Are you having trouble trying to grow great potatoes in your garden?
I have a secret to apportion with you … You do n’t have to be Irish to develop great murphy ! That ’s just silly . Anyone can grow great potatoes that keep well and try out awe-inspiring . But there are some things you do want to sleep together . You ’re in the right position . I’m going to share about ground health , mulching , spacing and all the other with child tips I have used over the many year to grow dandy spud that will keep long terminus . I ’ve been a gardener for 34 years now and potato have been one of the well-fixed veggies for me to grow . In this post , I will hash out :
Soil for Potatoes
All tater miscellany can be grown in nearly any type of soil . But I ’m going to evidence you the kind of soil for potatoes they PREFER to acquire in . Since Solanum tuberosum are tubers or root crop , they arise best in a soft loamy or flaxen soil that drain very well . If you plant them in a bed that does n’t debilitate well , they will be stunted and moulder underneath . The grease must be able to run out well . Also , potatoes prefer a somewhat acidulent to alkaline scope of soil pH. This gives a very all-encompassing range of hypothesis and proves that they can really be grown everywhere . The preferable pH is closer to 6 or 6.5 but they will tolorate the higher orbit of 7 to 8.Remember : The best way to try out for the pH and other nutrient for the perfect cum seam is to conduct a ground test . In the related to situation below , I ’m sharing my Charles William Post for how to test your grime . Another significant step is to keep the grime fertile for acquire . There is no such affair as potato magic fertilizer . Potatoes require a good N - atomic number 19 balanced fertilizer . The one I have linked over to the left is a really good plant food for potatoes . Add in some plant food a few times through the growing season before a rain or watering .
What Varieties to Plant to Grow Great Potatoes
Here ’s a usual question : What case of potato should I implant ? Well , that ’s a liberal inquiry because there are so many different varieties . I’ve test raise many different varieties and can narrate you that there are a few really good salmagundi that grow well in my cervix of the woods in Northeast Kansas :
I ’ve try the blues and the fingerling and they just do n’t grow as well in my area . But they might maturate well in yours . Ask around to your neighbour and other gardener to find out what form they are growing !
Preparing Seed Potatoes for Planting
So , once you be intimate what type of white potato vine you ’ll plant and have bought them , it ’s clip to plant them . Wait a minute . There ’s one more step . You have to preparation or cure the ejaculate white potato for planting . This is not only significant , but it ’s going to aid you have a magnanimous potato crop as well . I have an entire web log post / podcast give to this process – find it below in the related to posts . Here ’s a nutshell of the steps :
That ’s it and in 2 - 3 day , you ’ll be ready to plant the potatoes . The purpose of cutting the seed potatoes is not only to unfold out your plantings into 4 - 6 firearm . But the curing process keeps the seeded player pieces from rotting in the seed bottom when planting .
Grow Great Potatoes: Planting Potatoes
Now , lease ’s plant . First , work the seed bottom with a cultivator or hoe until the grease is nicely cushy and flossy . Then , dig out a course about 2 - 3 inches deep for the seed potatoes to be planted in . If you dig multiple rows , they should be 3 metrical unit aside . imbed the white potato vine 12 inches aside in the trench . verify the eyes are face up . Cover the seed potatoes to where it ’s 2 inch deep in the spring . For fall planting , plant them profoundly . They should be planted 4 - 5 inch recondite . Now that your potatoes are set , allow ’s talk about caring for the plants when they emerge . When ’s the best prison term to implant them ? It ’s say that potatoes ask to be planted on St. Patrick ’s mean solar day to grow amazing potato . But really , the Francis Scott Key is to ensure the soil is at least 60 grade before found . So , do n’t accentuate on the day if the weather does n’t work out . Make trusted the dirt temperature is ripe before you plant white potato vine for better result .
Growing Potatoes in Containers?
In another post , I talk about all the different way for growing potatoes in container . you could find that information in the potato prep post . ringlet to the bottom of this berth to the related Post and you ’ll line up a inter-group communication to it .
Potato Plant Care
If the weather condition is dryer than normal , plant will need to be water . I always commend investing in cloudburst hoses for ground watering . I recommend soaker hosiery because I live in Kansas where the weather can be prime for plant fungal diseases and stress . The range of temperatures we have here can really bust up mayhem on plants . But watering at reason level helps keep the plant healthy . Another significant care crest is to keep the weeds down . Since white potato vine are Tuber they are going to be directly competing with weeds . Yes , you could have weeds and still have potatoes . But if you desire to get GREAT potatoes , you ’ll need to keep the weeds down . I grew up with a great - grandmother who was full - rip Irish . And she could grow great white potato vine , let me tell you . The one matter she always did was mulch her potatoes with wheat to keep the weeds down . Growing up in wheat land of Kansas , we could put up our own shuck . However , if wheat is unavailable where you are , that ’s ok . you’re able to use other forms of mulch , such as leaf , compost , or another form of grass mulch to aid keep the smoke down . I do n’t really advocate the shameful plastic for produce tuber .
Problems During the Growing Season
I ’ve mentioned some problem with unlawful watering and what that can do to your potato plants . you’re able to also have some problem with insects . The Colorado potato mallet loves potato plant . Japanese beetles are also hard on potato plants . Another vulgar tater job is blackleg . you’re able to find certified seed that is treat to prevent scab . let the cat out of the bag to your local seed trader or garden store . For the most part , there are n’t too many issues that can take place with potatoes , making them really moderately easy to develop .
Harvesting Potatoes
There ’s nothing respectable than tasty , warm new Irish potato . How long does it take to grow a tater ? The good news show is that early potatoes can be dig by finding the single that are closest to the top of the primer or bond out . Surprisingly , mulch will serve facilitate those potatoes to lift to the top of the priming coat . Ideally , you’re able to start digging white potato vine when your vine are half dead . Remove the vines and cautiously dig the potatoes using a potato branching . Be careful to not stab any treasured potatoes . Potatoes can stick in the ground until the vines are dead . Just be sure the insects or mold is n’t destroy the potatoes . It ’s really best to get them out of the priming coat before the plants croak . After crop , you may love murphy ! Here are some ways you could store and use up potatoes . provide them to coat ironical out of the sun for a sidereal day or more to toughen the skin and prevent sunburning . Then move Solanum tuberosum into a stale dark-skinned placement for storage . idealistic depot temperature is below 40o F.
Storing & Using Potatoes
Before hive away the potatoes , lay them out in the Dominicus for a day to toughen the skin . Then , you could move them to your computer storage locating . The best place to store is a cold-blooded dark location below 40 degrees F.Of course , you could eat on them instantly . Just wash out them well and skin the tegument and enjoy them in your favourite recipes . you could also force can potatoes . They need to be little – about 2 column inch in diameter is the biggest . I love using tinned potatoes for warm potato soup in the winter when the conditions is moth-eaten .
Potato Nutrition Facts
Speaking of eat potatoes , let ’s talk about alimentation . Potatoes arrest important nutrient making them a level-headed option as a vegetable . Here ’s a few nutrition facts for 1 spiritualist spud :
pair off with a steak , you ’ve got a complete repast . At least a lot of us country folks think so .
Irish or not…Grow Great Potatoes!
you may get your own with child potatoes in your house garden ! Again , if you ’re interested in more topics about growing gravid Irish potato in container – Scroll down to the related posts to find more information on that theme . I really hope this billet give you all the information you need to grow great potatoes you trust .
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