Potato Harvesting Tips

It’s that time again! You guessed it..Potato Harvesting Time. We started with tips for planting potatoes, and followed the trench planting method. Now it’s time to reap the benefits. Below you will find my Potato Harvesting Tips that will make the process so much easier. 

Ready, Set, Go!

The first step to harvesting potatoes is knowing when the potatoes are ready. I am interested in full sized potatoes, rather than new potatoes, so we wait until ours are fully matured before harvesting. We always have a good amount of smaller potatoes, even at maturity. I like to use the little potatoes in certain recipes, but I feel like I am getting more bang for my buck with the big ones. 

You will know your potatoes are ready to harvest when the plant starts to turn yellow, then brown, and start to die off. At this point, some people remove the the tops of the plant, but we leave our plants in tact. This makes for easier harvesting, in my opinion. More on that in a second.

A week or two after your plants have turned color and started to dry, you are ready to start digging. 

Best Way to Harvest Potatoes?

Now it’s time to get your potatoes out of the ground. But what is the best way? We have found using a pitchfork is the easiest way to harvest potatoes, and also causes the least amount of damage. 

Start about a foot away from the base of the plant, and start loosening the soil with your pitchfork. Being careful not to damage any of the potatoes. After you loosen the soil, you can usually pick up on the plant, and lift out a majority of the potatoes. This is one of the reasons we leave the plant in tact, like I mentioned above. 

Make sure to use your hands to gently search for any loose potatoes that may be left in the ground. After you have harvested all of your potatoes, it is the next part that is important.

Your Potatoes are Harvested, Now What?

Now that your potatoes have been harvested you want to make sure you don’t wash them. I mean unless you plan to eat them right away ; ) But you want your potatoes to dry out so they can be kept, and stored longer. By washing them you add moisture, which can lead to fungus and bacteria growth. Which we do not want.

So leave the dirt on them, and spread them out to dry in the sun for a few hours after harvesting. Now the only thing left to do is store your spuds.  You will have to stick around to find out my Potato Storage Tips.

I hope you found these Potato Harvesting Tips helpful. Keep following along with The Four Acre Farm for more Easy Homemade Recipes, Gardening Tips, & Budget Friendly DIY.