Storing potatoes

Harvesting potatoes

Once you’ve dug up your potatoes the best way I’ve found to store potatoes is to use a polystyrene box. A polystyrene box will keep the contents cool yet keep the frost out and the potatoes in the dark.

Put a layer of sand in to a polystyrene box

Fill the box with sand

Place damage free potatoes in the sand but not touching each other

Place the potatoes in the sand, but not touching each other. It’s a good idea to select the good ones and avoid storing potatoes that are damaged by slugs or cuts or bruises.

Add more layers of sand and potatoes

Cover the potatoes with sand and add another layer of potatoes and cover them with sand.

Close the lid to keep frost, rain, light and vermin out.

Close the lid to protect from vermin, frost, rain and light.

More information about finding advice plants and advice see Complete Garden garden plant advice CD-ROM.

Rats in the compost bin

Rats numbers are increasing and becoming a real garden pest. This is because of the abundance of food.

What to put in the compost bin.

Don’t put food waste in your compost bin because it will encourage rats. Only put in garden waste like weeds, prunings and grass cuttings. The compost should get hot caused by decomposition and high temperatures are required to kill the weeds and seeds.

For food waste use a wormery. Rats can’t easily get in and the tiger worms will turn your food waste into compost.

Helping garden wildlife. Feeding the birds

Gardens are essential sanctuaries for wildlife.

To help birds through the cold winter period they need to know where they can find a regular supply of nourishing food and clean water.

A seed mix is ideal for many birds. It is essential that the seeds are kept dry and I suggest you look for a feeder with a roof to keep the rain off. Water will make the seeds go soggy and turn mouldy. Fruit such as apples can be hung from a wire where the birds can feed in safety and also keep the fruit out of reach of rats.

Fat balls are also very nutritious and are a favourite for tits and robins.  

To attract birds to your garden you need to start putting out food in November before the frosts arrive in order that the birds can learn where they can find food and that it’s safe to feed.

Putting out food will also attract rats and squirrels. You need to choose feeders that are rat and squirrel proof. Wire bird feeders are good.