Here are a few suggestions from SSE's gardening crew on learn how to grow potatoes for a healthy and bountiful harvest. Potatoes always do greatest in full solar. They're aggressively rooting plants, and we find that they may produce one of the best crop when planted in a light, loose, well-drained soil. Potatoes favor a slightly acid soil with a PH of 5.0 to 7.0. Fortunately potatoes are very adaptable and will virtually at all times produce a respectable crop, even when the soil situations and rising seasons are lower than good. Always keep your potato patch weed-free for finest results. Potatoes should be rotated within the garden, never being grown in the same spot till there has been a 3-four yr absence of potatoes. Potatoes may be planted as quickly as the bottom will be labored within the early spring, however keep soil temperatures in thoughts. Potato plants won't start to grow until the soil temperature has reached forty five levels F. The soil needs to be moist, however not water-logged.

Potatoes can tolerate a mild frost, however it's best to provide some frost safety for the plants if you already know that a hard, late season freeze is coming. If you want to extend storage occasions, and have an extended growing season, you'll be able to plant a second crop as late as June 15 and harvest the potatoes as late as possible. Every week or two earlier than your planting date, grafting [https://lanexhqu23579.blog-ezine.com/] set your seed potatoes in an space the place they are going to be uncovered to mild and temperatures between 60-70 levels F. It will begin the sprouting process. A day or two before planting, use a pointy, clean knife to slice the bigger seed potatoes into smaller pieces. Each piece needs to be approximately 2 inches square, and must contain no less than 1 or 2 eyes or buds. Plant smaller potatoes whole. An excellent rule of thumb is to plant potatoes whole if they're smaller in dimension than a golf ball.

In a day or so your seed will type a thick callous over the cuts, which will assist prevent rotting. We find that potatoes are finest grown in rows. To begin with, dig a trench that's 6-8 inches deep. Plant each piece of potato (reduce aspect down, with the eyes pointing up) every 12-15 inches, with the rows spaced three ft apart. If your house is restricted or for those who want to grow only baby potatoes, you can decrease the spacing between plants. To start with only fill the trench in with 4 inches of soil. Let the plants begin to develop after which continue to fill within the trench and even mound the soil across the plants as they continue to develop. Previous to planting, always be certain to cultivate the soil one last time. This may remove any weeds and can loosen the soil and permit the plants to change into established more shortly. Keep your potato vines well watered all through the summer, particularly through the interval when the plants are flowering and immediately following the flowering stage.

During this flowering period the plants are creating their tubers and a gentle water provide is essential to good crop consequence. Potatoes do well with 1-2 inches of water or rain per week. When the foliage turns yellow and begins to die back, discontinue watering. This may assist begin curing the potatoes for harvest time. Baby potatoes usually might be harvested 2-three weeks after the plants have finished flowering. Gently dig around the plants to take away potatoes for fresh consuming, being cautious not to be too intrusive. Attempt to take away the most important new potatoes and go away the smaller ones in place so they can proceed to grow. Only take what you want for immediate eating. Homegrown new potatoes are a luxury and must be used the same day that they are dug. Potatoes which can be going to be stored for storage should not be dug till 2-3 weeks after the foliage dies again. Carefully dig potatoes with a sturdy fork and if the weather is dry, enable the potatoes to put in the field, unwashed, for 2-three days.

This curing step allows the skins to mature and is essential for good storage. If the weather throughout harvest is wet and rainy, permit the potatoes to cure in a dry protected area like a garage or lined porch. At Seed Savers Exchange. Try to find a storage area that is nicely ventilated, darkish, and cool. The perfect temperature is between 35 and forty levels F. Understand that some varieties are better keepers than others. Varieties like Red Gold and Rose Gold are finest used within the fall, and others like Carola and Russets are exceptional keepers. Home gardeners can save seed for several generations. Save the very best potatoes for planting. You could discover that after several years the scale begins to decrease; that is typical. Potatoes are very inclined to viruses. If you're looking for optimum yields it's best to begin with recent, USDA Certified Seed Stock yearly.