spud are one of the most versatile crops you could grow . The starchy veggie is majuscule for everything from deep-fried bite foods to hardy meal . With all that you’re able to do with these crop , learning how to grow potato was an obvious choice .
Initially , I conceive that planting spud in my backyard was going to be like planting any other harvest . But boy was I wrong !
turn out , potatoes have a middling strange growing cycle . After my first miscarry attack , I realized that if I would need to find out how to do this the right means if I ever wanted to reap the rewards of a giving harvest time .
Planting white potato is n’t too difficult once you know what you ’re doing . However , they do have some unique growth requirements that you need to follow to a golf tee .
What Are Potatoes?
Irish potato are one of the most popular crops in the world and have a bearing in reasonably much every culture . In the United States alone , the value of all white potato vine sold was over3.7 billion dollarsin 2017 . Because of their hardihood , there are no signs of the tater industry slowing down anytime soon .
Originally , it ’s believed that potatoes originate inSouth America . After being work to Europe , the crop rapidly pass around and became the far-flung vegetable we know today .
Potatoes are quite unique in the way they are grown . The vegetable that we eat is grown underground . As a termination , it ’s touch to as a root in some set rather than avegetable . But even then , that ’s not on the nose right .
You see , potatoes are actuallytubers . They ’re heavy parts of plant life that act as a storage space for nutrients and energy . The tuber is what we cut off and consume .
Health Benefits of Potatoes
Speaking of nutrition , murphy have a lot to offer . The buckram vegetables are jam with a ton ofnutrients . They contain everything from Vitamin C , Vitamin B6 , potassium , Mg , and so much more . Despite their reputation for being used in fat solid food , a intermediate - sized potato only has about0.2 grams of fat . Thus , they ’re incredibly healthy to rust .
That ’s not all . Potatoes have been record to accost other health fear as well .
For example , the crop are great for help your digestive system . potato are high inresistive starches , which are n’t break away down as easy as other amylum . They can make their way to the digestive tract and become a source of muscularity for all that beneficial gut that keeps you level-headed . This has even been shown to improveblood sugar levelsand prevent heart disease .
What Are the Different Varieties Available?
In sum , there are well over4,000 unlike Irish potato varietiesin the universe . That ’s not including wild white potato that are n’t eaten . Generally , husbandman and backyard gardeners have about 1,000 to take from based on their location .
These different cultivars offer alone flavors and textures that can really zest up your cooking . However , the plant life are typically separated into three categories based on growing temperature .
Potatoes can be raise in a full compass of climate . Some assortment require cooler growing temperatures while others are more liberal to warm weather condition . Thus , there ’s no specific growing season that covers all potatoes . It all comes down to how many cool days potatoes need to progress to harvest . Before you pop your garden , you necessitate to choose an appropriate variety for your field .
Early-Season Varieties
If you hold up in the southern part of the United States where summers are raging , you may benefit from early - season varieties , These murphy typically take only75 to 90 cool daysbefore you may set forth harvesting .
you could get down institute these varieties as other asJanuary . Some gardeners even plant latterly in the twelvemonth for an former crop at the first of the twelvemonth !
democratic assortment you may try out include the Irish Cobbler or the Mountain Rose .
Mid-Season Varieties
not bad for areas with restrained climates , mid - time of year Irish potato form call for between95 and 110 daysto reach harvesting . You ’ll often find these being planted in the early bounce after the risk of frost is move .
Some pop cultivars let in the French Fingerling , the Yukon Gem , and the Catalinapotato .
Late-Season Varieties
Taking upwards of160 daysto reach the harvest stage , late - season white potato vine require a long ton of growing time . Typically , any cultivar that take more than110 cooldays is considered to be a later - season potato .
They are ideal for northerly planting zona where summertime are relatively mild , such as the midwest . democratic varieties let in the Butte , Kennebec , and Katahdin .
When Is the Best Time to Plant?
As we remark earlier , the best metre to grow depends wholly on your climate . Potatoes do n’t take care the cold at all . In fact , they favor milder temperatures compared to more tropic crops .
Before you start plant , it ’s important to supervise soil temperature . The ideal temperature for filth is about50 degree Fahrenheit . As long as the soil temperature are good , you may found spud at any time .
In the Confederacy , this will be in the later fall and winter . However , most regions will need to wait until about mid - April . As a good pattern of thumb , you should always wait until after the last hoar to take off planting .
Where Can You Plant Potatoes?
Aside from temperature , there ’s a lot to reckon when choosing where to embed your potatoes . These plant need a lot to reach their full potential . Not only do you involve plenty of sun photo , but your grease need to be adequately fain to assure that your plants thrive .
Bright and Sunny Locations
The first matter to pay attention to is sunlight exposure . A dapple with at least6 hr of full sunis best . Consider choosing a spot on the southern side of your home where your plant can soak up those beam of light throughout the full daylight .
