Potato Planting Time
If you’re in Texas, it’s potato planting time!
And it’s so easy - anyone can & should do this to become more self-sufficient & learn how to grow your own food.
Potatoes are one of the easiest crops to grow as long as you know how and when to plant them. Once you know when to plant them, what you need to grow them and when to harvest them, you’ll have a bumper crop in no time. Keep reading for easy to follow suggestions . .
When to plant potatoes ~
Potatoes do best when they are planted in early spring or once the soil can be worked and is consistently staying between 45 - 55 degrees F. If you’re in Texas, mid to late February is our ideal time to plant potatoes but they will need a bit of protection if a late frost arrives.
Another timing gauge you can use is to wait 2-3 weeks prior to the last frost date for your area, The Farmers Almanac is a great place to find out when this is for your particular area. If you’re area stays cool enough (consistently below 80 degrees F), you can also plant potatoes as late as June.
Where should you plant potatoes?
Potatoes can grow almost anywhere, so this is really up to you and what space you have available. Choose an area that gets plenty of sun and has slightly acidic soil (PH of 5.0 to 7.0). I have never tested my soil. If you have loose, healthy soil don’t fret about soil levels. Potatoes are one of the most forgiving crops, if you’re soil isn’t perfect, plant your potatoes any way! They are hardy vegetables and can take almost anything you throw at them.
What do you need?
Seed potatoes OR organic potatoes from the store
good soil (light & loose) & a place to grow them
water, sun and 60-90 days (depending on the variety that you choose)
Seed Potatoes or Store Bought Potatoes?
Seed potatoes are the BEST choice when growing potatoes. They are tubers that are genetically identical to the parent plant. You can find seed potatoes online in the winter (they are usually sold out by the time early spring arrives) or a locally owned feed store or plant nursery. When you buy them from a local vendor chances are they are carrying a variety that will perform well in your particular area.
Grocery potatoes are often treated with growth inhibitors to keep them fresh longer but this keeps them from sprouting. And sprouting is what you need a potato to do to get more potatoes.
Organic potatoes aren’t usually treated this way, but your safest bet is to purchase seed potatoes. Use what you can find and just give it a try. You never know what you’ll be blessed with.
Should you plant potatoes in the ground or in a grow bag?
You can do either one, this is totally your choice. When planting potatoes in the ground, remove any weeds and dig a trench roughly 6-8 inches deep, with the base about 3 inches wide. If you need more than one row, keep about 3 feet between them. Cultivate the soil by mixing in compost or rotted manure at the base of the trench. Place potatoes about 12 inches apart.
When planting in a grow bag, fill the bottom of the bag with a couple of inches (5 cm.) of soil and compost mix and plant your seed potatoes. Fill with just enough medium to cover the tops of the tubers. Keep the soil mix evenly moist and cover the sprouted potato greens with a compost mix as they come up. Keep them covered and unroll the burlap as the soil level rises. Growing potatoes in bags is a simple, no-fuss method that yields more potatoes and causes less harvest damage. These are the GROW BAGS I like to use.
How to Plant Potatoes:
1. Discard any that have soft spots, cracks, bruises or signs of rotting.
2. Allow the potatoes to chit, AKA let them sprout some before you plant by setting them in a cool, light space for about two weeks.
3. You can plant your potatoes whole OR you can cut them. If you cut them make sure you do this 2 days before planting, making sure that each piece has at least two eyes (buds) on them.
4. Plant potatoes once the sprouts are at least 1/2 inch long. Plant with sprouts facing UP (cut side facing down).
5. Cover lightly with soil, spaced a few feet apart or closer together if using a grow bag.
6. As the potatoes grow, add more soil on top.
When to harvest -
Harvest your potatoes when the foliage turns yellow. If you plan to store them for a while, harvest them 2-3 weeks after the foliage dies back. Allowing your potatoes 2-3 days to cure before storing.
Have questions? Drop them in the comments
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