I don't think I got them into their nice "cool" spot soon enough after I got them. They stayed in my semi-heated basement {and not my cold storage room} through the end of fall while the temperatures outside were still warm, thus keeping my basement a little warmer too.
I borrowed my nephews outdoor thermometer he made at school to see how cold the basement is currently, and the cold storage room surrounded by cement walls read 32 degrees. I think it might be wrong. I mean, my pipes would be frozen if it was really that cold down there wouldn't they? Maybe the rest of my basement, which is larger and isn't completely surrounded by cement is warmer which is maybe why I don't have frozen pipes? I should test the other rooms maybe.
However, potatoes do like a nice cold 32-40 degrees. So maybe I'm good now. Maybe I've halted their demise.
But I feel like I need to do something with them. I'm trying to decide if I should dehydrate a bunch, or can a bunch of them in my new pressure canner. Probably both. I need to go get my pressure canner tested by my local extension agency first though.Hmm, what to do, what to do . . . .
2 comments:
I just discovered your blog, and I love it! I am planting my first potato crop this spring and would appreciate any tips you have. Currently I am working on a food storage plan for our garage, but I live in zone 7b and have no underground storage. I was wondering if I need to figure out a deep freeze option. What do you think? What zone are you planting in?
Thanks Dee! I'm glad you found me! I would get the Root Cellar book I have linked on my sidebar. It will walk you through step by step on how to build varying types of root cellars and will give you the exact conditions your potatoes will need to stay fresh as long as possible. I didn't really pay attention to the conditions at my house close enough for mine. Oops! But I will do better next year.
I didn't grow my own either. I live near a lot of potato farmers, so I let them grow those for me so that I can grow other things!
Cheers!
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