Potatoes are a garden staple.
With over 100 varieties to choose from, it is easy to find a potato that best suits your taste and needs. Potatoes fresh from the garden are also typically superior in flavor and texture to commercially grown, limited varieties found in your local supermarket. Furthermore, potatoes are relatively simple to propagate in the home garden. All you need are the proper supplies and a sunny location with well-drained soil.
Instructions
1. Test your soil according to the instructions on your soil testing kit. The ideal pH for potatoes is between 5 and 5.5. Alkaline soils are not desirable for potato growing because they expose the tubers to scab disease. Liberally spread the appropriate fertilizer indicated by the results of the soil test on the planting site, then till the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. Using a hoe, create rows for planting and space them 24 to 36 inches apart.
2. Cut seed potatoes in such a way that at least one eye, or growth, is visible. Let the potato pieces dry for at least one day, so the cut areas will harden and create a disease-resistant barrier. As soon as your region's soil warms, typically between April and March, plant the potato starts. Plant the potato starts 3 to 5 inches deep and 10 to 12 inches apart with the cut side down.
3. Water the potato plants 1 to 2 inches per week. As the potato plants grow, you should hill soil around the fragile stems. Also, since potatoes are susceptible to a variety of diseases and insects, you should spray or dust the potato plants weekly with specially formulated insecticide and fungicide for potatoes until late summer, just before harvest.
Tags: potato plants, inches apart, potato starts, your soil
