Potatoes are tubers that come from a plant that, for 3-4 months, from spring to almost summer, we have had to water almost daily so that they could acquire an adequate size. But once the leaves start to wilt, we know the time has come to collect them. Now, what do we do with them later?
If you have doubts about how to preserve the potatoes, Then I will explain everything you can do to make them last longer.
Clean the potatoes
It is the first thing you should do. You have to remove all the dirt that they have attached, for example with a brush or a dry cloth, as it could be that there is some latent fungus, bacteria or virus spore, or even an egg that is about to hatch. This will also help you see more clearly if it has holes caused by insects.
In the event that they are not in perfect condition, the advice that I am going to give you will not be very useful, since both microorganisms and insects will end up destroying the potato and even infect the rest.
Store them in a box
Now that they are well cleaned, it is time to prepare a wooden or plastic box that has holes in the sides so that the air can be renewed, thus avoiding the proliferation of fungi and other microorganisms. We cover it with straw, we introduce the potatoes, and we cover these with more straw. Then, it will only remain to store the box in a cool, dry and dark place.
In this way, you can have potatoes for almost a year without spoiling. Although if you prefer, you can cover them first with incense and eucalyptus leaves, as these two plants have insect repellent properties.
Do you know another method to preserve potatoes?