Sara gathering early fresh potatoes from her hoophouse at Sandiwood Farm Potatoes are a straightforward and enjoyable crop to cultivate, and their long shelf life allows you to eat locally throughout the year. In addition to selecting the appropriate types for your purposes, you must also select a good growing strategy.
Today, you can discover information on a variety of approaches on the internet, including growing in stacked wooden boxes and straw-filled wire cages. However, many of these techniques are not worth their salt and can result in poor harvests, even with extra care. We’re all about helping you succeed, therefore we’re only going to discuss ways that actually work in this post.
In the High Mowing Trials field, Monique is hilling potatoes. This is the approach utilized by our parents and grandparents, and it is the most practical for big plantings. To be successful, you must prepare a site by tilling or turning and raking the soil until it is loose and moist.
If your soil has not been treated lately, you should also incorporate compost. Once the soil has been prepared, dig long, straight trenches 3 to 5 feet apart (more space equals more potatoes), then place seed potato pieces 12 inches apart in the trenches and cover them with 4 inches of dirt before watering well.
When the potatoes have sprouted and grown about 8″ of foliage, you should begin “hilling” the plants by mounding the fluffy soil on either side of the trenches up around the stems of the plants. As long as there is foliage sticking out they’ll keep growing, and the more you hill, the more potatoes you’ll get.
- Similar to planting in the ground, you should begin hilling the plants when they reach about 8″ in height, and continue hilling as the plants grow to give the tubers ample room to grow.
- To harvest from hills or raised beds, wait until about one week after the plants have died back, then pull them up by the stems and remove any potatoes that are still attached to the roots.
Place seed potatoes in the bottom of the container, then fill with 4 inches of soil and water. As the plants develop, add additional soil to the container until it is 1 inch below the rim. Alternate “hilling” with potting soil and garden soil to save costs; however, do not use exclusively garden soil (see below) and be careful to water your pots every morning it is not raining.
Methods I Do Not Suggest Because They Stress Plants and Decrease Yields: Too much airflow causes plants to dry out, resulting in smaller tubers. Planting in plastic bags or other containers with insufficient drainage and ventilation. Food-grade plastic tubs with drainage holes can be used, but clear and dark-colored tubs tend to heat the soil too much and can reduce yields.
Planting upside down, grafted to tomato plants, and other boutique techniques that are more like science experiments than successful production techniques are more like fun science experiments than successful production techniques. 
It is essential to eliminate Colorado Potato Beetle larvae as soon as they are discovered. Simply place them in a bucket of soapy water (or squash them). Five Common Errors to Avoid: Beginning Too Late There is little purpose in growing potatoes in June unless you live in the chilly North or the mountain regions.
Already overheated, the land will provide meager harvests. However, you may still be able to produce an autumn harvest by planting in a location that receives afternoon shadow, where the soil is colder, and fall crops may avoid the most severe damage from Colorado Potato Beetles. Allowing Plants to dry out This is a problem in locations with sandy soil and in hot situations such as containers, roofs, and urban heat islands.
In these conditions, water thoroughly every morning, and employ a plant-sitter if you will be gone. The yield of plants that have wilted will be diminished. Using the Incorrect Soil. Potatoes thrive in deep, loose, loamy soil that is not too rich – a mixture of 2 parts garden soil to 1 part compost is ideal for hills and raised beds.
If your soil is compacted or you till it too shallowly, there will not be enough soil for your plants to grow in, resulting in minimal yields. When planting in containers, you must use potting soil since garden soil hardens in containers, making tuber formation more difficult. Insufficient Drainage. Even during wet seasons, it is preferable to find a location that does not flood, as potatoes require adequate drainage.
In certain years, this is unavoidable, but drainage ditches, raised beds, containers, or active hilling can keep plants above water in extreme circumstances. Too Many Potato Seeds. Not the number of seed potatoes you plant, but the amount of loose soil you offer, is the primary element that will restrict yields.
How widely apart should seed potatoes be planted?
