How to Grow Potatoes

Potatoes are one of the easiest root crops to grow. This vegetable is not finicky and can be grown just about anywhere ‘ in the ground, in stacks of straw or mulch, in garbage cans, in black plastic bags, or in to stacks of tires. They can also be harvested in its various stages of growth.

Potato Varieties

Think of your purpose for growing your own potatoes. This will help you determine which variety of potato to plant. Some common types of potato plants are:

1. WHITE ROSE ‘ the best known variety and best for boiling, but fair for baking and storing;
2. NETTED GEM ‘ another popular variety and best for baking and storing;
3. KENNEBEC ‘ a late maturing white variety that is best for making fries, hash browns, chips, and for baking;
4. NORGOLD RUSSET ‘ popular early variety that is excellent for baking or boiling, but does not store well;
5. YELLOW FINNISH ‘ a smaller sized versatile potato that stores moderately well;
6. RED PONTIAC ‘ a popular red-skinned variety and stores well;
7. RED NORLAND ‘ well-rounded red-skinned variety that is good for baking and boiling.

Steps to Grow Potatoes

1. Selecting Seed Potatoes
   • Purchase certified seed potatoes in your local greenhouses, nurseries, garden stores, or hardware stores. Certified seed potatoes are free of insect or disease problems and have not been treated with any growth retardant.
   • Some small potatoes from the local grocery store also make a good choice as seed potatoes.
2. Preparing the Soil
   • Potatoes do not have any particular soil requirements as they grow perfectly well in average soil.
   • Prepare the ground by plowing it to a depth of about 10 to 12 inches. Remove the rocks and weeds.
   • Add some compost or a little peat moss to the soil. Avoid adding fresh manure or lime in the soil as these tend to cause scabs on the potatoes.
   • Mixing a fertilizer with a ratio of 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 into the planting helps enrich the soil.
3. Planting the Seeds
   • Small to medium sized seed potatoes can be planted whole. Large sized seed potatoes may be cut in half or in quarters. Each section should have two or three ‘growth eyes.’ Let the cut surface callus over before planting.
   • If you have a lot of room to grow your potatoes, plant them in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. Plant the potato seeds a foot from each other. Cover them with an inch of soil.
   • If you have limited space, you may plant your potatoes in a hill or mound. Plant 3 to 4 pieces of seed potatoes in a circle into a mound of soil. Add more soil as the potatoes develop.
   • Potatoes can also be planted in stacks of straw above the ground. Additional straw is mounded around the base of the plant as the vine develops. This planting method results in clean yields. The potatoes can be easily harvested even before the vines mature completely.
   • Plastic garbage bags with ordinary garden or commercial potting soil can be used for growing potatoes. Fold the top half of the bag and fill it with soil. Plant a potato seed in the soil and do not forget to bunch holes at the bottom of the bag for drainage.
   • Old garbage cans or wooden or fiberboard containers are also suitable for growing potatoes. Punch holes onto these containers before filling them up with garden or commercial potting soil to allow for drainage. Additional watering may be needed as plants in these containers tend to dry out more rapidly.
4. Watering Requirements
   • Avoid over watering your potato plants as this can cause your potatoes to have hollow or black centers. Irregular watering, on the other hand, causes irregularly shaped and knobby potatoes.
   • Water potato plants thoroughly weekly during warm weather.
5. Harvesting and Storing Potatoes
   • Young potatoes are harvested as the plants begin to flower. Full-sized and mature potatoes are harvested when the vines have turned yellow or have died.
   • Potatoes should be stored in dark and cool places.

For more information on How to Grow Potatoes read:

How to Grow Potatoes

How to Grow Potatoes

How to Grow Potatoes