Anthocyanidins strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol and may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Not only are they a certified antioxidant rich vegetable, but they also deliver half the daily requirement of Vitamin C, 750 milligrams of potassium, are high in fiber, iron, and low in calories.
These potatoes have a buttery flavor and creamy texture, and may be baked, microwaved, roasted, oven-fried, put in salads and more. As with all fresh potatoes, store in a dark, cool area, preferably at 45°F. Do not refrigerate. Always wash thoroughly to remove dirt, being careful not to break the skin.
How to:
Potatoes require full sun to grow. Because they are aggressively rooting plants, they will produce the best crop when planted in a light, loose, well-drained but moisture retentive loam. Potatoes prefer a slightly acid soil with a pH of 5.8-6.5.
Fortunately, however, potatoes are very adaptable and will usually produce a respectable crop, even when the soil conditions are less than perfect. Potatoes should be rotated on a 3-year program. This means, you need 3-suitable sites if you want to grow potatoes every year.
Potatoes may be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the early spring, but you must use good judgment. Potato plants will not begin to grow until the soil temperature has reached 45 degrees F, generally April 1st is the ideal day to start your first crop. The soil should be evenly moist, but not wet or soggy. If the soil is water logged when you dig, not only will you risk caking the soil, your seed potatoes will probably rot before they even get started. Potatoes can tolerate a light frost, but you should provide some frost-protection for the plants when they are young. This can be a loose covering of straw or a burlap bag. If you pull by June 10th, you can plant a second crop as late as June 15 to harvest during the first week of September.
Seed:
Potatoes are susceptible to several serious diseases. Even though the potatoes you saved from the previous year, or the potatoes you see in the supermarket may appear healthy, they should not be used for your seed unless you have had success in previous years with your potatoes. If so only select the best potatoes to produce your seed.
Planting seed:
A week or two before your planned potato planting date, set your seed potatoes somewhere where they will be exposed to some warmth (between 60 and 70 degrees F.) and lots of light. This will induce them to begin sprouting. A day or two before planting, use a sharp, clean knife to slice the larger seed potatoes into "seeds". Each seed should be approximately 1 1/2 to 2inches square, and must contain at least 1 or 2 "eyes" or buds. Smaller potatoes may be planted whole. In the next day or so, your seed will form a thick callous over the cuts, which will help to prevent it from rotting once planted.
Traditionally potatoes are grown in rows. The potato seeds are planted every 15 in., with the rows spaced 2 1/2 to 3 ft. apart. If space is limited or if you would only like to grow a small crop of potatoes, you may prefer to plant one or two potato mounds. Each 3-4 foot diameter mound can support 6 to 8 potato plants. With either method, the first step is to cultivate and turn the soil one last time before planting, removing any weeds, rocks or debris. This will loosen the soil and allow the plants to become established more quickly. Your potato plants will benefit from the addition of compost, well composted manure, and other organic matter to the soil. Amend the soil below the seed potato where it will feed the roots as they grow.
Planting in rows:
Dig a shallow trench about 4 inches wide and 6-8 inches deep. The spacing at which you place the seed pieces will determine the harvested potato size. For most household uses, you will want to plant your potato seeds 15 inches apart in this trench. If you'd like a quick crop of "baby" potatoes for soups and stews,
you can plant the seeds 4 inches apart, and begin harvesting them as soon as they reach the desired size. Place the potato seeds into the trench (cut side down) and then cover them with 3-4 inches of soil. (Do not fill the trench in completely!) Depending on the soil temperature, the sprouts will begin to emerge in about 2 weeks. At this time add another 3-4 inches of soil.
Your crop of potatoes will form between the seed piece and the surface of the soil. For this reason, when the stems are about 8 inches high, you once again add enough soil to bring the level half way up the stem of the plant. Another hilling will be needed 2-3 weeks later, at which time you again add soil half way up the stem of the plant.
After these initial hillings, it is only necessary to add an inch or two of soil to the hill each week or so, to ensure there is enough soil above the forming potatoes that they don't push out of the hill and get exposed to light. (If the new potatoes are exposed to sunlight while they are developing, they will turn green. This green portion may be toxic!)
This hilling process is necessary to create sufficient space for the potatoes to develop large tubers, and an abundant crop.
If you cover up too much of the foliage, you may end up reducing your final crop yield.
