Trying to store potatoes I grew - Ask Extension
I tried to store potatoes that I grew in a cardboard box, brown paper and a few handfuls of dirt in my mostly dark basement. The potatoes were dug and...
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Trying to store potatoes I grew #921017
Asked October 30, 2025, 4:07 PM EDT
I tried to store potatoes that I grew in a cardboard box, brown paper and a few handfuls of dirt in my mostly dark basement. The potatoes were dug and stored after several days of curing and were stored at different times.The have started to sprout. They were not directly on the ground and may have gotten a few slivers of light. I think they need to be darker and colder but I am having trouble finding the temperature sweet spot.I have a detached unheated garage, a south and east facing concrete foundation, which might be a source of ambient heat so a container might not freeze and a willingness to maybe dig a 5 gallon bucket root celler. If I had to guess it’s no more than 7 pounds of potatoes in total varying in size from kumquats to lunchbox apples.
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
Adrienne,
Thank you for using the Ask Extension service.
Storing potatoes can be tricky as you are finding out. It is important to store potatoes in temperatures between 39-45 degrees F., 90-95% relative humidity, good air circulation and no exposure to sunlight. The high humidity helps to keep the potatoes from drying out and shriveling. (Potatoes are mostly water.) Covering the potatoes or with paper or a burlap bag to keep out light is a good idea but keeping the humidity up in the storage area can sometimes be difficult. Storing them in perforated bags can help with humidity and using perforated bins can increase the air circulation.
Storage life is also affected by the variety of potato you plant. Short season potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, have a shorter storage life. Long season potatoes such as German Butterball will have a longer storage life with the right conditions.
You will need to check the temperature in the unheated garage to see how cold it gets. I would place a thermometer where you want to store the potatoes and check this very early in the morning when the lowest temperature for the night will likely occur. Storing them at lower temperatures than 38 degrees F can cause the potatoes to sweeten and will change the taste.
Storing in a 5 gallon bucket is not ideal as there is little in the way of air circulation and very difficult to maintain high humidity. You could drill holes in the bucket to increase the air circulation and watch for sprouting and spoiled potatoes.
If your potatoes are sprouting already it would be advisable to eat them as soon as possible.
Oregon State University has a good article regarding harvesting and storing potatoes:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/best-practices-harvesting-storing-homegrown-potatoes
I hope you will find this information useful.
Debbie M.
Arapahoe County Master Gardener
Thank you for using the Ask Extension service.
Storing potatoes can be tricky as you are finding out. It is important to store potatoes in temperatures between 39-45 degrees F., 90-95% relative humidity, good air circulation and no exposure to sunlight. The high humidity helps to keep the potatoes from drying out and shriveling. (Potatoes are mostly water.) Covering the potatoes or with paper or a burlap bag to keep out light is a good idea but keeping the humidity up in the storage area can sometimes be difficult. Storing them in perforated bags can help with humidity and using perforated bins can increase the air circulation.
Storage life is also affected by the variety of potato you plant. Short season potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, have a shorter storage life. Long season potatoes such as German Butterball will have a longer storage life with the right conditions.
You will need to check the temperature in the unheated garage to see how cold it gets. I would place a thermometer where you want to store the potatoes and check this very early in the morning when the lowest temperature for the night will likely occur. Storing them at lower temperatures than 38 degrees F can cause the potatoes to sweeten and will change the taste.
Storing in a 5 gallon bucket is not ideal as there is little in the way of air circulation and very difficult to maintain high humidity. You could drill holes in the bucket to increase the air circulation and watch for sprouting and spoiled potatoes.
If your potatoes are sprouting already it would be advisable to eat them as soon as possible.
Oregon State University has a good article regarding harvesting and storing potatoes:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/best-practices-harvesting-storing-homegrown-potatoes
I hope you will find this information useful.
Debbie M.
Arapahoe County Master Gardener
