Knowing how to properly plant potatoes will help you get the largest and best tubers possible. Potatoes are quite easy to grow, just like learning how to grow tomatoes from seeds?, but following this guide will make a difference. Your potatoes will be full size, flavorful and ready to cook in no time.
If you are a novice when it comes to growing potatoes, you are in luck. Here we will explain exactly what you need to do to get your potatoes to bloom. We’ll discuss when is the best time to plant them and how to work your land in advance. This guide will answer all your questions and provide helpful tips and tricks that even the most experienced gardeners should know.
How to plant potatoes?
What you need
seed potatoes
paring knife
fertilizer
Compost/old manure
hoe/shovel
1. Pick a spot — First you need to decide where to plant your potatoes. Choose an area that gets a lot of sun, ideally with slightly acidic soil (PH of 5.0 to 7.0). Don’t worry if you can’t quite meet these standards – potatoes are quite hardy and usually grow everywhere.
2. Choose your seed potatoes — Be sure to buy seed potatoes for planting, not potato seeds. Potatoes you get from a grocery store won’t work because they’ve been treated with a sprout retardant. You can find seed potatoes at local farm stores, but they are also widely available online, like these Seed Potatoes from Simply Seed ($12.59, Amazon†
3. Cut your seed potatoes – You should cut your seed potatoes 3-5 days before planting. This will help them retain moisture and also better protect them from rotting. All large potatoes should be cut in half so that each segment is about the size of a golf ball. You want each piece to have a pair of “eyes” from which it will sprout. Don’t worry about cutting smaller seed potatoes that are already the size of a golf ball.
4. Cure Your Seed Potatoes — Now you need to ‘harden’ your cut potatoes for 3-5 days. You can put them out in the sun or just keep them in a warm area (about 70°F). You should notice a thick callus on the cuts within a few days.
5. Prepare the Ground — While your potatoes are hardening, you can get to work on the ground. Remove all weeds and, using a hoe or spade, dig a trench about 6-8 inches deep, with the base about 3 inches wide. If you need more than one row, keep about 3 feet between them. Work the soil by mixing compost or rotted manure at the base of the trench.
6. Plant your potatoes — Each potato should be planted cut-side down with the ‘eyes’ up and spaced 30cm apart on each side. (Baby potatoes can be spaced every 9 inches.) Sprinkle fertilizer, such as Burpee Bone Meal Fertilizer ($12.99, Amazon) between each potato seed, following the package directions for dosing. Then cover with 3-4 inches of soil to start.
As the plants grow and germinate (get about 8 inches tall), add another 3-4 inches of soil on top so that only the top leaves stick out of the ground. Then repeat again when they grow another 20 cm, which may take several weeks. At this point, your soil should be about 5 inches above ground level. This technique is known as ‘hilling’ and the more you do it the better the harvest will be, although you should stop when the plants flower.
7. Water and wait – Potatoes need about one to two inches of water per week for general guidance, but don’t overwater them when they first start growing. Give them plenty of water all summer, especially when they start to flower. As soon as the leaves turn yellow and die, stop watering – this will help preserve the potatoes for harvest.
8. Harvest Your Potatoes — This is best done on a dry day. You can harvest new potatoes two weeks after the plant has finished blooming, but keep in mind that these will not heal and should be eaten within a few days, so you may only want to dig up one or two plants at a time. Ideally, you should wait 2-3 weeks after the foliage has died back to dig them out.
9. Save Your Potatoes — If you want your potatoes to last, let them harden in the soil for a few days after carefully digging them out. If it rains, move them to a shelter.
Once cured, keep your potatoes somewhere dry, cool, well ventilated and dark (35-45°F). Only wash them when you are going to use them, this will shorten their lifespan. A root cellar is ideal for long-term storage.
When should you plant potatoes?
Potatoes are best planted in early spring or as soon as the soil can be worked. The soil should be between 45º and 55ºF, which means protecting your potatoes with a lid if a late frost hits your yard. You also don’t want the soil to be too wet, as this can rot the potatoes. It is best to wait 2-3 weeks prior to the last frost date for general guidelines. However, potatoes cannot be planted until June, so you are not locked into these dates.
How long does it take potatoes to grow?
This really depends on the type of potato you are growing and the size you want to grow them in. New potatoes take 60-90 days to grow, while full-sized potatoes take about 120 days. You can tell they are ready to harvest as the leaves begin to die back and you can also notice a small mound of soil being pushed up at the base of the stem. Failing that, you can also feel the size of the potato in the ground if you’re not sure.
For more planting tips, tricks and how-tos, check out our guides on hydrangeas pruning, orchid care and 5 things to get your garden ready for spring.
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