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Doctor Bob's Northern Gardening Tips: Aromatherapy for potatoes?
October 29, 2002 -- MSU-Bozeman News Service
Aromatherapy for potatoes?
You raised enough spuds to keep you in mashed potatoes all year long. But how can you keep those stored tubers from greening and shriveling during winter?
The United States Department of Agriculture has found that essence of jasmine inhibits potato sprouting. They’re conducting more work to refine this research. Meanwhile, you can take control of factors like potato cultivar, temperature and humidity, all of which affect sprouting.
The eyes of the potato are actually buds. They stay dormant for about three months after digging. Early-maturing cultivars like Norland and Superior have a very short dormancy period. Generally, late-maturing cultivars like Russet Burbank keep longer.
As a potato tuber breaks dormancy, internal changes lead to sprouting. The tuber’s respiration increases, heat is generated and soon your whole potato bin goes to pot.
To prolong the shelf life of your tubers, store them at about 38 degrees F and at 92 percent relative humidity. Keep the lights off–even a little light can cause greening. Remove soft or sprouting potatoes from the bin for immediate use.
Want to know more about storing vegetables? Contact your local MSU Extension office, search Dr. Bob’s website at http://gardenguide.montana.edu or visit MSU Extension’s online catalog at http://www.montana.edu/publications.
Contact: Robert Gough (for additional information about horticulture topics), (406) 994-6523
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