Spacing & Depth – Potatoes are grown from “seed fragments” as opposed to actual seeds. These seed bits may consist of little, entire potatoes or potatoes sliced into 1-1/2 to 2-ounce chunks. Plant the pieces as soon as they are cut. Ensure that each seed component has at least one viable “eye.” Some garden stores and seed distributors provide “potato eyeballs” weighing less than one ounce.
It is possible that these are too tiny for optimal output. Small, verified, entire seed potatoes are frequently the best option for home growers. Plant seed pieces 10 to 12 inches apart and bury them 1 to 3 inches deep in a furrow. Separate rows by 24 to 36 inches. The 24 inch spacing is often advantageous since the plants shade the soil and avoid excessive soil temperatures, which restrict tuber development.
“Straw Potatoes” Straw potatoes are potatoes grown using a particular cultural approach in which they are neither hilled or tended after planting. The seed pieces and rows should be spaced the same as in conventional agriculture, but the seed pieces are planted on the surface of the soil.
- Place 4 to 6 inches of loose straw over the seed bits and between the rows.
- The sprouts of potatoes should appear through the straw.
- No cultivation should be required.
- Pull any weeds that manage to sprout through the straw cover and add additional straw if decomposition causes the covering to weaken during the season.
Carefully remove the straw and collect the tubers from the soil’s surface before harvesting. In addition to weed management, there are several additional benefits of strawing. Straw keeps the soil temperature consistent and approximately 10°F lower, prevents water loss, and produces tubers with improved form.
How many seed potatoes are planted at once?
How to cut seed potatoes for planting: Two to three days before to planting, cut the seed potatoes into pieces using a clean knife. Ensure that the last frost date has past before planting. Allow the seed potatoes to sit at room temperature in a single layer so their sliced tissue may callus over, regardless of whether they have sprouted.
This inhibits the introduction of soil-borne illnesses to seed potatoes during planting. One pound of seed potatoes provides around eight to ten plantable seed pieces. That is plenty for a 10 foot long row provided the components are separated by 12 inches. When I initially figured out how to sow seed potatoes, I discovered that closer spacing also works.
I place my seed potato pieces around 10 inches apart. They produce new plants from their “eyes.” Ensure that each seed potato has at least two eyes.
What is the best fertilizer for potatoes?
Our Top Selections – Now that you know more about potato fertilizers, you should begin buying. The following are the most recommended potato fertilizers for your garden. Photo: amazon.com Granular fertilizer from Southern Ag comes in a 5-pound bag and progressively distributes nutrients over time, allowing gardeners to feed less regularly.
- This fertilizer has a 10-10-10 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, making it suitable for both food and non-edible plants.
- This well-balanced formulation makes Southern Ag fertilizer perfect for the initial fertilizing step while planting potatoes.
- Spread the granules across the area and soak them into the soil to apply.
The manufacturer suggests using 1 cup of fertilizer per 25 square feet of soil. Product Specifications
- Type: Granular
- NPK Ratio: 10 to 10 to 10
- Weight: 5 pounds
Pros
- Well-balanced trifecta fertilizer
- Useful for all purposes
- Reasonable pricing
Cons Solitary size available 
Southern Ag potato fertilizer is available on Amazon and Walmart. Image: www.homedepot.com This natural fertilizer from Miracle-Gro has a unique, water-soluble mix that makes it simple to apply and provides plants with an immediate nutrient boost. With an NPK ratio of 18-18-21, this fertilizer is ideal for use at the start of the growing season or in the final couple of months of growth, when potato plants demand additional potassium.
- Type: Water-soluble
- Ratio NPK: 18-18-21
- Weight: 2 pounds
Pros
- Effective 18-18-21 formula
- Useful for all purposes
- Reasonable pricing
Cons Solitary size available 
The Miracle-Gro potato fertilizer is available through Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart. Image: www.acehardware.com Those seeking for the most effective organic fertilizer should pick Dr. Earth’s formulation. It includes probiotics, seven kinds of soil microorganisms, and ecto and endo mycorrhizae (beneficial fungi), all of which contribute to a soil that is richer and more nutrient-rich.