Avoid expanse near enceinte trees or construction . The more sun your plants get , the good . white potato can be a bit finicky when it comes to pic . We ’ll get into the specifics of that in a turn . But for now , focus your attention on preparing a sunny spot for your white potato vine plant life .
Proper Drainage
Another thing to consider is drainage . Potatoes are particularly intolerant of stand piss . The genus Tuber can developwater rot , which strike both taste and texture . The keystone to avoiding that issue is choosing a spot with grunge that drains very well .
Sandy loamis the ideal kind of soil . It drains pretty well to forestall bunkum issue . However , it still provides plenty of time for your potatoes to get hydrated . quash soil with heavyclay content . Not only is it awful for debilitate , but clay tends to get hard when it dries , which do it difficult for white potato to produce .
Optimal Soil Conditions
Beyond its draining capabilities , your stain require to have adequate pH balance and nutrient content . white potato like slightlyacidic soil . They do best when readings show a pH balance between5 and 6.5 . Though , a measurement of around 6 is ideal .
There are many shipway to lour the pH counterbalance as needed . you may practice commercially uncommitted plant food that containaluminum sulfate and iron sulfate . Or you may sum up somepeat moss or eggshellsto do the line of work .
As for nutritive content , potatoes demand robust grease . you’re able to make the grunge a more conducive growing mass medium by mixing inorganic compost or manurebefore planting .
How to Plant Potatoes in the Garden
With the perfect billet and right temperatures , you may start planting your potatoes . Here ’s where thing get a mo interesting . Unlike traditional plant life that get from seeded player or bulb , potatoes grow from something called a source potato .
Preparing the Seed Potatoes
murphy are capable of producingseeds . However , this is n’t what gardeners use to start plants . That ’s because the seeds created by potato plants do not producetruepotatoes . Essentially , you ’d end up with a unique plant with no comestible tubers .
What you ’re going to be using is called a seed white potato . Basically , this is afully grown potatothat ’s replanted to regurgitate more Tuber . Have you ever left a spud sit for too long and noticed that it started to sprout ? This is the potato trying to develop into another plant life !
you’re able to get seed potatoes from most supplying depot and semen caller . While it ’s tempting , we do n’t advocate using potatoes you get at the grocery store . They are often chemically treated . Plus , they can harbordiseasesthat you do n’t desire to put in your garden . Seed potatoes are normally certified organic for peace of nous .
Seed tater need a bit of formulation before you start planting . If you have smaller golf ball - sized seed tater , those are already expert to go ! However , big ones need some chop first . tailor them into chunk that are about1 and a tail inchesin diameter .
Make certain that each chunk has at least two eyes for the best success . Theeyesare those small puckered spot where sprout will spring up .
After you have cut those large seed potatoes into smaller chunks , determine them on a tray for acouple of days . They should sit at elbow room temperature to fend off spoilage . This process will dry the exposed surface and allow it build up a protective layer .
Digging a Trench
Now , on to the digging ! Solanum tuberosum are best planted in recondite quarrel that are about3 foot apart . Dig trenches that are about10 to 12 inches deep . Then , overspread some compost into the bottom and mix in the grease thoroughly . This will give the grease a nice encouragement of nutrients to kickstart the growing process .
you could then start slip in your seed potato piece . set each piece with the exposed heavy side down . Leave about12 to 14 inchesof space in between each piece and wrap up them with a few in of filth .
How to Take Care of the Potato Plant
tater require a alert eye to grow successfully . In addition to all of the regular gardening undertaking you need to take care of , some extra factors come into maneuver as well .
Hilling
The most unique aspect of acquire white potato is the pauperization forhilling . This is the process of building up the planting website into minuscule Hill as the plant grows . You have to continually build this hill up the taller your works gets , so it ’s important to supervise growth .
Why is hilling necessary ? Well , the end is to forestall the tuber from being exposed to sun . call back how we said in the first place that white potato can be a snatch fussy about Dominicus picture ? The works itself thrive in full sun . But the genus Tuber that we eat can cheapen in character if it grow too much sun .
That ’s because the sunlight reverse the otherwise heavy tuber green . When this happens , a compound calledSolanineis produced . Solanine makes the white potato very acerb . High concentration of it can even be toxic . down green white potato can lead to vomiting and looseness . In utmost lawsuit , it ’s been make out to causeparalysis and death .
Needless to say , hilling is an of import part of the growth process !
The destination of hilling is to forestall shallow tubers from getting too hot . While you may not be able to see those tubers , they are only a few inches below the surface of the soil . tot up more filth on top decreases the heat and sunlight exposure .
Typically , the first time you will ask to take up hilling is going to be when the plants are about6 to 8 inchestall . All you need to do is pack on more land around the al-Qaida of the duncish root . A few in of dirt will do .
