Potatoes are a cool-weather crop, alternatively the leafy tops can’t tolerate more than a gradual frost. Plant potatoes so they come to harvest when the weather is cool alternatively not cold.
In cold-winter climates, plant seed potatoes throughout the garden in spring as briefly for the reason that soil can be worked—typically about 3 weeks forward of the overall frost– for harvest in summer time. In mild-winter climates, plant potatoes in fall for a winter or spring harvest.
Potatoes will begin to broaden as briefly for the reason that soil temperature reaches 45°F (7°C). Potatoes very as regards to save you emerging when the daylight hours temperatures upward thrust to greater than 80°F (26°C).
Potatoes mature in 45 to 80 days depending on the variety. Time the planting so that tubers come to harvest in cool local weather.
Potato Sowing and Planting Pointers
- Expand potatoes from certified herbal, disease-free seed potatoes. Plant small whole seed potatoes or plant large seed potatoes scale back into pieces, each and every with one to two eyes or emerging problems, attached to part of the fleshy tuber. (Grocery store potatoes are typically treated to inhibit sprouting so they aren’t a viable variety for planting.) Quicker than planting, scale back pieces should be dried in one day to prevent rotting.
- Potatoes will begin to broaden as briefly for the reason that soil temperature reaches 45°F (7°C). They can be planted 3 to 2 weeks forward of the overall frost—earlier if protected by means of a plastic tunnel or cold frame. Planting should be timed so that tubers are harvested forward of daylight hours temperatures reach 80°F (26°C) or warmer.
- Sow pieces scale back side down in a 4-inch-deep (10 cm) trench in heavy soil or a 6-inch-deep (15 cm) trench in gentle soil then cover with 2 to 4 inches of soil.
- Space seed potatoes 12 inches (30 cm) apart.
- Optimal soil temperature for emerging potatoes is 60-65°F (16-18°C).
- Keep the soil merely rainy; do not overwater.
- Potatoes want a soil pH range of 5.0 to 6.5.
- Expand potatoes in whole sun for highest yield.
- When leafy tops are 12 inches (30 cm) tall, “hill” them by means of drawing soil up around the vegetation so that merely the perfect few leaves are visible above the soil. Hilling will keep developing tubers from exposure to gentle which is in a position to turn them green. You are able to hill potatoes more than once as vegetation broaden.
- Continuously when vegetation flower tubers have begun to form underground, alternatively some potato vegetation produce tubers without flowering.
- Fertilize potato vegetation with an herbal fertilizer that has the following phosphorus and potassium content material subject material than nitrogen.
- A no longer ordinary potato pest enemy is the Colorado potato beetle.
Container Emerging Potatoes: Expand potatoes in a container at least 30 inches (76 cm) deep and 20 inches (51 cm) all through. Place 10 inches (25 cm) of soil at the bottom of the container then place sprouted seed potatoes on best of the soil and cover with 2 inches (5 cm) of soil. The usage of the “hilling” process, allow the vegetation to broaden 6 inches (15 cm) then cover all over again with 2 to a few inches of soil. Continue this process, allowing the vegetation to broaden about 6 inches forward of protecting a part of the leaves with soil all over again.
Potato Planting Calendar
- 8-6 weeks forward of the overall frost in spring: plant seed potatoes underneath a plastic tunnel or cold frame.
- 3-2 weeks forward of the overall frost in spring: plant seed potatoes throughout the open garden; minimum soil temperature is 45°
- Every 4 weeks until 12 weeks forward of the principle frost in fall plant succession vegetation.
For Fall Harvest:
- 14-12 weeks forward of the principle frost in fall: plant seed potatoes.
Varieties of Potatoes and Recommended Sorts
There are quite a lot of forms of potatoes. Make a choice types and varieties to broaden consistent with the way you want to make use of the potato. Listed here are various potato types:
- Russet, often referred to as baking potatoes or Idaho potatoes: elliptical shape, 4 to 6 inches long; use for boiling, baking or deep frying.
- Fingerlings: thumb-sized can be baked, boiled, steamed, fried, and roasted. Sorts include ‘Ruby’, ‘Russian Banana’, and ‘Long White.’
- Yellow: round to slightly oblong with thin, yellowish skins, and buttery yellow flesh; they can be boiled, steamed, mashed, roasted, and grilled. Sorts include ‘Yukon Gold’, ‘Yellow Finn’, and ‘German Butterball.’
- Round white: medium-sized with gentle tan to freckled brown pores and pores and skin and waxy to creamy textured flesh; they can be boiled, roasted, fried, and mashed. Sorts include ‘Kennebec’, ‘Superior’, and ‘Atlantic.’
- Round purple often referred to as boiling potatoes: medium-sized, dense, crisp white flesh; use for boiling, roasting, grilled. Sorts include ‘Norland’ and ‘Pontiac.’
Botanical Establish: Solanum tuberosum
Potatoes are a member of the Solanaceae family; other people of this family are tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.
Further tips: How you can Expand Potatoes.