- This formula is certified organic and non-GMO by the OMRI (Organic Material Review Institute) and the CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers).
- This product, which has an NPK ratio of 4-6-3 and contains no chemicals or synthetic components, is suitable for use around children and pets.
- It’s composed of feed-grade materials, therefore it’s not an issue if your animals consume it.
Product Specifications
- Type: Granular
- The NPK Ratio is 4:6:3.
- Weight: 4 pounds
Pros
- 100% organic formula
- Useful for all purposes
- Non-GMO or chemically synthesized
- Slow-release vitamins and minerals
Cons Low NPK proportion Dr. Earth potato fertilizer is available at Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart. Photo: amazon.com The adaptable liquid fertilizer produced by Fox Farm consists of earthworm castings, Norwegian kelp, and important micronutrients with an NPK ratio of 6-4-4.
This formula is optimal during the middle of a potato plant’s development cycle because to its high nitrogen content. The company suggests adding 2 tablespoons of liquid fertilizer per gallon of water and applying the combination every other time you water the garden for optimal results. The fertilizer should only be sprayed once the new seedlings have established themselves for a few days.
Product Specifications 
- Type: Liquid
- Ratio NPK: 6-4-4
- Quantity: 1 pint
Pros
- Can be used on both plants and blossoms
- Concentrated composition
- Contains only premium components
Cons Small size 
Fox Farm potato fertilizer is available on Amazon and Walmart. Photo: amazon.com Vegetables grown on natural soil have a nutritional edge over those planted in containers or raised beds, which require supplemental nutrients to flourish. This Nature’s Care formulation has an NPK ratio of 10-2-8, which makes it perfect for the first two months of potato plant growth.
- Sprinkle a half cup of the granules onto each square foot of raised bed and work them into the top 6 inches of soil before fully watering.
- Use a quarter-cup of fertilizer per square foot for each successive feeding.
- The three-pound bag should be enough to nourish a four-foot-by-four-foot raised bed for around two months.
Product Specifications
- Type: Granular
- NPK Ratio: 10 to 2 to 8
- Weight: 3 pounds
Pros
- All-purpose formula
- High proportion of nutrients
- designed specifically for raised beds
Cons The soil must be worked using granules. Amazon has the Nature’s Care potato fertilizer. Photo: amazon.com This multipurpose fertilizer from Miracle-Gro is a good choice for those with small gardens who are searching for a single fertilizer for both flowers and food plants.
The integrated shaker applicator makes it simple to uniformly distribute the grains across the yard. For gardening in-ground, just spread the granules and then incorporate them into the top three inches of soil. When establishing container gardens, include 2 teaspoons of fertilizer per gallon of soil.
Follow the directions for in-ground gardening if plants are already well-established. Apply fertilizer every four to six weeks for optimal results. Product Specifications 
- Type: Granular
- The NPK Ratio is 9:2:7.
- Availability: 2.5 pounds
Pros
- Compatible with containers and native soil
- Useful for all purposes
- Conveniently integrated applicator
Cons Solitary size available 
The Miracle-Gro potato fertilizer is available through Amazon, The Home Depot, and Walmart. With a 16-pound capacity and an NPK ratio of 4-4-4, this bag of all-purpose fertilizer from Jobe’s Organics is an ideal choice for most gardeners, whether they are cultivating flowers, fruits, or vegetables.
- It is certified organic by the OMRI and has a fast-acting granular formulation.
- Due to its natural composition, it is safe to use around children and animals.
- The formulation is intended to enhance nutrient absorption, assist plants in resisting pests, boost root development, and build a healthy, diversified ecosystem in the garden.
The bag’s resealability prolongs the fertilizer’s freshness. Product Specifications
- Type: Granular
- NPK Ratio: 4 to 4 to 4
- Weight: 16 pounds
Pros
- Balanced 4-4-4 formulation
- Useful for all purposes
- Reasonable pricing
- Smaller sizes available
Cons Low nutritional density Potato fertilizer from Jobe’s Organics is available on Amazon and at Walmart.
