I plan to store my potato in cold store. When should I cut the haulm and dig the crop so the skin sets and stores well?
When is the right time to dehaulm and harvest potato (aloo) for cold storage?
GGurpreet Singh7mo ago · 326 views
5 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓7mo ago
For storage potatoes, skin set is everything, and that is why dehaulming and harvest timing matter. Stop irrigation as the crop matures and cut or remove the haulm at maturity, then leave the tubers in the ground for about a week to ten days so the skins toughen and set before you dig, which greatly reduces skin peeling, bruising and storage rot. Harvest in cool, dry conditions, not in hot midday or wet soil, and handle gently to avoid cuts and bruises that become rot entry points in store. Grade out cut, bruised, green and diseased tubers before storage. Curing for a short period in shade before moving to cold store also helps. The exact dehaulming to harvest gap and timing depend on your variety and weather, so confirm with your KVK or cold store advisory.
HHarpreet Singh Sidhu7mo ago
The skin set check works for me in the field, I rub a tuber with my thumb and if the skin does not peel easily it is ready to dig. If it still rubs off, I wait a few more days. Digging before the skin sets gave me peeled tubers that rotted in store.
JJasbir Singh7mo ago
Stopping irrigation in time was key for me. If the soil is still wet at digging the tubers come out muddy and bruise easily, and wet soil also means more rot in store. I let the field dry out a bit so the soil crumbles off the tubers at digging.
GGurmeet Singh Brar6mo ago
Do not dig in the hot afternoon and leave tubers exposed, they green and get heat damage. I dig in the cooler morning and shift to shade quickly. Gentle handling into the bags also matters, every drop and throw becomes a bruise that rots later in the cold store.
MManpreet Kaur6mo ago
Grade out the cut, bruised, green and diseased tubers before they go to the cold store. I used to bag everything and the damaged ones rotted and spoiled the bags around them. Sorting at the field, even though it takes time, meant the stored lot came out far cleaner.