Storing Potatoes In North Texas

I just bought some seed potatoes that I'll plant this Spring. I got to thinking about how I might keep some potatoes from my harvest to plant for next year rather than having to buy seed potatoes each year. I did some research into root cellars but kept reading that my area (Dallas Area) is hard to keep potatoes. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this? Is what I want to do possible here in Texas?

I would maybe just eat the Potatoes and try something else for long term storage. Sweet potato, Taro, Cassava, or a type of Dioscorea Yam may all be better for storing at warm temperatures than the potatoes.. Those all come from tropical areas and when cured they can store for a while. Maybe even just leave them in the soil if you don't have pests or hard frosts...

The True-Yams store without refrigeration in Florida, according to this person here :

I've heard of someone growing Taro in Texas as well : http://taroandti.com/2008/09/21/taro-survivors/

Cassava might be worth a try : http://www.floridasurvivalgardening.com/2012/09/survival-plant-profile-cassava-king-of.html

Not sure about any of this since I've never farmed in Texas, just some ideas =)

The true yams look very interesting. I'll definitely be investigating that option.

I am rather disappointed about not being able to store potatoes in here in Dallas. The big Idaho type potatoes are by far my favorite food

Bryan Jasons wrote:I would maybe just eat the Potatoes and try something else for long term storage. Sweet potato, Taro, Cassava, or a type of Dioscorea Yam may all be better for storing at warm temperatures than the potatoes.. Those all come from tropical areas and when cured they can store for a while. Maybe even just leave them in the soil if you don't have pests or hard frosts...

The True-Yams store without refrigeration in Florida, according to this person here :

I've heard of someone growing Taro in Texas as well : http://taroandti.com/2008/09/21/taro-survivors/

Cassava might be worth a try : http://www.floridasurvivalgardening.com/2012/09/survival-plant-profile-cassava-king-of.html

Not sure about any of this since I've never farmed in Texas, just some ideas =)

Do you know where I might can get some of these to plant? I'd like to try em out!

If it's not ok to post business related links then the mods can change it, but I'm going to post a few links in the meantime =)

"Bun Long" is supposed to be a good food variety of Taro (Some are merely ornamental, or at least were bred to be) : http://www.elarishtropicalexotics.com/online-plant-store-profiles/taro-bun-long/437.aspx

Sweet potatoes from here : http://www.newhopeseed.com/ohenry_sweetpotato.html

Dioscorea Batatas is sold here, but I can't find sellers of the other types of Yams : http://www.oikostreecrops.com/product.asp?strParents=0&CAT_ID=0&P_ID=706&strPageHistory=search&numSearchStartRecord=1

No idea on where to find Cassava, sorry..

These might not be the cheapest prices of best sources. They were just the first to show up in my bookmarks.

Bryan Jasons wrote:If it's not ok to post business related links then the mods can change it, but I'm going to post a few links in the meantime =)

"Bun Long" is supposed to be a good food variety of Taro (Some are merely ornamental, or at least were bred to be) : http://www.elarishtropicalexotics.com/online-plant-store-profiles/taro-bun-long/437.aspx

Sweet potatoes from here : http://www.newhopeseed.com/ohenry_sweetpotato.html

Dioscorea Batatas is sold here, but I can't find sellers of the other types of Yams : http://www.oikostreecrops.com/product.asp?strParents=0&CAT_ID=0&P_ID=706&strPageHistory=search&numSearchStartRecord=1

No idea on where to find Cassava, sorry..

These might not be the cheapest prices of best sources. They were just the first to show up in my bookmarks.

Can you tell me which was the type he said tastes just like regular Idaho potatoes when cooked?

It was one of the Dioscorea species he grew in Florida, but the only one I could find for sale was Dioscorea Batatas which might be a different one.. However, PFAF says Batatas tastes like a Potato:

"with a very pleasant flavour that is rather like a potato" - http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Dioscorea+batatas

Also, I've heard Taro tastes somewhat like a waxy potato.. Never tried it myself so I can't comment.

Bryan Jasons wrote:It was one of the Dioscorea species he grew in Florida, but the only one I could find for sale was Dioscorea Batatas which might be a different one.. However, PFAF says Batatas tastes like a Potato:

"with a very pleasant flavour that is rather like a potato" - http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Dioscorea+batatas

Also, I've heard Taro tastes somewhat like a waxy potato.. Never tried it myself so I can't comment.

Thanks again. I'm going to try this out this Spring