storing 1st and 2nd earlies

[hawthorns]

can they be stored and for how long

[Alison]

They can be stored in the same way as main crop but as you tend to dig them up earlier they'll usually sprout as it's warmer. I've stored second earlies perfectly well before but they weren't ready until August and it was cool that year. Never tried with earlies, to me the whole point of them is digging them up fresh and eating within a few days, they taste nicer and I like them when they have the flakey skins.

[solway cropper]

As Alison says, the point of first earlies is to get that new potato flavour which you'd lose if you stored them. Second earlies can be stored but I'm not sure if they keep as long as maincrop. I've stored Charlotte and Kestrel till November then we had to eat them!

[Potstubsdustbins]

I find first earlies will keep on the veg rack for about a week then start to deterioate, lose some of their flavour.

Second earlies about the same but seem more tolerant of being left in the ground therfore I just ahrvest a bin as I need it.

Colin

[Shadylane]

Our kestrel lasted as long as main last year. We had our last around early May I think. Had to keep rubbing the chits off though.

[arpoet]

You can always keep them in a sack of very very dry compost in a cool dry place like a garage or basement for a week or two. Dont forget, to get out of season new tatties from Egypt and such places can take a few weeks from picking to eating and they tend to be rolled in peat prior to shipping.
Roger

[Two_Sheds]

I keep a few for up to 9 months in the salad box in our spare fridge - they're saved for replanting

[phil the shed]

i planted some earlies for lifting and eating plus salad pots one bag or pot per week the current harvests have been good may have been the april weather, but some have potato's in them that are huge now not a salad potato i wonder what they will be like in 5 weeks when we get to the last pot if there monsters i'll let you know.

[Flummery]

I just leave them in the ground till I'm ready for them.