This years crop is pretty poor, very few large or even reasonable sized
potatoes mostly small, though a far larger number that usual, I assume
this is due to the adverse weather conditions. However what puzzles me
is that there are a very large number of conjoined potatoes, quite a
number of which have split apart during harvesting. so 2 questions for
the panel.
Is the weather to blame for this, if not what id the cause?
As on splitting there is no skin where they were joined will there be
problems with storage?

"Broadback" wrote in message
...
This years crop is pretty poor, very few large or even reasonable sized
potatoes mostly small, though a far larger number that usual, I assume
this is due to the adverse weather conditions. However what puzzles me
is that there are a very large number of conjoined potatoes, quite a
number of which have split apart during harvesting. so 2 questions for
the panel.
Is the weather to blame for this, if not what id the cause?

As on splitting there is no skin where they were joined will there be
problems with storage?


Potatoes which are partially without skin won't store as they will
dry out too much before the raw end callouses over, even assuming
they're not attacked by a fungus in the meantime. They'll simply
go soft. Use them as quickly as possible.

Or, if you have the facilities -

" Immediately after harvest, healthy potatoes should typically be cured
by holding at 50 to 60 F and high relative humidity with good air movement
for 10 to 14 days to permit suberization and wound periderm formation
(healing of cuts and bruises). Although wound periderm formation is
most rapid at about 70 F, lower temperatures are recommended to reduce
decay. Curing reduces subsequent weight loss and decay by preventing the
entry of Fusarium, soft rot and other decay organisms. The relative humidity
should be about 95%."

http://oregonstate.edu/potatoes/storproc.htm

The point being, that under normal domestic growing conditions the end
of the raw potato is much wetter than the relative humidity of the
surrounding air.


michael adams

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michael adams

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