I ordered two varieties of potatoes this year. Instead of the 4 or 5 I usually order. I am trying to cut back.... They look really nice. Burbank Russet and German Butterball from Fedco Moose Tubers.
Some years I have planted them right away. Other years I wait and let them sprout a bit. I am wondering what is the "correct" thing to do.
Another thing I'm wondering about is different planting methods. I have always planted in trenches then back filled as the spuds sprout. I end up with potatoes growing in a flat bed. Fields I see have potatoes growing from the tops of hills. I'll have to look this one up.
8 comments:
Try half sprouted and half planted right away. Then next year you will know.
Potatoes are easy to grow, but they prefer cool weather so you should try to get them into the ground at the right time. Determine the recommended planting time for your climate. Since it takes potatoes two to three weeks to emerge from the ground, the earliest you should plant seed potatoes is two weeks before your last anticipated freeze date of 28 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
I use the tower method/ garbage can method. Then you knock it over when you are ready to harvest. I've seen people use wire mesh as well for their towers.
http://www.ciscoe.com/garden/topics/potatoes.html
This year i am also only planting a few variaties , pink fir , charlotte and desiree , with regards planting them as soon as they have some eyes appearing is a good time.
I am doing 7 different varieties this year, most of which will be done in potato towers. The exception are the Yukon golds which are going in a bed by themselves.
Kathy: Russet Burbank, that is what McDonalds uses in there french fries
Hi Kathy, sprouting (chitting) is the traditional method here in Blighty. Our seed potatoes arrived Mid-February and were laid to chit, they were only ready to go in 2 weeks ago. Everything is about a month behind, we had frost again last night, it's almost May!! Some fellow allotmenteers have followed the same approach as Daphne, get some in while some are chitting.
Marian (LondonUK)
I had no lucky with potatoes until I threw some out into the compost pile. Now they grow like crazy there every year. (I cold compost.)
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