Harvesting Potatoes: 4 Exclusive Harvesting Techniques and Post Harvest Care

Introduction

Harvesting potatoes is a fulfilling process, as the fruits (or rather, tubers) of your labor emerge from beneath the earth’s surface, ready to bring sustenance and delight. Potatoes are harvested after months of careful cultivation, patience, and expectation. In this blog, we’ll go deeply into the science and tactics of potato harvesting, providing insights into best practices, timing, tools, and the enjoyable experience of harvesting. For visual aid, check out my vlogs, in which Bob exclusively shares his experiences about cultivation as well as the harvesting.

Understanding Potato Growth

Before beginning the process of harvesting potatoes, it’s critical to understand the potato growth cycle. Because potatoes are tubers, which are an enlarged underground storage organ of the plant, the health of the plant above ground has a direct impact on the development of these tubers, so growth must be closely monitored.

The Growth Cycle

Potatoes normally go through four major stages during their growth cycle.

1. Sprouting: It starts with seed potatoes, which can be whole potatoes or portions with at least one “eye” or bud. When planted in soil, these eyes sprout and produce roots and shoots.
2. Vegetative Growth: Green leafy stems emerge above the earth as the plant matures. During this stage, the plant focuses on photosynthesis, which converts sunlight into energy stored underground in developing tubers.
3. Tuber Initiation: The growth of the stolons, or underground stems, signals the start of tuber development. Tuber formation begins at the ends of these stolons. The plant continues to grow, and the tubers eventually expand to store more energy.
4. Tuber Bulking and Maturation: The final step occurs when the tubers achieve their maximum size. The plant above ground begins to die back, indicating that the potatoes are ready for harvest.

Understanding these stages is critical for identifying the optimal time of harvesting potatoes, ensuring that your crop is fully developed and of high quality.

When to Harvest: Timing is Everything

Harvesting potatoes at the proper time is critical for increasing output and guaranteeing optimal flavor, texture, and storage potential. The date of your harvest is determined by the sort of potato you’re growing early, mid-season, or late varieties as well as the purpose of your potatoes, whether they’ll be consumed right away or stored for later.

Indicators of Readiness

1. Foliage Dieback: One of the most consistent markers that your potatoes are ready to harvest is yellowing and dieback in the foliage. This usually happens 2-3 weeks after the plant has blossomed. The plant naturally diverts energy from the leaves to the tubers, causing the plant’s above-ground components to gradually diminish.
2. Skin stiffness: Another important indicator in potato harvesting is the stiffness of the potato skin. Mature potatoes have thicker skin that does not easily rub away when handled. This is critical for storage since potatoes with thin skins are more prone to injury and rotting.
3. Desired Size: If you want fresh potatoes (tiny, immature tubers), start harvesting sooner, around the time the plants blossom. However, for fully ripe potatoes, wait until the foliage has entirely faded down.

Harvest Preparation: Techniques and Tools

Once you’ve verified that your crop is ready, it’s time to prepare for harvesting potatoes. Having the correct equipment and procedures can make the process go more smoothly and fun, while also reducing tuber damage.

Essential Tools

1. Garden forks and spades: These are the major instruments for harvesting potatoes. A garden fork is frequently preferred because its tines may penetrate the earth without cutting through the tubers, as a spade would. To prevent cutting the potatoes with a shovel, dig farther away from the plant.
2. Gloves: Protect your hands from mud and sharp items that may be hiding underground. Gloves are also useful when working with soil-borne pathogens or pests.
3. Containers: Use baskets or crates to collect harvested potatoes. Keep them well-ventilated to avoid moisture buildup, which can cause to rot.
4. Marker Stakes or Flags: If you’re harvesting from a large plot, use markers to highlight rows or areas that have previously been harvested so you don’t miss any potatoes or dig the same spot twice.

Harvesting Techniques

1. Loosen the dirt: Start by gently loosening the dirt around the plant. Insert the garden fork or shovel approximately a foot away from the plant’s base, angled slightly inward as you lift the soil. This allows you to unearth the potatoes without hurting them.
2. Lifting the Plant: In potato harvesting, it is very important to check that once the earth has loosened, carefully raise the plant by its stems and shake off any extra soil. You should see some potatoes linked to their roots, but many will still remain concealed in the soil.
3. Collecting Tubers: Sift through the soil with your hands or a garden fork to collect all of the tubers. Be meticulous, as missed potatoes may grow the next year, interrupting crop rotation plans.
4. Inspect the Potatoes: As you harvesting potatoes, check each potato for signs of disease or injury. Discard any that are green or severely bruised, as they may contain toxins such as solanine, which can be dangerous if swallowed.

