Potato Skins must Set for Storage.

Posted by TopVeg - July 14th, 2007

What is Setting of Potato Skins?

As the potato matures, the skin ’sets’, that is, it thickens and becomes tough. The set skin protects the potato from damage and infection.

How to test for Setting.

When the skins are mature (set), the skin will not scuff when rubbed in the hand, or gently scratched by the thumb. Skins of new potatoes will easily be removed by rubbing with a thumb, as they have not set.

How does the Potato Skin Set?

The green leaves and stalks of potatoes, known as the haulm, will start to die down at the end of the season. The potato tubers will then stop growing and the skins start to set. It usually takes three weeks for the skins to become set, but it is worth digging one tuber up and checking the state of the skin, before lifting. The potatoes should not be harvested for storage until the skins have set.

 

Related articles:

maincrop potato row

Posted in potatoes

4 Comments »

  1. […] supply of potatoes until the following year’s earlies are ready. But the skins must ‘set‘ for the potatoes to store […]

    Pingback by Top Veg » Blog Archive » The difference between New Potatoes and Main Crop. - July 14, 2007 10:24 am

  2. […] should not be lifted for storage until their skins have set.  If the potatoes are large enough to provide the planned yield, the haulm may be removed from the […]

    Pingback by Top Veg » Blog Archive » How to Deal with Potatoes that Look Ready. - July 14, 2007 12:24 pm

  3. I had no idea skins had to set. Of course, we never grew enough to store. I am learning this in time for next year though. With the addition of our 2 x 10 foot bed we can grow more veggies than past years.

    Comment by Lynn - July 15, 2007 9:08 pm

  4. Hi Lynn
    The skins have to set to make them safe for storage - but it doesn’t matter about setting them if you are eating them straight away.
    How exciting to have 2 new beds. What are you planning to grow?
    TopVeg

    Comment by TopVeg - July 16, 2007 6:58 am

Comments RSS  |  TrackBack URI

 

Leave a comment

Blog Home