In total , you may ask to implement grime around the groundwork about four times during the grow season . Just keep adding soil whenever the stem starts get more photo . At the closing of the season , you should have a hill that ’s about a metrical foot marvelous . After the plant starts blooming , you may bar build the hill .
Watering
Potatoes demand about1 to 2 inchesof H2O every workweek . This includes water from your hosepipe and rainwater . You do n’t have towater the plantsevery daytime . It ’s recommended that youwater young plant every four daysor so . Once those Tuber start forming , you may increase that to every three day .
Applying Fertilizer
you could use fertilizer to the plants after about four workweek of growth . Side - dress an organic fertilizer that ’s rich innitrogen . Avoid getting any of the fertilizer on the stem turn of the plant , as this could glow your industrial plant . You also need to avoid using any fertilizer with weed killers incorporate into the premix , as this could down the tubers !
Dealing with Weeds
The easiest way todeal with weedsis good honest-to-goodness - manner pulling . Be careful when pulling up weeds . You do n’t want to damage the tuber . utilize your hands to cull up plant as they pop out up . A shallow polish tool puzzle out , too . Just do n’t stick the peter too far into the basis .
Using Mulch
Mulch is great for preventing weeds from grow . It also defend moisture . Usually , gardeners and farmers don’ttake advantage of mulchif they use the trench method acting for planting . However , you could expend it if you do n’t require to dig out trenches . you could found your germ potato pieces on the surface of a planting seam and use a mulch to provide sun security .
If you habituate this planting method , lend oneself a thickheaded layer ofmulchover the seed tater . Use pale yellow , clean hay , or dried leaves .
How to Harvest and Store Potatoes
Harvesting potatoes is very easygoing . You ’ll bang when it ’s time by charter a spirit at theplant . Once the foliage of the plants have turned brown and flowers start to light off , you could start planning your harvest .
The cool affair about potatoes is that you could glean them at unlike times to get different textures . New potatoes are harvested only2 or 3 weeksafter the plant life has stopped flowering . The potatoes are pocket-size in sizing and have thinner skin .
If you require to expect until the potato are fully mature , you ’ll need to give them more fourth dimension . Wait until the foliage of the plant has start out to die . you could cut the industrial plant down to the soil and give the potatoes10 to 14 daysbefore you pick them out . During this time , they ’ll develop a deep skin and fully mature .
To glean the crop , mildly remove the tuber from the soil and immediately fetch them inside . Do n’t permit them sit out in the sun for too long .
Storage Options
you could eat the potatoes immediately or bring around them a bit for storage . Start by brushing off any soil . Then , coif them in a cool , well - ventilated area for a duo of weeks . This tone up the peel and prepares them for long - termstorage .
Examine the cured potatoes closely and toss out any that look green or damage . shrivel up white potato or those with sprout should be pitch as well . you could keep the serious spud in a nerveless dry station for about amonthbefore they take up to go spoiled . Do n’t put the vegetables in a icebox , as this will only rush up the decaying physical process .
What Pests and Diseases Affect Potatoes?
Just because the tuber are underneath the land does n’t entail that they ’re not susceptible to pest and diseases . The Irish potato plant can appeal a wad of undesirable pests . The most annoying isColorado Potato Beetles .
They can eat the leaf of your plant , make up it difficult for the industrial plant to raise . Adult hemipterous insect will take to be slay by hand . Luckily , birds will often cull them off industrial plant . you may also use diatomaceous world andSpinosadto get rid of the larvae .
Other common pest includeaphidsand flea beetles . Those pests can be taken maintenance of with organic pesticides .
As for disease , the most vulgar issue you ’ll come across isPotato Scab . This is a disease stimulate by bacteria and gamey soil pH. It can also be brought into the garden by pathological seed white potato vine . Make certain to supervise the soil regularly and choose high - caliber cum potatoes to start your garden .
Summary
There ’s no beneficial home - grown craw than potatoes ! They ’re a filling vegetable that can be used in more ways than you recognize . Having a steady supplying of white potato from your own backyard can provide tons of culinary brainchild while helping you avoid constant trips to the grocery store .
While potatoes do have some unequalled requisite , they ’re not difficult to develop at all . Once you understand the needs of the plant , the cognitive operation is a cinch . To get start out , all you need to do is find oneself an adequate spot in your garden and buy some seed potatoes . Before you know it , you ’ll be digging up some delicious tubers to enjoy .
Fact check up on , Written , and put out by Kevin Rodrigues
Kevin is the founding father of Gardening Mentor , a web site that aims to teach people to grow their own food in a modified space . As a self - teach nurseryman , Kevin has drop several years growing plant life and creating gardening content on the website . He is certified in Home Horticulture and Organic Gardening from Oregon State University . He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening from Mumbai University . Read more
