Frosty Taters

[Christine B]

For one reason and another I did not get chance to dig up all of my potatoes before the really cold weather set in. Will they still be alright?

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Christine B, i think the only real answer will be to try them.

We have had some harsh weather here, plenty of snow and frosts, but under the snow the ground hasn't froze that hard. So it might be worth checking them by digging a root.

[Christine B]

Thanks for that. Will do, once I can get there again!

[glallotments]

Once our potatoes were frosted during storage and they became very sweet. I guess the starch changed to sugar as it does in parsnips. It was different and not unpleasant.

[Christine B]

that is what I thought might happen. Will dig some up when I can and see what they are like.

[Johnboy]

Back in 1983 (I think) part of the Potato crop (These were Desiree) here could not be lifted due to bad weather the previous autumn and were lifted in late March the following year. A few losses were incurred but on the whole the crop was marketed normally. We had been taking for our own use all that time and they were perfectly good for eating.
The winter had been almost as severe as this one.
JB.

[glallotments]

I would imagine potatoes still underground would get a bit more protection from the ones that we had lifted and stored.

[Christine B]

Thank you all. I should be able to dig a few up next weekend and will see.