When to Plant Potatoes
Getting the timing right for planting potatoes is an important step in ensuring a healthy harvest. Plant them too soon and they could rot from a heavy frost. Ideally, plant potatoes a few weeks prior to the last expected freeze, in early spring. The optimum soil temperature for growth of potato plants starts at 45 degrees Fahrenheit, however, that differs depending on your climate and zone (see Hardiness Zone map, above).
The Hardiness Zone is based on average annual extreme minimum temperature in 13 zones with one being the coldest and 13 being the warmest.
Feeding Potato Plants
Potatoes need at least six to eight hours of sun a day. They thrive in fertile, healthy soil that’s loose, fluffy and well-drained. You can plant them whole or in pieces. However, if the whole potato is smaller than a golf ball, plant it whole. When planting cut potatoes, place them cut side down in the dirt with the eyes on top. If the potato doesn’t have at least one eye, don’t plant it because nothing will grow.
When planting potatoes, you should never use grocery store potatoes to grow new potatoes. Store-bought potatoes have been sprayed with sprout-inhibitor chemicals. These chemicals can introduce diseases into your garden. Always buy seed potatoes that are certified disease-free. A seed potato is one that has one or more of its buds used to start new plants.
What is The Eye of a Potato?
The eye of a potato plays an important role in planting and growing new potatoes. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to grow a new potato from an existing one. The potato’s eye is the small white bump or bud that grows from the potato. When planted, it’s that part of the potato, the eye, from which new potatoes grow. The bud is safe to eat, however, if left undisturbed, the bud will begin sprouting. Unlike the eye, the sprouting is not edible and should be cut out.
How Deep Do You Plant Potatoes?
Potatoes should be planted in a trench six inches deep. If the potatoes are planted too deep where the dirt is colder and wetter, the plant could rot. Plant them too shallow and they risk being exposed to the sun, turning them green. That green buildup contains a high concentration of a toxic compound called solanine which is harmful, even in small amounts.
Space the potatoes at least 12 inches apart from one another so that the plants have room to grow. Cover the potatoes with four inches of soil and tamp down lightly. If you’re planting more than one row, plant the rows at least 36 inches apart.
Don’t water the potatoes right away. Wait until the potato plant sprouts above ground before you begin watering them, then water weekly to maintain moisture in the plants. They should receive at least one to two inches of water each week, but make sure not to over water them.
A Variety of Potatoes
When considering what type of potatoes to plant, you have a wide range to choose from. Not all potatoes ae created equal. Potatoes fall into three classifications: starchy, waxy, and all-purpose. Each has its place of culinary distinction.
Starchy potatoes tend to be long and have course skin. They’re high in starch and low in moisture. Starchy potatoes break down easily during cooking which makes them perfect for dishes like mashed potatoes. Starchy potatoes include:
- Russet: these large, oblong potatoes with dark brown skin are perfect for making baked potatoes.
- Long White: this oval, light tan, thin skinned potato is good for frying, boiling and microwaving.
Waxy potatoes are low in starch but high in moisture content. They tend to hold their shape when cooked. Waxy potatoes include:
- Red: these are small to medium potatoes with a very thin, waxy skin and a bright white interior. Once cooked, they have a dense texture, making them good for roasting, soups or potato salads.
- Baby/New: potatoes harvested before they reach maturity, these petite potatoes are perfect for roasting or pan frying.
- Fingerlings: these oblong potatoes have a firm texture with a buttery and earthy flavor. They come in a variety of colors, including purple, orange and red. They’re perfect for roasting.
All-purpose potatoes have medium starch and moisture content so they’re the most versatile on the potato spectrum. They can be substituted for either potato in recipes. All-purpose potatoes include:
- White: these are small to medium potatoes with a rich flavor and velvety texture.
- Yukon Gold: this all-purpose potato has a sweet, butter flavor and a creamy texture with a thin gold skin that you can leave the skin on or off.
- Purple: this potato has purple skin and flesh that is purple or blue (and sometimes pink or even white), They have an earthy, nutty flavor good for most any type of food preparation.
Potato Planting Do’s and Don’ts
- DON’T allow your potato bed to dry out.
- DO water your potato bed at least once a week but don’t overwater.
- DON’T plant potatoes that don’t have eyes. You’ll disappointed when it’s harvest time because there’ll be nothing to harvest.
- DON’T use store-bought potatoes to grow potatoes.
- DO buy certified disease-free seed potatoes.
- DON’T plant potatoes in the shade.
- DO plant potatoes where they’ll get at least six to eight hours of sun a day.
- DON’T water the potatoes right after planting.
- DO wait until the potato plant sprouts above ground before watering for the first time.