Gary wrote:
> Julie Bove wrote:
>> How do you do it?
>
>> So what should I use to store them in? Or should I just buy them as needed?
>> I thought since they were a root vegetable that they would keep for a while.
>> Apparently not.
>
> I think the root veggies used to be stored in a cool cellar below ground and
> once you dug them up, you keep the dirt on them until you were ready to use
> them. Seems that they would last a long time that way.
>
> It's a different animal that comes from the grocery store.
> They say store in a cool, dry, dark place.
> The only place I had was in a lower kitchen cabinet.
> You take the potatoes out of the plastic immediately as they need air.
> I put them in a lower kitchen cabinet in an old easter basket.
> Some still rotted before I got to them all.
>
> Now, I keep potatoes and onion on my countertop. I'll put down a layer of
> paper towels, then put them all on there not touching each other. I'll then
> put a layer of paper towels on top to keep out some light which is supposed
> to be bad for them.
>
> Best thing, imo, is to only buy what you will use in a week. Or 2 weeks at
> the most.
>
> Gary
>
> PS - as to the real farm veggies. Last year a friend gave me 1/2 bushel of
> sweet potatoes straight from his fathers farm. They still had dirt on them
> too. I stored them in my bottom kitchen cabinet and they lasted several
> months. The last ones didn't rot, they had dried out too much to use.


Here I thought my initial thought was crazy: bury them in sand
and keep them in a cool place. Your idea may be better though.
Less grit.
--
Jean B.