Storing spuds.

[brownfingers]

I don't use as many spuds as I used to, so I don't want to get them up all at once. Is it ok to leave them in the ground until needed, rather than getting them all up and storing in sacks?

[Penellype]

It depends a bit on your ground. If you are growing in open soil you may find that they start to be eaten by slugs/wireworms/rats etc. I grew potatoes in a raised bed at my friend's farm and having left some of the potatoes in the soil after they died down there was almost nothing edible when I dug them up. Buckets seem better, although in this year's sluggy conditions they are not perfect. I've kept maincrop potatoes in bags and buckets in their soil until after Christmas, although I do usually bring them into the garage for protection and ease of harvesting.

[brownfingers]

Mine are in raised beds. The spuds I have already harvested have been extremely good (Kestrel). I'll go for the middle ground and harvest some and leave some!

[Alison]

I dig my earlies and second earlies up as I need them but main crop are all dug up in September and stored. That way I can be sure they don't get frost damage and they're ready when I need them.