Post-Harvest Care: Ensuring Longevity and Quality

After harvesting potatoes, appropriate handling and storing of your potatoes is critical to preserving their quality and increasing their shelf life. This includes curing, sorting, and storing the potatoes under proper circumstances.

Curing Potatoes

Curing is the process of allowing newly harvested potatoes to heal small scratches or bruises and produce a thicker skin, hence extending their storage life.

1. Location: Select a dark, well-ventilated environment with high humidity (85-95%), and a temperature of 60-65°F (15-18°C). A basement, garage, or enclosed outdoor location can be ideal for curing. For better understanding I have shared the information about different zones in my blogs.
2. Duration: Arrange the potatoes in a single layer, making sure they do not touch. Allow them to heal for approximately 1-2 weeks. During this stage, the skin toughens and tiny wounds heal.
3. Avoiding Light Exposure: It’s critical to keep the potatoes in the dark when curing. Exposure to light can cause them to become green and produce solanine, a bitter and potentially deadly chemical.

Sorting and Storing in Harvesting Potatoes

After curing, it’s time to sort and store the potatoes. This process is critical to ensuring that only high-quality potatoes are stored, lowering the chance of spoiling.

1. Sorting: Separate the potatoes based on size and quality. Set aside any broken or blemished potatoes for immediate use because they will not preserve well. Larger potatoes normally last longer, however smaller potatoes should be utilized sooner.
2. Storage Conditions: After harvesting potatoes should be stored in a cold, dark, and humid setting, ideally at 45-50°F (7-10°C) with 90-95% humidity. Avoid storing potatoes in the refrigerator because low temperatures can cause starches to convert to sugars, changing the flavor.
3. Ventilation: Keep a healthy airflow around the potatoes to prevent moisture buildup and mold growth. Place them in burlap sacks, baskets, or wooden crates coated with straw or newspaper.
4. Regular Checks: Check your stored potatoes regularly, eliminating any that show indications of sprouting, softening, or rotting to prevent them from contaminating the others.

Troubleshooting: Common Harvesting Issues

Harvesting potatoes is quite technical even with the finest care, difficulties might develop throughout the harvesting and post-harvest processes. Being aware of these potential difficulties and knowing how to manage them will help you maximize your yield while minimizing losses.

Green Potatoes

As previously stated, exposure to light can cause potatoes to turn green. This is due to the formation of chlorophyll, which is safe in itself but is frequently accompanied with solanine, a glycoalkaloid that is deadly in large amounts.

1. Prevention: Green potatoes can be prevented by keeping them well covered in soil during the growth season and in the dark after harvest.
2. Solution: If only a little section of the potato is green, trim it before cooking. However, if a big region is impacted, it is preferable to discard the potato.

Bruising and Damage

Potatoes are sensitive and easy to bruise during harvest and handling. Bruised potatoes are more likely to rot, and this can spread to other stored potatoes.

1. Prevention: Handle potatoes gently during harvest, and use garden forks instead of spades to decrease the chance of cutting the tubers.
2. Solution: Use any bruised or damaged potatoes as soon as possible, and avoid storing them among healthy ones.

Rot and Mold

Rot can occur during storage if the potatoes are exposed to too much moisture or if damaged potatoes are not removed quickly.

1. Prevention: To avoid the spread of rot, ensure appropriate curing, adequate ventilation, and regular checks.
2. Solution: Discard any potatoes that show signs of rot or mold right once, and inspect neighboring potatoes for any signs of spoiling.

The Joy of Harvesting Potatoes

There’s something deeply fulfilling about harvesting potatoes. Perhaps it’s the excitement of discovering these hidden jewels in the soil, or the connection to a lengthy legacy of potato farming that crosses cultures and continents. Harvesting potatoes is more than just a labor; it’s a celebration of nature’s abundance and the culmination of months of effort.

As you take each potato from the earth, you are participating in a time-honored tradition that has fed generations. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a first-time potato grower, the sense of success and the prospect of excellent meals make the labor worthwhile.

Conclusion

Harvesting potatoes is both a science and an art, involving careful consideration of timing, technique, and post-harvest care. Understanding the growing cycle, preparing the necessary instruments, and adhering to best practices can assure a plentiful and high-quality harvest.

But, beyond the science, potato harvesting is a tremendously satisfying experience that connects us to the land and the food we eat. Whether you’re cultivating potatoes on a huge scale or in a tiny backyard garden, the thrill of harvesting these humble tubers reminds you of the simple but profound pleasures of working with the ground.

So, as you delve into the earth and discover the results of your labor, take a time to enjoy the experience. Celebrate the journey from seed to table and savor the tasty, nutritious results of your labor.