I need advice on planting my potatoes…
Kathy Asked
I need advice on planting my potatoes. I haven’t cut them yet, and I have a bag of organic fertilizer. What do you suggest?
The Gardener’s Answer
It’s potato planting time! It may or may not be necessary to cut your seed potatoes. If you purchased large tubers, then these should be cut into pieces. Small seed potatoes can be planted whole. Any tubers larger than a chicken egg should be cut into pieces. Each piece should have at least two eyes/sprouts. You can either cut as you plant or prep them a few days before planting and allow the new pieces to callus over.
Potatoes benefit from a nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. If you have not added compost, this may be a good idea. Follow the application rates of the fertilizer that you have. Plant your seed 2 to 3 inches deep and 12 inches apart. It will take three to four weeks for foliage to appear; once it reaches 4 to 6 inches tall, it will be time to add soil or straw to protect the developing tubers. Be sure not to cover the foliage at this stage. Harvest a couple of weeks after the foliage dies back or any time after they bloom.
