Growing Potatoes: A Comprehensive Guide
Potatoes are a versatile and rewarding crop for any home garden. With the right preparation and care, you can grow a bountiful harvest of delicious potatoes. Here’s a guide to help you get started.
Click here to access the complete Potato Growing Guide (PDF) for detailed information on soil preparation, planting, and long-term care.
Soil Preparation and Nutrients
Potatoes thrive in well-cultivated, well-drained soil with a pH range of 4.8 to 5.5. Prepare the soil by incorporating high-quality compost or a balanced fertilizer rich in phosphorus. Cover crops like legumes and buckwheat can improve soil quality and nutrient availability, making them a great option before planting. Avoid using fresh manure, as it can cause scab on the tubers.
Planting Seed Potatoes
Start with certified seed potatoes to ensure disease-free growth. Pre-sprout your seed potatoes by exposing them to moderate light for a week or two. Cut larger potatoes into 1-2 oz pieces with at least two eyes each, allowing them to callus before planting. Plant in shallow furrows, spacing each seed piece 12 inches apart and rows 20-26 inches apart. Cover with 3 inches of loose soil, and mound additional soil as the plants grow to prevent tuber exposure to sunlight.
Watering and Maintenance
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Mulching with straw can help retain moisture and protect tubers from sunlight. For container gardening, use a mix of potting soil and compost, ensuring good drainage. Fertilize twice a month and hill soil as the plants grow.
Harvesting and Storage
Harvest early varieties in 50–60 days, while storage varieties can remain in the ground for two weeks after vines die back to set their skins. Store potatoes in dark, well-ventilated conditions at 36–40°F with high humidity.
🥔 Resource Area: Growing Potatoes—A Home Gardener’s Guide
Potatoes are a staple crop and a fun, rewarding addition to any home garden. Whether you're growing them in a large backyard, containers on a patio, or experimenting with creative methods like towers, this curated resource area will guide you through every step—from soil prep to harvest and beyond.
- 📚 Perfect Timing for Potato Harvest
Learn when and how to harvest your potatoes for optimal flavor and storage longevity. This guide explains the best timing for both early and late varieties. - 🪴 The Art of Potato Towers
Want to grow more potatoes with less space? Discover how potato towers can increase your yield vertically—a great option for urban and small-space gardeners. - 🌿 Maximizing Small-Space Potato Yields
Limited on space? This article shares smart strategies for growing healthy, high-yield potatoes in containers, raised beds, or even grow bags. - 🌱 Grow Bigger, Healthier Potatoes
Improve your soil quality and boost your potato crop with these expert tips on fertilization, soil amendments, and irrigation best practices. - 🍽️ Harvesting Flavor: Creative Potato Recipes Inspired by Oregon’s Organic Farms
After harvest, bring your spuds to the kitchen! Get inspired with these farm-to-table potato recipes, including inventive uses for different potato varieties. - 🌧️ Tips for Growing Potatoes in the Pacific Northwest
Live in a wetter climate? This region-specific guide helps you navigate potato growing challenges in the Pacific Northwest, from timing to disease prevention. - 🎥 Planting & Growing Potatoes (Video Guide)
Prefer to watch and learn? This video walks you through the full process of planting, hilling, and caring for your potato plants, step by step. - 🛒 Shop Seed Potatoes
Browse a wide selection of certified seed potatoes, including heirloom and organic varieties, perfect for your next planting season.
This resource hub covers everything from getting started with seed potatoes to maximizing harvests and enjoying your crop in the kitchen. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced grower, these links will support a successful and flavorful potato-growing season.
