We’re rolling our way towards the end of harvest. Across the country, potato growers are heaving a sigh of well-earned relief as great looking piles mount in storage. But, while the growing season may be wrapping up, this is no time to let your guard down.
Years ago, I heard an analogy that has stuck with me. Potato storage isn’t a hospital — it can’t fix existing quality issues in spuds – but it should function like a really nice hotel where potatoes are comfortable enough to rest well through the storage season. Unfortunately, too many storages offer a 1-star rather than 4-star experience. This isn’t necessarily about the physical infrastructure — that’s usually top-notch in modern Canadian potato storages thanks to well-designed buildings, excellent temperature control and effective monitoring systems. The real issue lies in how we manage the storage season itself. Far too many growers use a “set it and forget it” storage management mindset.
From the moment potatoes enter the bin, storage losses begin. Tubers start respiring, losing moisture, and moving along an inevitable path towards sprouting. While dormancy is a natural part of a potato’s lifecycle, its progression is heavily influenced by the tuber’s physiological age — a factor shaped by the stresses it endured during the growing season, at harvest, and throughout storage.
The best insurance policy against storage losses is dormancy enhancement, specifically through 1,4SIGHT. Unlike CIPC, which has been the industry standard for decades but only provides sprout control, 1,4SIGHT is a naturally occurring, totally reversible dormancy enhancer — the only true dormancy enhancer available on the market. 1,4SIGHT can be applied right at bin closure. This early application helps slow down the aging process, maintaining tuber quality throughout the storage season. NOTE: if your spuds enter storage stressed, an early, high-rate application of 1,4SIGHT is especially important insurance.
For short-term storage, 1,4SIGHT can be highly effective on its own. For longer-term storage, applying either two or more applications of 1,4SIGHT, or 1,4SIGHT in combination with CIPC, supports rapid pile settling and longer-term control. This flexibility is crucial, especially in a year where quality and market conditions may require longer storage duration than ideally planned. With the right planning, ongoing management and some help from 1,4SIGHT, you can ensure your potatoes not only survive the storage season but come out of it in top ready-to-market condition.
