Storing Main Crop Spuds

[happyhippy]

Hi everyone!I've just started harvesting my main crop spuds and all is looking fab at the moment,and looks like i have a good crop!However in the past I have grown only new spuds and usually just dug them up when needed.Do we do the same with main crops or is it better to dig the whole crop up and store?I have thick brown paper bags(Old spuds bags basically)and a pantry so would they keep ok that way?I feel abit reluctant to keep them in the ground much longer as at the mo they don't have blight.Any advice greatly appreciated!

[Green Aura]

We dig them up (well more tip the bags out really ) clean them off and leave them to dry, then store them in a cool dark place in hessian sacks. Seems to work fine, although, as we only grow a few they've never lasted past Christmas.

Do I get the prize for being the first to mention the C word this year?

[Odsox]

It's still a bit early to harvest maincrop potatoes, depending on the variety it's usual to harvest them when all the foliage has died, around the end of September and October. To store successfully they need to develop a thick skin (a bit like me) to stop them dehydrating and withering, and they don't really do that while the foliage is still green.
To store, all you need is a breathable container (sack, paper bag, crate) and keep them cool and dark.
So I would say treat them like earlies and dig as needed for now and leave the rest where they are for another couple of months (unless you do get blight that is)

[GeorgeSalt]

Last year it was half-a-dozen pillowcases in the loft, the important thing is that the storage container is breathable and lightproof, and that they're kept somewhere reasonable cool. Lasted us until well into new potato season this year. This years crop is another thing altogether, between the weather and blight I suspect they might see us through the Autumn but not much further.

[happyhippy]

Thanks for the replies so far!Yes the foliage has all died back,and the crop looks good!

[diggernotdreamer]

my maincrop potatoes are always ready for harvest around the middle of August every year, I do it on purpose so as I get a decent crop even if I get blight. this year I lopped off all the foliage due to blight a week ago, but I think we have a reasonable crop. About 7 years ago, I started storing my spuds in dustbins or large plastic storage boxes, I layer the spuds with compost which I find keeps them moist and in good condition usually until the middle to end of March, sometimes a bit longer if they don't sprout. I lift mine in the August to avoid slug and eelworm damage and store as above.