Mounding:
The basic procedure for planting potatoes in mounds is the same as for planting in rows.
The difference here is that you can grow your crop in a more confined area, or take advantage of an otherwise unused area of the garden. Cultivate and loosen the soil where your potato mound will be. Designate the approximate perimeter of your planting circle (3-4 feet diameter). Space 6-8 potato seeds evenly around your circle, and cover with the initial 4 inches of soil. Continue the same procedures as you would for planting in rows.
Potatoes in a bag:
If you have no established garden plot, or if there just isn't enough available space within your garden, you can still grow. Potatoes thrive in the warm environment of a soil filled burlap bag!
Pick a spot where you can lean your bag which is secure, won't tip and is in full sun most of the day. Roll the bag down to 5 inches and fill the inside of the bag with 4 inches of soil and then set 3 to 4 potato seeds into the soil. Add enough soil to cover the seed by about two or three inches.
How to:
Potatoes require full sun to grow. Because they are aggressively rooting plants, they will produce the best crop when planted in a light, loose, well-drained but moisture retentive loam. Potatoes prefer a slightly acid soil with a pH of 5.8-6.5.
Fortunately, however, potatoes are very adaptable and will usually produce a respectable crop, even when the soil conditions are less than perfect. Potatoes should be rotated on a 3-year program. This means, you need 3-suitable sites if you want to grow potatoes every year.
Potatoes may be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the early spring, but you must use good judgment. Potato plants will not begin to grow until the soil temperature has reached 45 degrees F, generally April 1st is the ideal day to start your first crop. The soil should be evenly moist, but not wet or soggy. If the soil is water logged when you dig, not only will you risk caking the soil, your seed potatoes will probably rot before they even get started. Potatoes can tolerate a light frost, but you should provide some frost-protection for the plants when they are young. This can be a loose covering of straw or a burlap bag. If you pull by June 10th, you can plant a second crop as late as June 15 to harvest during the first week of September.
Seed:
Planting seed:
A week or two before your planned potato planting date, set your seed potatoes somewhere where they will be exposed to some warmth (between 60 and 70 degrees F.) and lots of light. This will induce them to begin sprouting. A day or two before planting, use a sharp, clean knife to slice the larger seed potatoes into "seeds". Each seed should be approximately 1 1/2 to 2inches square, and must contain at least 1 or 2 "eyes" or buds. Smaller potatoes may be planted whole. In the next day or so, your seed will form a thick callous over the cuts, which will help to prevent it from rotting once planted.
Traditionally potatoes are grown in rows. The potato seeds are planted every 15 in., with the rows spaced 2 1/2 to 3 ft. apart. If space is limited or if you would only like to grow a small crop of potatoes, you may prefer to plant one or two potato mounds. Each 3-4 foot diameter mound can support 6 to 8 potato plants. With either method, the first step is to cultivate and turn the soil one last time before planting, removing any weeds, rocks or debris. This will loosen the soil and allow the plants to become established more quickly. Your potato plants will benefit from the addition of compost, well composted manure, and other organic matter to the soil. Amend the soil below the seed potato where it will feed the roots as they grow.
Planting in rows:
Dig a shallow trench about 4 inches wide and 6-8 inches deep. The spacing at which you place the seed pieces will determine the harvested potato size. For most household uses, you will want to plant your potato seeds 15 inches apart in this trench. If you'd like a quick crop of "baby" potatoes for soups and stews,
After these initial hillings, it is only necessary to add an inch or two of soil to the hill each week or so, to ensure there is enough soil above the forming potatoes that they don't push out of the hill and get exposed to light. (If the new potatoes are exposed to sunlight while they are developing, they will turn green. This green portion may be toxic!)
The basic procedure for planting potatoes in mounds is the same as for planting in rows.
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The difference here is that you can grow your crop in a more confined area, or take advantage of an otherwise unused area of the garden. Cultivate and loosen the soil where your potato mound will be. Designate the approximate perimeter of your planting circle (3-4 feet diameter). Space 6-8 potato seeds evenly around your circle, and cover with the initial 4 inches of soil. Continue the same procedures as you would for planting in rows.
Potatoes in a bag:If you have no established garden plot, or if there just isn't enough available space within your garden, you can still grow. Potatoes thrive in the warm environment of a soil filled burlap bag!
