Is it safe ?

[snohare]

Nothing to do with diamonds folks, this query is about my potatoes that are sitting in the ground, still unlifted.
They are in a small patch of ground in Aberdeen, two long bus journeys away from where I now live. There is currently about a foot of snow above them, and the temperature has not been above zero.
What I am wondering is, must I lift them as soon as possible because the ground will gradually chill and thus frost the crop ? Or will the snow continue to insulate them from the low air temperatures, which would be a lot more convenient for me since I have nowhere cool to store a couple of sacks of potatoes ? The temperature here is forecast to fall to -11 C, and frankly even if I can dig them up taking them on the country buses is going to be an almighty pain. I would prefer to lift them a carrierbagfull at a time...
All advice and relevant experiences greatly welcomed !

[Nicos]

mornin!!

The snow will indeed be insulating them for now.
What sort of soil do you have?
I think that would be one of the factors to consider.
Most spuds tend to be within the top 10-12", yet most frosts only get a few inches deep into the soil. If your soil is very wet and heavy I'd have thought rotting would be more of a problem.
Our last lottie in Cheshire was peat and that only ever froze down to 3" max and any forgotten spuds survived the winter.(It was always waterlogged in winter too)

I think from what you've said I'd leave them under the snow and take them as you need them.
Once the snow has gone, that's when I would be more wary of rotting/frosting.

(Remember spuds can be stored in clamps to overwinter..so the soil may be just as good)

[gojiberry]

The only problem with leaving them in the ground is slug damage. If I had left mine ther wouldn't be anything left by now as the slugs would have eaten the lot.

Ian

[snohare]

Thanks for the answers, guys. I couldn't log on due to lack of internet, but I am about to go into town and see just how lucky I am...I'll let you know !

[Nicos]

* starts chewing nails....

[Aberdeenplotter]

Goji, seems like you have a definite need for the use of slug namatodes. They kill off the keeled slugs in the ground that do the most damage to spuds. The time to apply the nematodes is at earthing up stage and the ground has to be over 50 degrees for them to survive to do their stuff. I got mine from Jon at Greengarden but I'm sure there are many other suppliers

[snohare]

Goji, seems like you have a definite need for the use of slug namatodes. They kill off the keeled slugs in the ground that do the most damage to spuds. The time to apply the nematodes is at earthing up stage and the ground has to be over 50 degrees for them to survive to do their stuff. I got mine from Jon at Greengarden but I'm sure there are many other suppliers

Hmm, is it just me or does that seem a little Zen...? (That'll be the IT Gremlins methinks. )

Lifted a sackful of tatties, Red Duke of Yorks and Orlas, both were absolutely fine having been sitting under a layer of snow.
Went back again and lifted another carrierbagful, this time of anonymous white tatties, again they were fine although the soil was frozen solid to a depth of about 5 - 10 cm. As it is sandy loam, I was hoping it would not be waterlogged, seems that was so.
Underneath that, it poured like crumbs, with a few frozen lumps.
Oh well, after a few nights of -10, you'd expect that even with six inches of snow on top.
Fresh tatties to hand out to friends this Christmas, RDOYs to eat on Christmas Day - I'm a happy snohare !!