Growing Potatoes
Potatoes are surprisingly easy to grow and especially fun to harvest.
Digging for potatoes feels a little like gardening and treasure hunting got combined into one project.
When to Plant
For Central Alabama, Irish potatoes are commonly planted in February, with a fall planting opportunity around August 1–15.
Adjust for your location and soil conditions.
Start With Seed Potatoes
Use certified seed potatoes rather than grocery-store potatoes.
Cut large seed potatoes into pieces with at least one or two healthy eyes.
Allow cut surfaces to dry briefly before planting.
Soil
Potatoes prefer:
- Loose soil
- Good drainage
- Consistent moisture
- Slightly acidic conditions
Heavy wet clay can make harvesting difficult and increase rot problems.
Raised beds can work very well.
Planting
Plant seed pieces several inches deep with eyes facing upward.
As plants grow, soil is traditionally hilled around the stems.
Why Hill Potatoes?
Hilling:
- Protects developing tubers from sunlight
- Helps prevent greening
- Supports plants
- Creates more loose soil for tuber development
Potatoes exposed to light can turn green and should not be eaten.
Watering
Consistent moisture is especially important while tubers are developing.
Avoid large swings between very dry and saturated soil.
Fertility
Use soil-test recommendations.
Too much nitrogen can produce lots of foliage without a matching potato crop.
Common Problems
Watch for:
- Colorado potato beetles
- Flea beetles
- Early blight
- Late blight
- Rot in poorly drained soil
Rotate potatoes away from tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant because they belong to the same plant family.
Harvest
For “new potatoes,” harvest carefully after plants flower.
For mature storage potatoes, wait until vines yellow and die back.
Dig carefully to avoid cutting tubers.
Storage
Cure mature potatoes briefly in a dark, ventilated place before long-term storage.
Store cool, dark, and dry.
GardenGrowz Tip
Never leave harvested potatoes sitting in sunlight. Light exposure can cause greening.
