Preparing and planning for potato storage – British Potato Review

Now is a good time to check storage facilities, clean them and make any necessary repairs to ensure they provide the best possible energy performance, an agronomist has advised.

Andrew Goodinson, a Herefordshire-based agronomist, and potato specialist at Hutchinsons, said: “Last year’s conditions at harvest are likely to have left silver scurf, black dot and fusarium spores in the store, so vacuuming, washing and disinfecting them will help keep this year’s crop in the best possible condition in store.”

Potato boxes will normally have been stored outside and therefore subjected to UV light, which will have killed the spores.

“Any old or dirty fridges and fans will impact on storage efficiency, so they need to be checked and cleaned. Inspect the store thoroughly for any air leaks, sealing them and optimising insulation will make a difference to your energy use and carbon footprint.”

Last year, store loading was protracted, which meant that in many cases the doors could not be closed promptly enough, affecting temperatures and drying, so for this year he suggests fitting screens.

Andrew also reminds growers that they should ensure that boxes are stacked in a way that leaves the alleys sufficiently wide to encourage the airflow to go through the boxes, and that stacks are the same height.

“Depending on the age and condition of the potato store, adopting these practices could significantly reduce energy use and your carbon footprint.”