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Potatoes into the light?

bobloesbobloes Posts: 134
in Fruit & veg
Hi all,
I have stored my main crop potatoes in a closed cardboard box and they have just started sprouting.  Should I bring them into the light or is it too late?
Cheers

Bob
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Posts

  • ColinAColinA Posts: 392
    Mine have been in trays in a potting shed since i purchased a month ago i only cover them when frost is forecast
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    bobloes it's not too late put them somewhere light dry and cool but frost free where mice can't get at them and they should do ok.
  • bobloesbobloes Posts: 134
    Just in case I was not clear these are ones I grew and have been eating for the last five months not new seed potatoes.  I am hoping to keep eating for another couple of months.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Ah!  No, if you’re going to eat them definitely keep them in the dark. They mustnt be given any light or they will begin to photosynthesise, turn green and be inedible. 
    Just rub the sprouts off and keep them in a cool dark place 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    If they are sprouting I doubt that they will stay good to eat for another couple of months.
  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    Yes, they will be fine to eat as long as you keep rubbing off any shoots.
  • bobloesbobloes Posts: 134
    Thanks to all for all of that. It does raise the question of where do our shop bought potatoes come from - they are not grown through the winter, are they kept in a very cold store?  Cheers.
  • war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 664
    are they kept in a very cold store?

    yes they are!

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2022
    @bobloes  … they’re stored in vast climate-controlled storage facilities. This is just one of the ones that my brother uses … although in this pic it has the remainder of the year’s onion crop to clear, before being set up for potatoes. 

    My family grow a lot of veg … mainly potatoes, carrots, parsnips and onions, supplying the major
    supermarkets. 
    https://www.th3musketeers.co.uk/home.php

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    I'm not sure if it's still allowed,  but some commercial producers used to treat stored spuds with an anti-sprouting agent, as well as the temperature control. 
    AB Still learning

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