acquire spud in Michigan is a with child room to love a tasty , versatile vegetable in your own backyard . Potatoes are easy to grow and expand in Michigan ’s mood . They do best when engraft in early spring and harvested in later summer or early spill . Potatoes require tidy sum of sun , regular watering , and well - draining soil . mulch with stubble or hay can help protect against weeds and keep the soil moist . Adding organic affair to the grime is good as well . Michigan potatoes range in size of it , form , and color and can be boiled , crunch , fried , or jest at for a delightful meal .
Michigan’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
Zone 4a has a cold temperate climate , with temperatures ranging from -20 to -30 degrees Fahrenheit during wintertime and 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during summertime . The growing time of year for this geographical zone is typically between April and October . This zone get around 30 inches of hurry annually , with snowfall mutual throughout the wintertime months . zona 6b has a warm temperate climate , with temperatures ranging from -10 to 0 degree Fahrenheit during winter and 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during summer . The maturate season for this geographical zone is typically between April and October . This zone receives around 40 inches of downfall yearly , with some snowfall common throughout the winter months .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed potatoes for growing in Michigan , it is of import to be mindful of the variety ’s Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to harvest and the distance of time you have before you need to harvest them .
other - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have fewer days to harvest and should be planted as presently as possible for harvesting in previous summer .
Mid - season varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more day to harvest and should be planted in tardy April or early May for harvest in surrender .
belated - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All drab ’ have the most sidereal day to harvest and should be planted in late April or early May for harvest in other winter . Be sure to select varieties with the right number of days to harvest for your intended harvesting date . Some secure potato variety show for Michigan let in :
When To Plant Potatoes In Michigan
Potatoes can be planted in Michigan as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring , usually as early as late March or other April . The ideal grime temperature for planting Solanum tuberosum is between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit . Planting should be end up before the last of May to insure the potatoes have plenty of time to maturate before the first frost .
How To Plant Potatoes In Michigan
set out the planting appendage for come murphy by till the land to a depth of 8 inches and incorporate organic compost . Once you have done this , find a sunny location that receives at least 8 hours of verbatim sunshine and place the seed potato .
Plant the seed potato with the “ eye ” facing up , leaving a aloofness of 8 to 10 inches in between each . wrap up the seed potatoes with a layer of dirt that is 3 - 4 inches thick , and verify to water them adequately . As the potatoes start to sprout , add more filth to the rows to keep them adequately buried .
Water the potato on a veritable basis and absent any weeds from the area . For those be in spicy and ironic climate , you may want to cover the soil around the potatoes with shuck , although this is not all important .
Caring For Potato Plants
care for white potato vine flora is jolly wanton – they ’re improbably hardy and generally no - fuss . Potato plant necessitate full sun and well - drained soil to boom . They should be watered deep and regularly , tolerate the stain to dry out between watering .
Fertilizing is also important for optimal growth . tater plants require a balanced fertiliser with adequate parts nitrogen , P , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six weeks , depend on the territory ’s nutrient content .
It is also important to keep the territory equally moist , as Solanum tuberosum do not tolerate ironical or waterlogged conditions . Mulching around the potato plant life can assist retain moisture and reduce weeds .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Michigan
There are two certain ways to fuck your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is counting backward from your current date to their planting particular date . Potato varieties have an rough number of daytime to harvest , so consult the days to harvest for the particular variety of potatoes you ’ve planted . If you are n’t sure , assume it ’s around 100 days .
The appearance of your Irish potato plant is another idle giveaway . You will know your potatoes are quick to harvest when the foliage begins to turn yellow-bellied and give-up the ghost back . Your plants will go through an entire florescence cycle , which is gracious because the flowers are really beautiful .
Allow the soil around the plants to dry out before harvest home , but do n’t allow it to be dry for too long . Once harvested , scrutinise the potatoes carefully- they should be firm and free of unripened or soft spots .
Carefully dig up the white potato with a garden fork , take care not to damage the potatoes in the summons . Once the potatoes have all been dug up , encounter off any excess grease and visit them for any damage . Discard any spud that are damage , as these are not worthy for long - term computer storage .
Finally , gently come in the Irish potato in a cool , ironical , and glowering domain for storehouse . It is significant to only store undamaged Solanum tuberosum , as damaged potatoes can quickly rot .
