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Code for shotgun farmers5/30/2023 ![]() ![]() Do not cut up seed potatoes that are smaller than a hen’s egg plant them whole. ![]() ![]() This time allows the pieces to heal, or form a protective layer over the cut surface, improving both moisture retention and rot resistance. You want to put the end of the potatoes with the most eyes facing upwards for this reason.Īt least 2 days ahead of planting, use a clean, sharp paring knife to cut large potatoes into golf ball-size pieces, with 1 to 2 eyes each. But only do this if they’ve got plenty of “eyes” which appear as small dimples and are where the sprouts emerge from. If you haven’t had a chance to chit your potatoes and it’s already time to plant don’t worry – just get them in the ground.Ī great way to get more seed potatoes for free, is to cut them in half. It’s not essential, but chitting helps speed things along a bit so that by the time they’re planted they’ll be primed and itching to send out roots.Īs the video below shows, after a month of chitting, the potatoes produced stout, stocky, green sprouts, which is exactly what we’re after we don’t want the long, pale sprouts you get when potatoes are left in the dark. The moment you get them, break them free, lay them out in a tray (such as an old egg carton) and pop them somewhere bright and frost-free to sprout – such as an indoor windowsill. (Do not confuse seed potatoes with potato seeds or grocery produce. Use certified (disease-resistant) seed potatoes from which eyes (buds) protrude. Potatoes for planting are called ‘seed potatoes’ and usually sold in bags or netting. See our Planting Guide for the best dates to plant by zip code or postal code. In warmer regions, planting times range from September to February in central Florida, gardeners plant potatoes in January, and in Georgia they plant in February. In cooler regions, the early-maturing potatoes are usually planted early to mid-April. Let it dry out a bit first. If you have a late and wet spring, you can plant later-through April (depending on location) or even June, especially in containers. But pay more attention to the soil than the calendar to determine planting time. The soil should not be so wet that it sticks together and is hard to work. The soil temperature should be at least 55☏ during the day and 45☏ at night. Garden potatoes can be planted 2 to 4 weeks before the average last frost date. Learn more about compost, soil amendments, and preparing soil for planting.) When to Plant Potatoes In fall, mix compost or organic matter into the soil. ![]() Ideally, soil is slightly acid (pH 5.8 to 6.5) and the soil temperature is at least 45º to 55✯ (7° to 13☌). You’ll need a location with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight and fertile, loose, well-drained soil hard or compacted soil leads to misshapen tubers. Planting season for seed potatoes starts in the spring, two to four weeks before the last frost. Learn all about potato varieties in the section below. In fact, there are over 100 types of potatoes, varying in skin color and flesh color as well as size from large to fingerling! Floury types are perfect for roasting or mashing, while a firm, waxy potato is superb boiled or as salad potatoes. Plus, gardeners know that-despite the limited options that you see in the grocery store-there’s much more to potatoes than the traditional Idaho white potato. The nutrient-rich skin provides 45% of your daily vitamin C and 18% of potassium plus many more nutrients. The tuber develops from underground stems called stolons once the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall, or around 5 to 7 weeks after planting. The edible part of the potato is the underground “tuber” which is an enlarged underground storage portion of the potato plant. According to the Maine Potato Board, this vegetable arrived in the American Colonies in 1621 when the Governor of Bermuda sent potatoes to the Governor of Virginia at Jamestown. The potato ( Solanum tuberosum) is a cool-weather vegetable typically yields bigger crops in the northern portion of the U.S., however, they can be grown as a winter crop in warmer climates. Potatoes are related to peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants, but are adapted to higher elevations and harsher growing conditions they were first documented by the Incas in Peru. That said, there are a few things you can do to elevate your crop. They do well in most soils and almost always produce plenty to go hunting for at harvest time. Potatoes aren’t fussy vegetables, which makes them a fabulous choice for first-time growers. Our Potato Growing Guide covers planting through harvesting potatoes. Potatoes taste better when you grow your own! Nutrient-rich “taters” epitomize the joy of gardening-satisfying to plant, quick to grow, and fun to dig up. ![]()
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