Overview

Growing potatoes at base is a rewarding experience that furnish smart , nutritious vegetables for your fellowship . Whether you ’re aseasoned gardeneror a tyro , succeed these step - by - step instructionsto cultivate athriving white potato patchin your backyard .

1. Choosing the Right Potatoes

Select disease - insubordinate potato variety show suitable for your climate andsoil experimental condition . Consider the next factors :

2. Soil Preparation

Potatoes ask well - drained , loose filth with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 . Amend your soil with constitutive matter such as compost or manure to better fertility and drainage . Avoid planting potatoes in grease that has been recently fertilise with impudent manure , as it can advertise disease .

3. Planting Time

industrial plant potatoes in the spring after the lastfrost date . In most areas , this is around mid - April to other May .

4. Planting Depth and Spacing

Dig furrows 4 - 6inches deepand space them 3 metrical unit apart . Place white potato in the furrows , eye - side up , and cover them with 2 - 3 inches of soil . Space potatoes 12 - 18 inches apart within the furrow .

5. Watering and Fertilizing

white potato require regular watering , specially during hot , dry weather condition . water system deeply toencourage root development . Fertilize potato once they emerge from the soil and again when they start out to flower . Use abalanced fertilizerwith a proportion of 10 - 10 - 10 .

6. Hilling Potatoes

As potato plants grow , grime should be hilled around the base of the stems . This helps protect the developing tubers from sunlight and disease . Hill potatoes double during thegrowing time of year , once when they are 6 - 8inches talland again when they are 12 - 15 in tall .

7. Pest and Disease Control

Potatoes can be susceptible to various pests and disease . usual problems let in Irish potato beetles , aphids , and blight . Monitor yourplants regularlyfor sign of infestation or disease and take appropriate control quantity .

8. Harvesting Potatoes

Potatoes are ready to reap when the cover of the plants begin to die back andturn brownness . Use adigging forkor potato hook to gently dig up the tubers . Avoid damage the potato while harvest home .

9. Curing and Storing Potatoes

After harvest home , potato should be heal in a nerveless , dark place for 10 - 14 days . Thisprocess helpsthe skin to toughen and prevents untimely spoiling . Store potatoes in a coolheaded , well - ventilated areaat around 40 - 45 ° F .

Harvesting and Storage Tips

Questions We Hear a Lot

Q : How deep should I plant potatoes?A : flora potatoes4 - 6 inches cryptical . Q : How far aside should I space murphy plants?A : Space Irish potato plants12 - 18 inch apart within crinkle and 3 feet aside between line . Q : How often should I water potatoes?A : piddle potatoes deeplyand regularly , especially during hot , teetotal conditions . Q : How do I hill potatoes?A : James Jerome Hill potatoestwice during thegrowing season , once when they are 6 - 8inches talland again when they are 12 - 15 column inch tall . Q : When arepotatoes readyto harvest?A : Potatoes are ready to harvest when the tops of theplants begintodie backand turn brown . Q : How should I store potatoes?A : Store potatoesin a coolheaded , well - ventilated areaat around 40 - 45 ° F .