Potatoes are one of the most rewarding crops to grow, offering generous yields with minimal effort. With a few essential requirements—full sun, loose fertile soil, and about 1 inch of water per week—you can successfully cultivate potatoes in your LandGuard Garden Bed. While they can be grown in containers or grow bags, raised beds typically yield better results.
Step 1: Choose Seed Potatoes
Start with organic, certified disease-free seed potatoes from a reputable catalog or farm store. Avoid grocery store potatoes that have been treated with sprout retardants. If you buy from a farm store, select tubers that have already begun to sprout. Pre-sprouting them on your kitchen counter can lead to earlier harvests.
Step 2: Separate the Eyes
For planting, only use small, golf ball-sized potatoes whole. Cut larger tubers into pieces, ensuring each segment has two to three "eyes" (the bumps from which sprouts emerge). This prevents overcrowding and competition among stems, leading to larger potatoes.
Step 3: Cure the Cut Pieces
Curing the cut pieces is essential. Place them in a warm, moderately lit area (around 70°F) for three to five days to allow the cuts to callous over, which helps prevent rot.
Step 4: How & When to Plant Potatoes
Plant seed potato segments cut-side down (with eyes facing up) in a 6-inch-deep hole or trench. Space each segment 12 inches apart. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer between segments, cover them with 2 inches of soil, and water well.
The best time to plant potatoes varies by region. In warmer climates, aim for around Valentine’s Day; in cooler areas, plan for Easter or early spring, about 3-4 weeks before the last frost date.
Step 5: Hill Around the Stems
As new potatoes form on lateral stems (or "stolons"), hilling is crucial. When the green sprouts reach 8 inches in height, bury all but the top 4 inches with soil, straw, or shredded leaves. Hill again when the plants grow another 8 inches. The more you hill, the more abundant your harvest will be. Stop hilling once the vines flower, as potatoes need to be kept in darkness to avoid turning green, which can be toxic.
Step 6: How & When to Harvest Potatoes
You can start harvesting baby potatoes two weeks after the vines flower. For full-sized potatoes, wait until the vines die back, indicating maturity. Small new potatoes can be ready in as little as ten weeks, while larger ones typically take 80-100 days.
Step 7: Store Your Potatoes
For optimal storage, leave potatoes in the ground until cool weather arrives. Harvest them on a sunny day in late October, allowing them to dry on top of the raised beds for a few hours. This toughens their skin for storage. Brush off any loose soil and place them in double paper bags.
Additional Potato Growing Tips
- If you prefer not to hill, plant potatoes 8-9 inches deep, but be aware this may result in smaller yields and longer sprouting times.
- Potatoes thrive in slightly acidic soil (pH 5.8-6.5). Enhance soil fertility with compost or well-rotted manure.
- For easier weeding, space your potatoes at least two feet apart.
Preventing Potato Blight
Potato blight (Phytophthora infestans) can devastate your crop. To minimize risk, avoid planting potatoes or other nightshade family members (like tomatoes and eggplants) in the same spot for at least three years. Additionally, promptly remove any volunteer potatoes that may sprout in your garden.
By following these guidelines and utilizing your LandGuard Garden Bed, you can enjoy a bountiful potato harvest. Happy gardening!
