评论
打印
Many gardeners who grow potatoes are not sure when to dig them up.
许多种植土豆的园丁不确定什么时候把土豆挖出来。
Because potatoes grow underground, we cannot see their size, feel how solid they are or smell them to know when they are ready to eat.
因为土豆在地下生长，我们看不到它们的大小，感觉不到它们有多坚硬，也闻不到它们的气味，因此我们无法知道它们什么时候可以吃。
If we dig potatoes up too early, they may be too small.
如果我们太早把土豆挖出来，它们可能会太小。
This could stress the plant and its root system.
这可能会给植株及其根系带来压力。
So how do we know exactly when to harvest?
那我们如何准确地知道何时收获呢？
Jessica Damiano writes about gardening for the Associated Press.
杰西卡·达米亚诺为美联社撰写有关园艺的文章。
She said the best time to start digging up potatoes is when half the plant’s leaves have turned yellow.
她说，开始挖土豆的最佳时间是一半的土豆叶子变黄的时候。
This will happen between 60 and 120 days from planting, depending on the weather and the kind of potato that is planted.
这将发生在种植后的60到120天之间，还取决于天气和种植的土豆的种类。
You can stop watering the plants around this time.
你可以在这个时候停止给植株浇水。
To help the potatoes mature, especially in wetter climates, you should cut the plants at soil level.
为了帮助土豆成熟，特别是在潮湿的气候下，你应该把土壤上的植株剪掉。
This step is not necessary, however.
然而，这一步并不是必需的。
If the plants are not cut, they will just die back on their own.
如果不剪掉植株，它们就会自己枯萎。
After two weeks, the potatoes are ready to harvest.
两周后，就可以收获土豆了。
If you are still not sure about when to harvest, dig up a small test potato.
如果你仍然不确定什么时候收获，那就挖一个小土豆看一下。
Carefully dig into the soil near a tester plant, and take a potato from the outer part of the roots.
小心地挖测试植株附近的土壤，从根的外部取出一个土豆。
The skin of a mature potato will stick to the potato if you run your fingers over it.
你用手指摸土豆的皮，成熟的土豆的皮是粘在土豆上的。
If the skin rubs off, fill the hole back up and check again in about a week.
如果土豆皮被磨掉了，把洞填好，大约一周后再检查一次。
When digging, try to avoid cutting through the potatoes.
挖的时候，尽量避免切开土豆。
You can use a digging instrument instead of a shovel to help.
你可以使用挖掘工具而不是铲子。
Allow 15 to 30 centimeters around the outer part of the plant before putting in the tool.
在放入工具之前，先在植株外部周围留出15到30厘米的空隙。
Then, carefully move the instrument back and forth to unearth the potatoes by lifting the roots.
然后，小心地来回移动工具，通过提起土豆的根来挖出土豆。
Do this in a circle around the individual plants.
在每一株植株周围挖。
Make sure to go back through the soil and check for any remaining potatoes.
一定要翻遍土壤，看看有没有落下的土豆。
You can eat the potatoes right away or preserve them for later.
你可以马上把土豆吃掉，也可以把它们保存起来等以后再吃。
To preserve the potatoes, lay them out on a piece of thick paper, like newspaper.
为了保存土豆，把它们放在一张厚纸上，比如报纸。
Then, place them in a cool, dark place that stays between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.
然后，把它们放在阴凉、黑暗的地方，温度保持在10到15摄氏度之间。
Keep them there for two weeks.
把它们放在那里两个星期。
This will help thicken their skin and close off any small cuts.
这将有助于它们的皮增厚，并使细小的伤口愈合。
After preserving, store the potatoes in a much cooler area like an underground room that has good air flow and that is darker.
保存后，将土豆储存在一个更阴凉的地方，比如通风良好、更暗的地下室。
The temperature should be about three to four degrees Celsius.
温度应该在三到四摄氏度左右。
If preserved and stored in this way, they should last six to eight months.
如果以这种方式储存，它们应该可以保存六到八个月。
Avoid putting the potatoes in the refrigerator.
不要把土豆放在冰箱里。
This will intensify the sugars and change their flavor.
这会增加糖的含量，改变它们的味道。
Injured potatoes will not store as long, so eat those first.
破损的土豆不能储存很长时间，所以先吃那些。
New potatoes can be harvested earlier in the season, right after the plants flower.
新土豆可以在这个季节的早期收获，就在植株开花之后。
These young, thin-skinned potatoes should not be confused with the smaller reddish kinds of mature potatoes identified in stores as “new potatoes.”
这些新挖的、皮薄的土豆不应与商店里被称为“新土豆”的小而红的成熟土豆混淆。
True new potatoes are harvested from green plants.
真正的新土豆是从绿色植株上摘下来的。
They are high in water and low in starch, which makes them a favorite for cooking.
它们水分含量高，淀粉含量低，这使它们成为烹饪的最爱。
Be sure to eat them right away as they do not preserve, store, or travel well.
一定要马上吃掉它们，因为它们不好保存、储存或运输。
I’m Faith Pirlo.
费斯·皮尔洛为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
