Cassis Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 How do you store your potatoes here? I can't find paper or hessian sacks anywhere, not even the agric shop, so what's the preferred method in France? I've got plenty of cool dark space in the cave but not sure whether just to stack them in caissons if I can't find any sacks. [8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 do you not have news papers over there? thats what i have always used[8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 What exactly do you do with the newspapers, Pads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 [quote user="Cassis"]How do you store your potatoes here? I can't find paper or hessian sacks anywhere, not even the agric shop, so what's the preferred method in France? I've got plenty of cool dark space in the cave but not sure whether just to stack them in caissons if I can't find any sacks. [8-)][/quote] My father stores them in his 'sous-sol' where it is very cold in winter and cool in summer. He has made a big box out of thickish planks about 2ft deep, 4ft wide, 2 ft tall, it is off the floor on some bricks (about 6 or so inches) Quite a big box really but then he had 4 kids to feed! The box is on the north side of the 'sous sol' possibly to make sure it is in the coldest place possible (some kind of old garderner's tale according to him).His crop goes in there and every layer or so, he sprinkles over them some kind of grey powder which will inhibit the growth of the 'eyes' of the potatoes.... So when consuming extra wash the spuds to make sure no residue of powder is going to be ingested....Don't know the name of it but could find out for you. I think he gets it from 'Bricomachin watsit' or som'it like that. And over that box, as a lid, is a big sheet of potato sack but you could cover it with newspaper just the same. It seem to work OK as his crop does see the family through until at least march/april of the next year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 [quote user="Cassis"]What exactly do you do with the newspapers, Pads?[/quote]Ohhhh im so tempted to say....................[6]But no...............I wrap them up in it, put them in a big cardboard box and leave them in my cool dark pantry, how do you do yours normally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 Thank you Pads and MYB. We had industrial quantities of spuds last year and they started to sprout by Jan or Feb - ended up dumping about half of them, they sprouted so much. So I've cut back by about 30% the amount planted this year to about 15 metres in 3 rows. I don't fancy wrapping each one with tender loving care - you have the prize for the most comfy potatoes Pads - so I'll try the big box method, which sounds not dissimilar to the crates covered in a black plastic sheet method I used last year. Maybe the problem last year was we just kept them in the big barn - I'm hoping the consistent, cool conditions in the cave (actually a second, smaller barn whose back wall is sunk underground) will keep them better.MYB, if you can find out what the magic dust is and where to look for it I would be very grateful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 dark cool and dry thats all that is really needed and you know what they say a happy potatoe is a tasty potatoe [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Animal Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Here's something about it Cassis, a bit long and complicated :Bilan de l’étude de l’hétérogénèité de l’application des traitements anti-germinatifs au chlorprophame (CIPC) sur pommes de terre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 [quote user="pads"]dark cool and dry thats all that is really needed and you know what they say a happy potatoe is a tasty potatoe [:)][/quote]And a happy sausage is a tasty sausage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 [quote user="Christine Animal"]Here's something about it Cassis, a bit long and complicated :Bilan de l’étude de l’hétérogénèité de l’application des traitements anti-germinatifs au chlorprophame (CIPC) sur pommes de terre [/quote]Thanks, Christine - just read that study. So I know what the stuff is now. I'm not going to Belgium for it, though! Sounds like it's just for commercial producers, maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Roy Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Our neighbour grows potatoes commercially - supplying the local markets (and us!). He stores them in huge heaps in his barns - in the dark. When I want any I just go and fill a bucket[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 >>>Thank you Pads and MYB....We had industrial quantities of spuds last year and they started to sprout by Jan or Feb - ended up dumping about half of them, they sprouted so much...... so I'll try the big box method, which sounds not dissimilar to the crates covered in a black plastic sheet method I used last year<<<......The plastic is the cause of the early sprouting!... (my opinion!).... Under the plastic the air did not circulate and created like a mini-'green house' for the sprouting to take place, so try with a hessian sack instead which will allow the cold air to circulate through the rough weave and slow down any envy these sprouts will have to say hello to the world!>>>MYB, if you can find out what the magic dust is and where to look for it I would be very grateful.<<<I'll give my old man a ring when he is back from his hols! What a life! Retired and still goes on his annual holiday!.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wozza Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 CassisOur neighbour told us to go to the local Intermarche and pick up a few of the used wooden fruit and veg cases they leave by the checkouts for you to stick your shopping in - so that's what weare using. He says he always uses them. Then he starts to tell me that to pack the potatoes, you pick a spot on the north wall of the cave, wait until the moon is at the right point in the sky, sprinkle over some magic powder etc etc......Warren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 Hessian sacks were available at Gamme Vert last autumn at 3€ each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 11, 2006 Author Share Posted August 11, 2006 Thanks, Andy & Wozza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meg Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 My book recommends either storing in an old deep freeze, with straw between each layers, or clamping, which works well for large quantities of potatoes, but won't keep out a very hard frost.I wish I'd grown some this year, every time i buy a bag in the supermarket they have gone soft and start sprouting in less than a week, and this is when stored in a closed cardboard box. [:@]I really need to find somewhere that sells those huge sacks of potatoes, with the muck still on, in the UK they would keep for months!Louise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 11, 2006 Author Share Posted August 11, 2006 Hi LouweezelI'll have a look for an old freezer or fridge next time the bennes de monstres are announced. Sounds like a good idea.I thought about the clamp option for about 10 seconds - but I really don't fancy digging up potatoes in the depths of winter!Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tay Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 I too find the same with shop-bought potatoes in France; they sprout very quickly. In England, tecnazene is commonly used on commercial crops to prevent sprouting. I can only assume that French spuds don't have the same treatment, which is probably a good thing..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 [quote user="Meg and Mog"]I really need to find somewhere that sells those huge sacks of potatoes, with the muck still on, in the UK they would keep for months!Louise[/quote]I also would like to find sacks of potatoes (and other veg) being sold directly by the growers ( farm gate sales). We always bought our veg in bulk that way when living in Wales. Do such sales exist in France, particularly in Normandy, after all its a similar rural environment ?We also bought our meat in bulk ( Dewi James, Cardigan), Is 'freezer meat' bulk buying an available method in France? Sorry, thats not a Potato subject ( but allied, its food related after all !!!!!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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