As we have quite a large pottager I planted way too many Bintje seeds and now are overwhelmed with the quantity as the growing season has been very favourable here in SW France. As there are more than we can consume I have been giving them away to our neighbours and friends. Over three quarters of the crop is still in the ground and I want to know how long I can leave them in the ground or should they all be harvested and stored in a dark place now?
Last year it was completely different as we only had a very small quality so this year I have over done it.
Bintje Potatoes
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peter
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Don't worry, a potato is a potato. 
A new potato is just a baby one, usually a variety selected for texture snd flavour st that immature stsge. Left in the ground they continue to grow into mature potatoes of whatever size the variety is capable of in the circumstances.
Bintje might be a second or even third rate chipper, on the other hand it might be divine roasted.
A new potato is just a baby one, usually a variety selected for texture snd flavour st that immature stsge. Left in the ground they continue to grow into mature potatoes of whatever size the variety is capable of in the circumstances.
Bintje might be a second or even third rate chipper, on the other hand it might be divine roasted.
Do not put off thanking people when they have helped you, as they may not be there to thank later.
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FelixLeiter
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Leave them in the ground until the tops die down. Even when they've reached that stage, you can leave them there until you're geared up to lift them, just like with any maincrop potato. Giving them away is very generous, but they will store until next spring. You might be grateful of the extras by the end of next winter.
Allotment, but little achieved.
Its mid July and the plants are going yellow and dying off. Lifted 1/4 a row (2 1/2 metres) today and got 6 kgs. They are now stored in a cardboard box in one layer, but can I put a thick layer of newspaper over the top and build another layer on top?
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FelixLeiter
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larkspur wrote:can I put a thick layer of newspaper over the top and build another layer on top?
You con't need to be quite so judicious. Taters can be stored in sacks, usually in batches much greater than 6kg, so just chuck the whole lot into the box as they are. They must be kept in the dark so that they don't turn green.
Allotment, but little achieved.
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farmer jon
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much easier one layer in each box as you can check easier for rot/blighted ones. in a sack you will have to dispose of all in contact with the infected ones & without tipping out ,have no idea if any are bad. I use cardboard boxes that have had rasp punnets in them as they are just the right depth for one layer with air circulation & stack them up to 12 high, covered with dark sheets in a cool,dark,frost free garage.