[AT] digging potatoes

[David Bruce]

My experience related to a 1/4 acre of spuds - if a much larger spot 
this might not be possible but I raise the idea in the hopes of 
generating ideas.

I can say that once the spuds are cured the skins are a lot tougher.  In 
those times we would place the cured spuds in a room in the tobacco 
packhouse that was lined with straw, potatoes poured on the straw then 
covered with more straw.  Later old quilts were used to cover the pile 
and all light was blocked.  For us (in NW NC) the program worked and I 
remember tossing potatoes from the last season in prep for the new spuds 
that were way better than what you see every day in the supermarket. 
Maybe not viable on a larger scale but maybe something to spur thoughts.

David
NW NC

On 6/30/2013 2:40 PM, jtchall at nc.rr.com wrote:
> Its muddy everywhere right now. We got through planting sorghum last week
> and when we harrowed the fields the first time we had to let the sun and
> wind dry them before we could cut them again.
>
> I suppose we could get them out and leave them in baskets for a couple days
> for the chunks of mud to dry then gently brush them off before putting them
> in storage. Right now it looks like more rain coming, we've had it for 4
> days straight. We can't do anything until it dries up enough to get in there
> with a tractor, too many to dig by hand, or you could say I'm too lazy to do
> so!
>
> John
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Herb Metz
> Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2013 1:03 PM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] digging potatoes
>
> My first thought is size of your patch, then variations in moisture
> conditions throughout the patch.  Suggest you dig enough hills in the
> (moisture)extremes areas to make a decision as to continue digging, or wait
> another week or so.
> Rather than washing them, I would leave a bit of soil on the potatoes being
> stored.
> Herb
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Bruce
> Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2013 12:00 PM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] digging potatoes
>
> A few decades ago my grandpa would always grow a large amount of
> potatoes, planted his around Memorial Day and harvested in mid to late
> August.  Grown in a hollow that was always too wet to work any sooner.
> My great uncle (his brother in law) would always proclaim the potatoes
> would rot in storage because they were harvested in the dog days.  That
> never was a major problem.  By that time the soil was reasonably dry so
> the potatoes could be plowed out, picked up (I was one of those lucky
> ones), stored in baskets long enough for the skins to cure enough so
> they would not rub off and only then placed in there storage spot for
> the winter.
> I would be concerned that washing right after harvesting would rub off
> some of the skin.  I might consider temporary storage in baskets until
> they cure a bit and then washing, drying and permanently storing.
>
> David
> NW NC
>
>
>
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