Potato plants can be large and sprawling and are often overlooked for many backyard gardeners. However, if your space is limited and you would like to have home grown potatoes, try growing the plants in a tomato cage to help keep them contained. Growing, harvesting, and eating fresh potatoes can be a very satisfying experience.
A freshly dug potato prepared for dinner, can have a taste that, perhaps, is nothing like you have tasted from a potato before.
Many gardeners will say that a freshly picked tomato has a taste like no other and the same could be said of a freshly dug potato.
Potatoes like a rich and loose soil, so add garden mulch and/or compost when planting. A low nitrogen fertilizer can also be added at this time. Usually, late March and early April are planting times for seed potatoes in the Willamette Valley.
Down to Earth, Bio-Live with Micor, 5 lb
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Down to Earth, Premium Vegetable Garden Fertilizer, 25 lb
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Selecting Seed Potatoes
The term seed potatoes is a misnomer and if you are looking at a seed rack, you are not going to find potato seeds. Seed potatoes refers to small tubers in packages that will be found in the garden department. It is best to stay away from store bought potatoes for planting unless you are certain they are organic, because they may have been sprayed with a sprout retardant.
Just like tomatoes, potatoes have different varieties with different characteristics. Some are best if eaten just after harvest because they do not keep well and others are well known for their storing capability. The package you buy will have that information on it.
| Kennebec | Red Pontiac | Red Norland | Russet | Yukon Gold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Color | Light | Red | Red | Russet | Yellow |
| Flavor | Nutty, Earthy | Slightly Sweet, Rich | Full-flavored | Mild, Earthy | Creamy, Buttery |
| Best Uses | Baking,Chipping | All-Purpose,Stores Well | Baking,Boiling | Baking,Mashing | Baking,Boiling, Frying, Versatile |
| Size & Shape | Uniform,Consistent Size | Hardy,Shallow Eyes | LargerSize, Thin Skin | Extra-Large,Hearty Skin | Medium,Oval Shape |
| Storage | Excellent | Great | StoresWell | Fair to Good | Excellent |
| Characteristics | Easy to Grow, Adaptable, Resistant to Blight and Diseases | Hardy, Early to Mid-Season Bearer, Does Well in Even Heavy Soils | Dependable, Productive, Good Resistance to Scab | Adaptable, High Yield, Good Resistance to Scab | Easy to Grow, Productive |
| Zones | 4-9 | 4-8 | 5-8 | 5-8 | 5-8 |
These seed potato tubers will have ‘eyes’, another misnomer, and this is where the potato will sprout. If the tubers are large, they may have multiple eyes and the tubers can be sliced into smaller pieces but make sure that each piece has at least two eyes. Let the slices set for several days for the cut portion to ‘heal’ over.
Planting Seed Potatoes
Plant tubers about 6 inches deep and 12-18 inches apart. As the stem grows, mound soil or compost around the stem, being careful to leave about 6 inches of the new growth uncovered. The reason for this is that potato tubers will form, not on the roots, but along the stem and as the tuber grows it needs to be kept away from light. If exposed to light, the tuber will turn green and can be poisonous.
G&B, Purely Compost, 1.5 cu ft
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Harvesting Potatoes
Often gardeners will harvest what is referred to as ‘new’ potatoes. This is simply a potato that is not fully mature and usually smaller and very tender. A few of these ‘new’ potatoes can be harvested, if the soil is loose, reach into the soil and snap one off.
The potato plant will let you know when it is time to harvest. At the end of the season, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and die and this is a clue that harvest time is here. Be careful not to slice into a tuber when harvesting!
Include the Kids
Potatoes are a very good learning plant to have children involved with in the planting and harvesting cycle. If space is limited, try growing a plant or two in a large nursery pot and let kids learn that some things that we eat grow underground.
American Glove Kid's Palm Dipped Latex Glove, KT3100XS
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Kinco Kids Farm Friends Polyester Knit Shell & Latex Palm Glove, 1785
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American Glove Toddler Size Kids Palm Dipped Ducky Nitrile Glove, C1052T
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Mike’s garden is located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and his advice is consistent with the mild climate there. His opinions of what works for his garden and backyard. Always read labels of products before using them. Your Wilco team is available if you have any questions specific to your area.
We would love to see your garden growing, use #mywilcolife on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and tag Wilco Stores.
