Download potato care guidelines - FarWest Garden Center

imagine...create...be inspired
POTATO CARE GUIDELINES
www.farwestlandscape.net
POTATO CARE GUIDELINES
Preparation of Seed
ration of Seed
5728 West State Street
853-4000
Potatoes
are like
not most
grown
from
seed like most
other
vegetables.
oes are not grown
from seed
other
vegetables.
Instead,
pieces
from the Instead, pieces from the
start
new plants.
Home
gardeners
should
purchase
itself start newpotato
plants.itself
Home
gardeners
should
purchase
good seed
potatoes
that good seed potatoes that
are
free
of
disease
and
chemicals.
Do
not
buy
potatoes
from
a grocery store for planting.
ee of disease and chemicals. Do not buy potatoes from a grocery store for planting.
The
seed
potato
contains
buds
or "eyes" which sprout and
The seed potato contains buds or "eyes" which sprout and
growpiece
into plants.
piece
grow into plants. The seed
providesThe
foodseed
for the
plantprovides food for the plant
until
it
develops
a
root
system.
until it develops a root system. Too small a seed piece Too small a seed piece
a weak
Seedcrop
potatoes for the spring crop
produces a weak plant.produces
Seed potatoes
forplant.
the spring
should be cut into pieces
(about
a medium
henthe size of a medium hen
should
bethe
cutsize
intoofpieces
(about
egg). Each seed pieceegg).
must have
leastpiece
one good
Eachatseed
musteye
have at least one good eye
(see figure 4). Cut the (see
potato
2-3
weeks
before
planting.
figure 4). Cut the potato 2-3 weeks before planting.
the cut seed in Keep
a well-ventilated
spot
it can heal over spot
to prevent
rotting
when
the cut seed
in so
a well-ventilated
so it can
heal
over to prevent rotting when
d. At this time you
can
place
the
cut
potatoes
in
egg
cartons
with
the
“eyes”
until with the “eyes” up until
planted. At this time you can place the cut potatoes in eggupcartons
yes” grow (this the
procedure
is
called
chitting)
One
pound
of
seed
potatoes
will
make
“eyes” grow (this procedure is called chitting) One pound of 9seed potatoes will make 9
seed pieces. to 10 seed pieces.
ng
Planting
oes should be planted when the soil
should
be planted
rature 4 inchesPotatoes
deep reaches
about
50°F, when the soil
temperature
4 inches
out 3 weeks before
the last spring
frost.deep reaches about 50°F,
or
about
3
weeks
the last spring frost.
oes should be planted in late Marchbefore
or early
Potatoes
should
be
planted
n our area. If planted too early, the tops can in late March or early
April
in our
area.a sunny
If planted too early, the tops can
zen off by spring
frost.
Choose
on with good drainage.
Dooff
notbyplant
in an
areaChoose
where potatoes,
be frozen
spring
frost.
a sunny tomatoes, peppers
gplant were planted
the
previous
year.
Mix
in
composted
organic
sincepotatoes, tomatoes, peppers
location with good drainage. Do not plant
in anmaterial,
area where
rich soil is bestorforeggplant
potato growth.
Use a hoe
stick to year.
open aMix
trench
about 3” deep
were planted
the or
previous
in composted
organic material, since
the center of the
bed. rich
placesoil
seed
pieces
‘eyes’
upwardUse
10”-12”
apart
in theto open a trench about 3” deep
loose,
is best
forwith
potato
growth.
a hoe
or stick
careful not to down
break the
off “eyes”(see
Figure
Rows
should
be 3with
feet ‘eyes’
apart. upward 10”-12” apart in the
center of the
bed.5).place
seed
pieces
trench careful not to break off “eyes”(see Figure 5). Rows should be 3 feet apart.
the seed about 4” deep. If covered too deeply, the plants will be slow to break
gh the soil and will be more subject to disease and seed decay. Sprouts usually
Cover the seed about 4” deep. If covered too deeply, the plants will be slow to break
r after 2-3 weeks. When plants are 5”-6” tall, hill-up the mulch and soil around the
through the soil and will be more subject to disease and seed decay. Sprouts usually
ng stems. Continue to hill-up the soil as the plants grow so that tubers remain
appear after 2-3 weeks. When plants are 5”-6” tall, hill-up the mulch and soil around the
ed.
growing stems. Continue to hill-up the soil as the plants grow so that tubers remain
zer & Water covered.
Fertilizer
Water
fertilizer with low
nitrogen&but
high in phosphorus and potassium every 2-4 weeks
much nitrogen may cause excessive leaf growth at the expense of the tuber.
Usemoisture
a fertilizer
with low
nitrogen
butsoil
high
in phosphorus
oes need a steady
supply.
Try to
keep the
moist
to a 1’ depth and potassium every 2-4 weeks
ghout the growing
season.
If the soilmay
driescause
out after
the tubers
begin
to form,
growth
Too
much nitrogen
excessive
leaf
growth
at the
expense of the tuber.
It starts againPotatoes
as the soilneed
is moistened.
start supply.
and stop Try
growth
leaves
a to a 1’ depth
a steady This
moisture
to keep
theyou
soilwith
moist
apen, knobby, split,
or
hollow
tuber.
throughout the growing season. If the soil dries out after the tubers begin to form, growth
stops. It starts again as the soil is moistened. This start and stop growth leaves you with a
misshapen, knobby, split, or hollow tuber.