 replies wanting it in a few seconds. Then, when you contacted a person to say they could have it, they’d demand that it be delivered to them, demand that it was in “as new” condition or change their mind as they hadn’t realised what the item was.
At the same time, the barrage of “I want it” emails from people at work or on the web 24 hours a day made it hard for people like us (who aren’t on the internet constantly) to get a shot at something.
They were also planning to ban Wanted posts as a lot of people didn’t like being asked for stuff.
Aberdeenshire Freecycle can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Aberdeen_Freecycle/

By: itwillallbefine

itwillallbefine — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 04:56:14 +0000

Good to see you back posting. You’re an inspiraration. I got my ‘new’ blender from freecycle. Do they do that kind of thing round your way?

Sarah

By: stonehead

stonehead — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 13:30:47 +0000

Days and days!
But the Wee ‘Un is a big help - he’s very good at finding the partially green potatoes and the ones with cuts/holes, putting them in his bucket and emptying them into the pig feed bin. (We cut the green bits off and discard them when we feed the pigs.)
The Wee ‘Un was particularly proud of himself last Friday as he managed to count to 30 for the first time - he counts the potatoes as he sorts them.

By: Melanie Rimmer aka Chickpea

Melanie Rimmer aka Chickpea — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 12:20:18 +0000

It must take a heck of a long time to go through that process for a tonne of spuds.

By: Dad

Dad — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 09:34:00 +0000

Congratulations on a successful potato crop folks!
I look forward to hearing how the storage system goes as time passes.