Storing potatoes

Now that chlorpropham is being withdrawn as a potato sprouting inhibitor, the industry in Europe is turning to green mint oil as an effective alternative. I have no idea on how to use this as we eat or can all our potatoes before the mice move in, but I thought this might be of use to some peeps and maybe there is a very clever Permie out there who knows what to do and how to do it.

Hi Mandy,

I don't know exactly what green mint oil is, maybe oil from fresh mint leaves? Regardless, I do know peppermint oil from distillation extraction, deters rodents and many types of insects. So that might also keep those pesky mice and other bugs from nibbling on your potatoes during storage. Although I'm not sure how well peppermint-potatoes will tast for dinner, so you could always use the peppermint oil to treat the perimeter and floors, of your root celler, to deter those pests from coming in and nibbling.

I hope that helps!

We always use fresh mint when cooking potatoes, especially new ones, so maybe taste won't be too bad!

I just looked it up, and green mint oil seems to be applied as a fog to the potatoes.  This sounds okay in a large, subsidized operation, but not very doable for a smallholder.

The article also said peppermint oil, soaked up by a piece of blotting paper and placed in the bottom of the box containing the potatoes was effective, but apparently it needs to be repeated periodically (and they didn't say how long that period was.)

Article: "Organic and alternative methods for potato sprout control in storage". Sorry, but I'm using my phone and I don't know how to post the link.