Glut of 1st earlies

[Nannysally99]

Anybody got any good ideas on how to keep new potatoes, I've got loads!
Thanks guys

[Martin H]

I have the same problem, NS. All I know is that unless they are kept cool and dark they will go soft and start sprouting by September.

At the moment I plan to see how many I can get into an old fridge without depressing the beer supply too much.

[Tripmeup]

Why are you digging them all at one time ? If I am understanding correctly
They can be left in the ground until you need them..

[Martin H]

I can't leave mine in the ground, the slugs will get them.

I shall leave the second earlies in though, they are Charlottes and the slugs leave them alone, mostly.

[Greenleaves]

I find first earlies don't like waiting in the soil, mine are up and again more than I can shake a stick at. I part roast my excess with shallots, garlic, rosemary and sea salt. (Well the OH does) then freeze them. Freezing in vacuum bags gives the best results.

[lottie dolly]

prepare and freeze,if you not sure about it,try a few then cook a few days later,just to see what YOU think,or if you have some larger jars,can you cook then can them so to speak,i did some beans the other year and they were fine,again try a jar first,

[Martin H]

Anyone got a good Bombay Aloo recipe?

[Alison]

I find they're best left in the ground and just dig up before I want to eat.

There's a nice Bombay potato recipe in one of the River Cottage books (I think) or it might be the Abel and Cole one. Probably not authentic but very tasty - in fact I think I may do it this weekend with a bit of fish

[Nannysally99]

Mine are all in bins, the haulms are dying off. So I can leave them in the MPC and they won't come to any harm then - allegedly slug free bins

[Penellype]

I'm having a similar problem with my Lady C. I'm wanting to use the ones I planted in the quadgrow pot so I can plant my tomatoes, but the ones in the buckets have been affected by blackleg and I keep having to dig them up. And once dug, they really don't keep, they rot. I have discovered that the bigger ones will mash, and mash freezes very well, so I am eating the small ones and mashing the bigger ones. I dug up the last bucket today.

[cilla]

I have hessian sacks which I put the potatoes in and then put them in the garage where it is cool and dark or a cupboard. The only thing to remember is to label which sack has which potato. I found they last well. Just make sure the potatoes do not have any cuts from digging up or any rotting as they will effect the rest of the potatoes in the sacks.

[Alison]

I have hessian sacks which I put the potatoes in and then put them in the garage where it is cool and dark or a cupboard. The only thing to remember is to label which sack has which potato. I found they last well. Just make sure the potatoes do not have any cuts from digging up or any rotting as they will effect the rest of the potatoes in the sacks.

I do that with my main crop and they last until almost the first digging of the next years earlies. However even in my garage which is relatively cool, I find its too warm to store in the summer and the spuds start to deteriorate quickly. Think I like the skins on earlies just after they're dug up too, before they harden so I can just wash and cook within minutes if digging up. Suppose it depends on what you like

[Containergardener]

Moonshine ?..... Vodka ....?

[sparrow100]

I do the same as cilla - my garage is nice and cool so first and second earlies last till about January in there. I would like to leave them in the bed till I want them, but I don't have enough space - my leeks and swedes need a home!

Am just digging them all up now - there aren't as many as I had hoped for, but I am guessing that that is due to the shoddy spring we had.

[muddled]

The old fashioned way to keep your 'news'

Tear up some newspaper.
Loosely wrap each spud and place in a biscuit tin. When the tin is full, bury it in the back garden.
Keeps 'em good till at least christmas.