Potatoes are a rewarding and versatile crop that can thrive in many environments. Whether you’re growing them in the ground or in containers, these tips will help you maximize your harvest and ensure your potatoes are healthy, delicious, and plentiful.
Types of Potatoes
Potatoes are classified by how long they take to mature:
- Early Season (First Earlies): These potatoes take 10-12 weeks to mature and are ready by early summer. They have thinner skins, making them perfect for salads.
- Mid-Season (Second Earlies): These varieties take 12-14 weeks and are harvested mid to late summer. They have a good balance between early and late-season types.
- Late Cropping (Maincrop): These take 14-20 weeks and are the most common. They produce larger tubers and store well for long periods.
Chitting Potatoes
Chitting, or sprouting your seed potatoes before planting, helps give them a head start in the cooler spring temperatures. Lay your seed potatoes in a bright, cool, frost-free place with the eyes facing upwards. Once sprouted, they will be about 1-2 weeks ahead when planted in the soil.
Determinate vs. Indeterminate Potatoes
- Determinate Potatoes: These form their tubers in a single layer just below the soil surface. Mulch is helpful to keep them shaded and prevent tubers from turning green.
- Indeterminate Potatoes: These form tubers more vertically and are more prolific. They require extra soil around their stems to support tuber growth.
Planting Potatoes in Containers
Containers are a great option for limited space. Use large containers (around 30 liters or 8 US gallons) and fill with a mix of potting mix and organic fertilizer. For indeterminate varieties, plant only two potatoes in the bottom, as they’ll form tubers up the entire height of the container. Water frequently, especially in hot weather.
Planting Potatoes Early
If you have a protected area like a greenhouse, you can plant early and enjoy a harvest before the end of spring. Just ensure temperatures are warm enough to avoid frost, and use garden fleece if needed to protect from cold spells.
Planting in the Ground
For in-ground planting, prepare your soil with compost. Space your seed potatoes 14-16 inches apart for early to mid-season varieties, or 18 inches apart for late-season varieties. Plant them 6-8 inches deep.
Hilling Up Potatoes
For indeterminate potatoes, hilling (mounding soil around the stems) encourages larger tubers. Do this once or twice as the plants grow to give the tubers more space to form. Ensure you do this carefully to avoid damaging the plants.
General Care
Water potatoes regularly, particularly in containers, where moisture evaporates quickly. Aim to water at the base of the plants to avoid disease. Blight is a major concern for potatoes, so choose blight-resistant varieties and remove infected plants promptly to prevent it from spreading.
When to Harvest Potatoes
Early potatoes are harvested when the plants start to flower, usually in early summer. For maincrop potatoes, wait until the foliage has died back. Stop watering a few weeks before harvesting to allow the skins to toughen. Handle the potatoes carefully to avoid bruising.
Storing Potatoes
After harvesting, cure potatoes by letting them dry for a few hours on the soil surface. Store only firm, blemish-free potatoes in breathable sacks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to growing a productive, healthy potato crop, no matter your space or experience level!