How to Store Maincrop Potatoes
Maincrop potatoes can supply the kitchen well into spring if they are harvested gently and kept cool, dark and frost-free. Store only dry, sound tubers with no cuts, green patches, bruises or disease. Darkness is essential, as light causes greening and makes potatoes unsuitable for eating.
Best storage conditions
Aim for 4-8 degrees C in a dark, frost-free, well-ventilated place. A cool shed, garage, cellar or insulated porch can work, provided temperatures stay steady and the crop is protected from frost. Humidity should be moderately high enough to prevent shrivelling, but not so damp that mould develops. Keep sacks off a concrete floor if condensation is likely, and exclude all light.
How long it keeps
Sound maincrop potatoes generally keep for 4-6 months, and sometimes into spring in stable conditions. Their keeping quality varies by variety and season. Check every few weeks, removing soft, wet, shrivelled or sprouting tubers. Use damaged potatoes immediately after harvest rather than adding them to storage.
Storage methods
Lift maincrop potatoes on a dry day after the skins have set. Let them dry on the soil surface for a few hours only, protected from direct sunlight, then sort carefully. Do not wash storage potatoes. Place sound tubers in breathable paper or hessian sacks, or in dark wooden boxes lined with paper; never use plastic sacks. Keep containers loosely filled so air can circulate, and cover them to exclude light. Store in a cool, dark, frost-free shed, garage or cellar. Check regularly, removing any rotten tuber before it affects the rest.
Preserving
Cooked mashed potato, roasted pieces and potato soup can all be frozen in portions, although texture may change. For a freezer supply, blanch cut potato pieces briefly, cool and freeze on trays before bagging. Potatoes can also be bottled or used in relishes only by following a trusted preserving recipe. Avoid attempting to preserve damaged or green potatoes.
Tips
Do not store potatoes near apples, onions or strong-smelling produce. Green tubers, heavily sprouted tubers and any with extensive damage should not be eaten. If your shed freezes, move sacks temporarily to a protected frost-free place. A black cover over breathable sacks keeps out light while allowing air to move.
Storing Maincrop Potatoes: frequently asked questions
How do I store maincrop potatoes?
Lift maincrop potatoes on a dry day after the skins have set.
How long does maincrop potatoes keep in storage?
Sound maincrop potatoes generally keep for 4-6 months, and sometimes into spring in stable conditions.
What are the best conditions for storing maincrop potatoes?
Aim for 4-8 degrees C in a dark, frost-free, well-ventilated place.
Store only sound, dry produce and check regularly. For bottling and preserving, follow a trusted recipe. Page updated 18 Sep 2026.