Skip the produce section and start growing potatoes in your own backyard. All you need is a sunny space to grow them, a steady supply of water, and seed potatoes (the sprouted portion of a potato that you plant in the ground). Yes, it's true—you can grow potatoes from potatoes! Take your pick from russet, Yukon, fingerling, and more varieties, then get your potato patch started so you can enjoy all their starchy goodness fresh from your garden.
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How to Plant Potatoes
Potatoes love the sun, so plant your patch in a spot that gets a lot of natural light, where the plants will get at least six hours of sun each day. Potatoes are planted with pieces of tubers called seed potatoes and should be placed in the ground in the spring, around the time of the last expected frost.
Small potatoes can be planted whole, but larger potatoes (anything bigger than a golf ball) should be quartered with a clean knife before planting. Make sure each piece planted includes an eye or bud, which is where the new crop will spring from. To prevent rot, let the potato pieces dry out for a couple of days before planting. The seed potatoes should be planted a few inches deep in loose, well-drained soil and spaced 12 to 15 inches apart in rows.
How to Grow Potatoes
In a few weeks, shoots will emerge from the seed potatoes and poke up through the soil. Once the shoots are 8 to 10 inches tall, mound several inches of soil around the stem. This is called "hilling," and it helps increase your potato harvest.
Soon your potato plants will start flowering and forming tubers. Keep your plants well watered and weeded to help tubers to grow properly. Once the foliage turns yellow and begins to die back, stop watering to prepare for harvest time.
How to Grow Potatoes from Potatoes
It's best to grow potatoes from specially grown disease-free seed potatoes you purchase from a garden supply store. The potatoes you buy in the grocery store may have been treated with a growth inhibitor to prevent them from sprouting in your pantry. However, if you have some potatoes that are beginning to sprout (the "eyes" have swollen and whitish shoots are beginning to develop), you can simply plant a piece of the sprouting potato in the ground or in a roomy pot covered with 3 inches of soil. Within two weeks, green shoots should emerge. These will grow into bushy plants, and after three months or so, new spuds will develop below ground.
While growing potatoes from grocery store potatoes is possible, be aware that some varieties may be patented. Patents make unlicensed propagation of protected plants illegal.
How to Grow Potatoes in Containers
If you don't have the space to grow potatoes in your yard, you can grow them on your deck or patio. Start with a large, deep pot with ample drainage and fill one-third of the container with potting soil. Place your seed potatoes in the pot and cover them with a layer of potting soil. Keep the pot in the sun and well-watered, and hill the potted potatoes when they show about 6 inches of growth, repeating until the pot is full.
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How to Harvest Potatoes
Your potatoes are ready to harvest when the plants begin to turn yellow and die back, typically 18 to 20 weeks after planting. Most potatoes sprout quickly in spring when kept at room temperature, but the type of potato makes a difference if you want to harvest good tubers from your crop. The small red potatoes often sold as "new" potatoes are fast and fun to grow, while large baking potato plants take much longer to mature and often produce poorly in areas with hot summer weather.
If you want to eat your potatoes fresh, only dig up what you want for immediate eating. If you plan on storing your potatoes, don't dig them up until 2 or 3 weeks after the foliage dies back. Dig potatoes up with a spading fork, being careful not to pierce the tubers. Leave the potatoes on the ground for a few hours to dry and cure, then brush off any loose soil and store them in a cool, dry place until you're ready to use them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow sweet potatoes like regular potatoes?
Sweet potatoes don't grow the same way regular potatoes do. To grow sweet potatoes, you'll need to remove the slips (stems and foliage that sprout from a grown sweet potato) and root them in water. Once rooted, you can then plant them in the soil.
What month should I plant my potatoes?
The exact month in which you plant your potatoes (and any crop) depends on the growing zone you live in. As a rule of thumb, you can plant potatoes around the time of the last spring frost, which typically falls in March, April, or May, depending on the climate you live in.
How long can I store potatoes for?
Potatoes should be stored in an open air basket or bowl to help prevent the accumulation of moisture. For the maximum shelf life, store your potatoes in a cool dry basem*nt or garage for up to three or four months. If stored in a more traditional spot like a kitchen cabinet, they'll last between three weeks and a month.
As a seasoned gardening enthusiast with a wealth of practical experience, I've successfully cultivated a variety of crops, including potatoes, in my own backyard. The satisfaction of growing your own food is unparalleled, and potatoes, in particular, are a versatile and rewarding crop to cultivate. My expertise is not just theoretical; it comes from years of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the nuances involved in potato cultivation.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article:
1. Planting Potatoes:
- Choose a sunny location for your potato patch, ensuring the plants receive at least six hours of sunlight daily.
- Use seed potatoes, which are sprouted portions of potatoes, for planting.
- Quarter larger potatoes with a clean knife, ensuring each piece has an eye or bud for new crop growth.
- Allow potato pieces to dry for a couple of days before planting to prevent rot.
- Plant seed potatoes a few inches deep in loose, well-drained soil, spacing them 12 to 15 inches apart in rows.
2. Growing Potatoes:
- Shoots will emerge from the planted seed potatoes in a few weeks.
- When shoots are 8 to 10 inches tall, mound soil around the stem through a process called "hilling" to increase the potato harvest.
- Keep plants well-watered and weeded for proper tuber growth.
- Stop watering when foliage turns yellow and begins to die back to prepare for harvest.
3. Growing Potatoes from Potatoes:
- Use disease-free seed potatoes from a garden supply store for optimal results.
- If using sprouting grocery store potatoes, plant a piece in the ground or a roomy pot covered with soil.
- Green shoots will emerge within two weeks, growing into bushy plants with new spuds developing below ground.
4. Growing Potatoes in Containers:
- Use a large, deep pot with ample drainage for container planting.
- Fill one-third of the container with potting soil and plant seed potatoes, covering them with a layer of soil.
- Hill the potted potatoes when they show about 6 inches of growth, repeating until the pot is full.
5. Harvesting Potatoes:
- Harvest when plants turn yellow and die back, typically 18 to 20 weeks after planting.
- For fresh consumption, dig up only what you need immediately.
- If storing, wait 2 to 3 weeks after foliage dies back, then dig up potatoes with a spading fork.
- Dry and cure potatoes for a few hours, brush off loose soil, and store in a cool, dry place.
6. Frequently Asked Questions:
- Sweet potatoes require a different growing method, involving slips rooted in water.
- Plant potatoes around the time of the last spring frost, with the exact month depending on your growing zone.
- Store potatoes in an open-air basket or bowl in a cool, dry place for three to four months.
By following these guidelines, you can successfully grow and harvest potatoes, whether in your backyard, on your deck, or in containers. If you have any further questions or need additional advice, feel free to ask. Happy gardening!
