There was concern about the safety of CIPC which had been the commonly used anti sprouting treatment and it was banned two years ago. Potatoes are kept in climate controlled storage … a treatment using spearmint oil which slows the growth of sprouts has been found to be effective, particularly for potatoes which will be used for chips or crisps which cannot be stored at such low temperatures because this turns the starches into sugars resulting in deep colouration and a sweet taste when exposed to very high temperatures.
My seed potatoes have been in trays in the bottom of a fridge since they arrived a few weeks ago. Less accurate temperature control than a farmer's store but still cold and dark. It seems to hold them up from sprouting quite well. They're on a cool windowsill to start chitting now though
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Makes me feel better about how long before mine go to sprouting. I live in Weymouth and the temperatures in my garage do not get way down until at least the end of December and do not stay there for too long given climate change effects so my eating season is relatively short. Grateful for what I do get. Cheers.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”