| Potatoes, taters, spuds...call them what you will, | | | | small handful of dry pine needles in the holes beneath |
| potatoes are a staple in the diet of many people all | | | | your seed potatoes. Along with moving your potatoes |
| over the planet. Potatoes are a nutritious, versatile | | | | to a different section of the garden each year, this will |
| vegetable, and they're incredibly easy to grow. But | | | | help prevent further scab infection. Potato scab |
| before you run out to the garden with your shovel and | | | | appears as rough patches on the skin of the potatoes. |
| hoe, there are a few things you should know about | | | | Depending on the warmth of the soil, potato plants will |
| planting potatoes. | | | | begin to emerge from the soil anywhere from one to |
| You may have heard old timers say that potatoes | | | | three weeks after planting. When the plants are about |
| should always be planted on Good Friday. This old | | | | a foot tall, use your hoe to mound six to eight inches |
| wives' tale is absolutely absurd. Good Friday does not | | | | of soil continuously along the entire row of plants. This |
| fall on the same calendar date each year and can fall | | | | is called hilling. Hilling ensures that the potatoes will grow |
| anywhere from early March to mid April. If folks in | | | | deeply under the soil, away from sunlight which would |
| New England or the upper Midwest tried to plant | | | | cause them to become green. Potatoes that suffer |
| potatoes on Good Friday, many years they'd be | | | | from greening will be bitter and the inedible green parts |
| digging through rock-hard soil that was still frozen solid. | | | | must be discarded. |
| Do not plant potatoes too early, while the ground is still | | | | Keep the potato plants evenly watered while they are |
| icy. If the ground is too cold and wet, the seed | | | | growing. A dry period followed by a rainy spell will |
| potatoes will delay sprouting until the growing conditions | | | | cause some potato varieties to develop a hollow core. |
| are more favorable. This is usually in early March to | | | | Yukon Gold potatoes seem to be especially prone to |
| late April, depending on the climate. Potatoes do | | | | this problem. |
| tolerate cool soil and a light frost, but not much growth | | | | Another potential problem with potatoes is the |
| will take place until the soil warms up a bit. | | | | Colorado potato beetle. The larvae and adult beetles |
| You won't find potato seedlings or packets of potato | | | | will feed on the potato foliage, and a heavy infestation |
| seeds for sale at your local garden center. Instead, | | | | can damage the foliage enough to reduce your |
| potatoes are grown from seed potatoes. A seed | | | | harvest considerably. Watch for the beetle's yellow |
| potato is nothing more than an ordinary potato, with at | | | | eggs on the undersides of leaves and crush the |
| least one "eye". | | | | clusters whenever you see them. Larvae are a deep |
| Back in the day before supermarkets, when gardens | | | | orange color with a row of black spots on both sides, |
| supplied most of the food put on the table, the last of | | | | while the adults are a paler orange with black stripes |
| the potatoes in the storage bin come spring were | | | | on the body and black spots on the head. The larvae |
| used for seed potatoes. | | | | and adults can be picked off the leaves and crushed if |
| Wise gardeners set aside their blemish-free, healthiest | | | | there are only a few. An infestation can also be |
| potatoes for seed. Seed potatoes can be planted | | | | controlled with Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt. Bt is an |
| whole, or they may be cut into pieces with at least | | | | organic control that is very safe to use. Look for Bt |
| one eye per piece. Seed potatoes with more eyes will | | | | that is specifically for potato beetles. It is sold in many |
| grow to produce a larger quantity of potatoes but the | | | | garden catalogs and garden centers. |
| potatoes will generally be smaller. Seed potatoes with | | | | Once your potato plants have bloomed, you can begin |
| fewer eyes will produce fewer potatoes, but those | | | | to harvest small "new" potatoes. Depending on the |
| potatoes will tend to be larger. | | | | variety of potatoes you're growing, this is about eight |
| If you choose to cut your seed potatoes into smaller | | | | weeks after planting. In the fall, after the foliage has |
| pieces, divide them a day prior to planting. This allows | | | | begun to dry and die back, the entire crop can be dug. |
| the cuts to heal over slightly, which helps to prevent | | | | Before storing them in a cool, dry and dark place, |
| soil-borne diseases from infecting your potato crop. | | | | make sure the surface of your freshly dug spuds has |
| Always choose seed potatoes that are free from | | | | dried a bit. Spread them out in a dry spot out of direct |
| blemishes. | | | | sun, such as a garage or shed, for a day or two |
| Plant your whole or cut seed potatoes two to three | | | | before putting them in storage. |
| inches deep in good, rich soil. Rows of potatoes should | | | | Freshly dug, crisp potatoes taste better than any you'll |
| be about three feet apart and the potatoes within the | | | | buy at a grocery store. Grow some yourself and |
| row should be planted twelve inches apart. If your | | | | discover how easy and fun it is to produce a staple |
| potato crop has suffered from scab in the past, toss a | | | | crop of delicious potatoes for your family. |