The Best Winter Storage Potatoes
Potatoes are cool-season vegetable that can be stored throughout the winter to ensure a lasting harvest. The best potatoes for storage generally are mid- to late-season varieties, which are dug up in August or early September, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Once harvested, potatoes will remain edible for several weeks if kept in a cool garage or basement. For long-term storage during the winter, the extension office recommends keeping potatoes in a dark room at a temperature between 38 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity.
Katahdin
Katahdin is a white, round, thin-skinned variety with good drought resistance, according to Purdue University Cooperative Extension. It is moderately resistant to scab. It is a mid- to late-season variety recommended by the University of Illinois Extension for winter storage.
Yukon Gold
The yellow flesh of Yukon Gold makes it a popular variety. Despite being an early season potato, Yukon Gold stores well, according to the Iowa State University Extension. The plants can be put in the ground about two weeks before your final spring frost, according to potato retailer Burpee.
Red Pontiac
The late-season Red Pontiac produces large, oblong, red potatoes with deep eyes. The plants do well even in heavy soils. It is a high-yielding variety with very good storage quality, according to Iowa State University Extension.
- Katahdin is a white, round, thin-skinned variety with good drought resistance, according to Purdue University Cooperative Extension.
All Blue
True to its name, All Blue produces medium-sized potatoes with vibrant blue skin and blue flesh that turns pale blue when cooked. It is a mid- to late-season variety that stores well.
Kennebec
Kennebec produces large, round to oblong potatoes with white flesh, smooth skin and shallow eyes. The plants are resistant to late blight. It is a mid- to late-season variety recommended by the University of Illinois Extension for winter storage.
Storage
To ensure high yields and to avoid bruising or rotting during storage, the Ohio State University Extension recommends you not dig up your potatoes until two weeks after the vines have died down. After harvesting, immediately move them to a cool storage place. If exposed to sunlight or high temperatures, the potatoes may turn green or rot.
- True to its name, All Blue produces medium-sized potatoes with vibrant blue skin and blue flesh that turns pale blue when cooked.
- To ensure high yields and to avoid bruising or rotting during storage, the Ohio State University Extension recommends you not dig up your potatoes until two weeks after the vines have died down.
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Aileen Clarkson has been an award-winning editor and reporter for more than 20 years, earning three awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. She has worked for several newspapers, including "The Washington Post" and "The Charlotte Observer." Clarkson earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Florida.
