Potatoes

Debbie suggested this article for this week's column.

Potatoes need to be planted early so they have time to produce due to a long growing season.

Potatoes are often planted in a hill. This term means elevated thus we mound soil up to plant potatoes. This process keeps wet soils away and allows the area to warm for faster sprouting. Seed potato varieties are sold locally and there are many choices. Using regular potatoes from the store might not give satisfactory results because they are usually treated for sprout reduction.

There are some gardeners who now plant potatoes under straw and that technique will work on fertile loose soil. Remember potatoes are heavy feeders and respond well to fertile loose soils.

Potatoes like most vegetables prefer a full sun location that is well drained. They will grow in moist soils but not soggy soils. Tomatoes and potatoes are in the same family and thus do not plant potatoes where tomatoes were last year. Practicing this garden rule will limit disease associated with both crops.

There are several arguments both ways either to use whole or cut potatoes. I will say by cutting potatoes one can stretch their dollar. Each piece or potato should have 4 sprouts on them and place those sprouts pointing upward in a 3 inch trench. Plant your potatoes about 10-12 inches apart in rows at least 24 inches apart. A north to south running row will allow the rows more equal sunlight. Soil should be pulled to the row when the plants get close to 8 inches tall and again in 12-16 days.

For those of you who like new potatoes if you plant early start looking in June as the first flower buds appear. The yield per plant will be less for these small culinary delights which are truly a treat. The main crop will come in late summer.

So in this new age of let's grow our own why not try some potatoes in your garden.