How to store tubers for planting

The arrival of some ulluco (Ulluco tuberosus) tubers from Incredible Vegetables left me pondering how best to store them until it’s time to plant them out (after the risk of frost has passed, in spring). Given that I also have mashua and oca tubers kicking around the kitchen, and that everyone will soon be receiving seed potatoes (if they haven’t already), then I thought it might be nice to have a general round-up of how to store tubers for planting. A lot of the advice will be relevant to all kinds of tubers, but each species is likely to have its own quirks. If you have advice, details for new species, or queries, then leave them in the comments – I can update this post later.

Jump to: potatoes, oca, mashua, dahlias, sweet potatoes or Jerusalem artichokes.

How to store ulluco tubers In their advice on how to grow ulluco, Incredible Vegetables recommend keeping your seed tubers in trays of slightly damp compost in a frost free dark place until March (early spring). Nearer to planting time you can bring them out into the light and they will grow sprouts and leaves (a bit like chitting potatoes, see below) and they can be carefully transplanted into pots to grow on, or outside when the risk of frost has passed.

In their how to grow ulluco guide, Cultivariable note that ulluco tubers store very well in cool conditions, although they can dehydrate in dry air. However, they say that even badly dessicated ulluco tubers usually survive if potted into damp soil. Their recommended treatment for tubers that are going soft, is either to put them in some moist soil or in the fridge.

Return to top

How to store seed potatoes In their potato guide, the RHS recommend that potatoes are dug on a dry day if they are to be stored, and that the