Although potatoes are one of the easy vegetables to grow , sealed ethnic practices will control you of the biggest , healthiest and well - tasting spuds . Planting at the wrong sentence increases the peril of insect damage , while inadequate water means a piteous crop . Attention to detail can increase your yield and ensure your potatoes stay healthy .
Timing
Plantingyour potato at the wrong time can cut your craw curt if the murphy have too little time to mature or struggle in the heat . Although you may develop potato in any USDA geographical zone , they are cool season vegetables . In the coldest climate , you must consider protection from late frosts , while desert gardener should embed in winter to protect the plant life from heat extreme .
Soil
The quality of your soil is one of the biggest factors in growing Solanum tuberosum successfully . Potatoes involve plenty of nutrient to produce their tuber . They favor a more or less acidic ground with lot of humus to make it loose and crumbly . safe drain is a must to prevent fungal infections and hogwash . A sandy loam is idealistic , but you may amend the clay or sandlike soil with aged manure , common detergent builder ’s gumption , well - rot parting or organic compost and other amendments like kelp .
Spacing and Depth
Since potatoes are such heavy affluent , spacingis critical to see they do n’t have too much competitor for water and food . In very rich soil , you may plant as close as 12 inches . If your soil is not as copious , space them 14 to 18 column inch apart . You ’ll need tohillthem at least doubly , so it makes good sense to plant them ab initio about 12 inches below earth level and cover with four inches of stain .
Temperature
temperature have an effect all the fashion through the process of mature Irish potato . For example :
Sprouting
While you could grow potatoes without sprouting them , pullulate tender some advantage . First , it check that every white potato vine you plant life has demonstrated it is open of growing . This is in particular important if you have limited blank space or are trying an expensive raw variety . secondly , sprouting can give a head start on the season in cold mood – start your sprouts in a strong room a few weeks before planting clip .
Size and Eyes
you could establish either small whole potatoes or trim down pieces of larger potatoes . The cut up clod should be about two or three inches in size of it . Cut potatoes should be heal – dry in a warm area for several 24-hour interval before planting . Make certain each potato or art object has at least two safe center with levelheaded shoot – not all centre will develop sprout .
