Why put lime on potatoes ?

**countryboy6685** · 06-13-2012, 03:00 PM

When I was young we always grew potatoes and rubbed down or sprinkled lime on them and put them in the basement on the concrete floor to keep for winter . My question is why do you want to put lime on them ? Every body that I have talked to did it pretty much the same way but no one can tell me why .Thanks for any help you can give me on this .
Robert W

**5Pyd3Rm4N** · 06-13-2012, 03:26 PM

Lime inhibits mold growth. It also is supposed to protect any 'taters that have been scraped or cut.

**countryboy6685** · 06-14-2012, 02:30 PM

Dose anyone not put lime on their potatoes ? And if so how dose that work ?
Robert W

**snake35** · 06-22-2012, 08:20 PM

I do not put lime on my taters and they keep fine in the root cellar.

**Chefsimms** · 06-23-2012, 06:19 PM

I thought the lime was to keep insects away???

**Nomad1** · 10-17-2012, 11:12 PM

Been storing taters for years place in a cool dark place best if you keep them around 38-40 degrees and no light.....
What you dont eat plant in the spring makes great seed spuds....

**Scouter** · 10-18-2012, 06:54 PM

Most people that have root cellars in the South use pickling lime to prevent mold from growing on their potatoes. Many parts of the US that don't have the humidity of the south and do not use lime. If you are going to use lime spread the lime on the floor first, then a layer of taters, then lime, then taters and so on.

**countryboy6685** · 10-18-2012, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by Scouter

Most people that have root cellars in the South use pickling lime to prevent mold from growing on their potatoes. Many parts of the US that don't have the humidity of the south and do not use lime. If you are going to use lime spread the lime on the floor first, then a layer of taters, then lime, then taters and so on.

Thanks for the info thats what I did back in june when we dut the potatoes and so far we have not lost meny .
Robert W