How to Grow Potatoes

Potatoes are a staple in the diets of people in many regions. The process of growing potatoes is also quite simple. You just need to start with step 1 to go through the steps below.

Table of Contents

Choose the right type of potato

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Select potato varieties according to the growth cycle. Potatoes are classified according to the length of time the plant grew, a trait that can be affected by weather. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Potatoes planted early will reach maximum growth in about 60-110 days. Potatoes planted in late March will be harvested in late June or early July. Some of the new potato varieties include Pentland Javelin, Arran Pilot, and Dunluce. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Potatoes in the main season will grow up to 125-140 days; If planted at the end of April, you can harvest in mid-August, and this crop can continue to be harvested until the end of October. This type of potato is more productive and usually produces larger tubers, which can be used immediately or stored for the winter. King Edward, Kerrs Pink, and Harmony potatoes are some of the potato varieties that fall into this category. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Royal Horticultural Society Go to Source}

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Buy selected potato varieties. You can buy seed potatoes by ordering or buying them at a gardening store, or you can also use leftover potatoes from the supermarket. However, these potatoes are not certified germ-free, so they can be problematic if you plan to keep growing potatoes in the same spot, as many diseases can be transmitted in the soil from year to year. from year to year. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Try to purchase certified seed potatoes to control and reduce the risk of disease in potato plants. You can buy quality certified seed potatoes at gardening centers or online for relatively low prices. There are many varieties of potatoes grown at different times.

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Prepare potatoes for planting. Use a sharp, non-serrated knife to cut the potato in quarters, making sure each section has no more than three “eyes,” i.e. depressions in the surface of the potato. Place in sunlight for a day or two, or until you see the eyes on the potato sprout. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Do not soak potatoes as some advise. Potatoes don’t have a hard skin to soften by soaking like some other seeds do, and they already have the moisture needed right in the tuber to germinate. Soaking potatoes may increase the risk of rotting rather than helping the plant to sprout! You need to let the section “heal” and create a dry outer layer of “skin” to prevent rotting.

Planting potatoes

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Prepare the land. You can plant potatoes in a bed or in pots in the backyard. Large planters, old tires and chimney caps all work well. The most important thing is to make sure the soil is free of weeds. In addition, you may need to add compost or manure to the soil to increase nutrients. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Prepare the soil with a well-rotted compost and add a fertilizer with a high potassium carbonate content.
Make sure to till the soil thoroughly. Potatoes will not grow well on hard or solid soil.

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Choose the right planting time in your climate. Choose a planting time a week or two before the last frost of the year. You can find it here. Cold nights kill potential pests, and potato plants need more sun as the days get longer. For example, in coastal Virginia, potatoes are planted on St. Patrick’s Day in March and harvested in July.

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Choose a suitable spot in the garden. Choose a location with fertile soil and plenty of sun, as potato plants need high temperatures and lots of sun to thrive. Potatoes should never be planted in shaded areas of the garden.

Make sure to plant potatoes in different areas of the garden each year to give the soil time to “rest” and replenish nitrogen. Or you can add a fertilizer solution (05-10-10) during the growing season and after the potatoes are harvested.
Potatoes can also be grown in potato bags or large pots. Carefully press a sprouted potato into the compost, sprouts facing up, about 12cm below the ground. Gently cover the potato with compost. All the elements needed for the plant then are water, light and frost avoidance.

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Bury the seed potato about 10 cm deep. Potatoes should be planted in rows about 30 cm apart and about 10 cm deep. Fill the soil in furrows along the row, forming a mound. Potatoes need to be spaced far enough apart so they don’t touch each other in the ground as they grow. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Another way to grow potatoes is to cut the potato tubers into pieces so that each piece has at least 1, or better, 2 sprouts. Apply agricultural sulfur powder to the potato pieces, being careful not to break the sprouts, or the sprouts will be slow to grow. Place the potato pieces in the soil, cuttings face down, sprouts or “eyes” facing up, about 8-10 cm deep in the soil beds.
As the leaves emerge from the ground, you need to continue to build soil around the plant to prevent the potatoes from sticking out. Otherwise, these bulbs will become green and inedible because of the poison.
When the plant is sturdy and flowering, you can apply a nutrient solution to the plant. When the potato plants begin to fade, it’s time to start uprooting and harvesting.

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Take care of plant. Caring for the plants as they grow will ensure you get an edible and nutritious harvest. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Pull the weeds around the potato plants.

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If you see holes in the leaves or turning yellow, the pest is probably present. If you don’t want to use pesticides, you can ask the staff at gardening stores about natural methods of getting rid of pests.

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Water the potato plants sparingly. Potatoes prefer a soil that is not only loose but also drains well, so you should only water when they start to dry out, not leave the soil moist when the tubers have formed. Make sure to plant potatoes on “hills” or on mounds so that the water can run down easily. If planted on flat ground, potatoes will not grow well. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Watering once a week during the summer is appropriate, as long as it is watered carefully but not too often. The leaves are starting to wilt which means the plant needs water. However, don’t over-water; otherwise, you will only be left with black rotten potatoes.

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Harvest potatoes. Harvest potatoes when the first frost is approaching. You can harvest potatoes in stages – “young” or “early” potatoes can be harvested 8 weeks after planting (when the first flowers appear). You can harvest a few potatoes but don’t pull the stems up and leave the others to grow to their full size. You will know the right time to harvest when the leaves turn yellow and wilt. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Advice

If you want to grow seed potatoes from a seed company or gardening center, you need to make sure they are disease-free.
If you leave the potatoes in the ground, the next year they will grow. While it sounds easy, it’s not a good idea to plant potatoes in the same spot for the following year, as this can increase the likelihood of plants getting disease due to depleted soil. An ideal garden should be rotated with a variety of vegetables, including potatoes.
You can harvest two crops per year; one in summer if sown in spring, one in early winter if planted in fall.

Warning

Do not eat green potatoes or the green parts of potatoes – they can cause poisoning in large quantities.
Pebbled soil will give the potatoes an odd shape, so you need to be careful to remove all the gravel from the soil if you want an even product.

↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/potatoes

↑ https://www.growveg.com/guides/how-to-grow-super-early-potatoes/

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/potatoes

↑ https://www.growveg.com/guides/how-to-choose-the-best-potatoes-to-grow-in-your-garden/

↑ http://blog.seedsavers.org/blog/tips-for-growing-potatoes

↑ http://www.potatoes.co.za/siteresources/documents/soilpreparation.pdf

↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/potatoes

↑ https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/571/

↑ https://lovelygreens.com/when-to-harvest-potatoes/

Steps

Choose the right type of potato

Planting potatoes

Advice

Warning

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