Pick a spot where you can lean your bag which is secure, won't tip and is in full sun most of the day. Roll the bag down to 5 inches and fill the inside of the bag with 4 inches of soil and then set 3 to 4 potato seeds into the soil. Add enough soil to cover the seed by about two or three inches.
When the new plants are eight inches tall, roll up the bag edge and add soil to cover the leaves, as in the first level. Repeat the process until about 3 inches from the edge of the bag's top. By doing this, the existing stalk reverts to a root and the plant is forced to grow upward to once again find sunlight. By raising the soil level this way the plant is able to continue growing without suffocation, and at the same time you are creating a 24 to 30 inch tap root from which many more lateral roots can develop. Each lateral root can then produce additional potatoes. When you water, be sure that the soil is thoroughly moistened all the way to the base of the bag. Allow the rest of the foliage to spill over the edge of the bag and once it stops flowering, stop watering the week after the flowers die. The leaves will yellow and die and after 80 days you can start to pull potatoes.
Watering:
For the maximum crop, keep your potato vines well watered throughout the summer, but especially during the period when they are in flower, and immediately thereafter. This is the time when the plant is creating the new tubers, and water is critical. Water early in the day so that the foliage has time to dry completely before evening because wet foliage can make your plants more susceptible to several potato diseases. When the leaves turn yellow and dies back, discontinue watering to allow the tubers to mature for a week or two before harvesting.
Once the vines have passed the critical watering stage while in flower, they will tolerate a certain amount of drought. According to some studies, non-irrigated potatoes are less watery and more healthful. However, potato plants which are not watered regularly will produce a much smaller crop so water every other day even if it rains, unless of course the rains are heavy. Ultimately you need to use some judgement when it comes to watering. Too little, too few potatoes. Too much, grainy mealy potatoes that rot quickly.
Harvest:
Your may begin to harvest your potatoes 2 to 3 weeks after the plants have finished flowering. At this time you will only find baby potatoes if you were to dig up a plant. Potatoes can be harvested any time after this, by gently loosening the soil, reaching under the plant, and removing the largest tubers, leaving the smaller ones to continue growing.
If you want late potatoes for storage, wait 2 to 3 weeks after the foliage dies back. Carefully begin digging a foot or so outside of the row or mound. Remove the potatoes as you find them. Be careful not to bruise or cut the tubers with your garden fork! If the weather is dry, allow the potatoes to lay on the soil surface, unwashed, for 2 to 3 days so they can dry. If the ground is wet or rain is expected, move the harvest to a cool, dry area like a pantry, garage or basement for the drying period. This drying step is necessary to mature the potato skin, which will protect the potato during storage.
If, by the end of September, the plants have not begun to die back, all of the foliage should be cut off to ensure your crop has ample time to mature before winter.
Store your undamaged potatoes in a well-ventilated, dark, cool location. Properly dried and stored potatoes should keep well for three to six months. Don't grow potatoes in the same soil more than once in three years.
Watering:
For the maximum crop, keep your potato vines well watered throughout the summer, but especially during the period when they are in flower, and immediately thereafter. This is the time when the plant is creating the new tubers, and water is critical. Water early in the day so that the foliage has time to dry completely before evening because wet foliage can make your plants more susceptible to several potato diseases. When the leaves turn yellow and dies back, discontinue watering to allow the tubers to mature for a week or two before harvesting.
Once the vines have passed the critical watering stage while in flower, they will tolerate a certain amount of drought. According to some studies, non-irrigated potatoes are less watery and more healthful. However, potato plants which are not watered regularly will produce a much smaller crop so water every other day even if it rains, unless of course the rains are heavy. Ultimately you need to use some judgement when it comes to watering. Too little, too few potatoes. Too much, grainy mealy potatoes that rot quickly.
Harvest:
Your may begin to harvest your potatoes 2 to 3 weeks after the plants have finished flowering. At this time you will only find baby potatoes if you were to dig up a plant. Potatoes can be harvested any time after this, by gently loosening the soil, reaching under the plant, and removing the largest tubers, leaving the smaller ones to continue growing.
If you want late potatoes for storage, wait 2 to 3 weeks after the foliage dies back. Carefully begin digging a foot or so outside of the row or mound. Remove the potatoes as you find them. Be careful not to bruise or cut the tubers with your garden fork! If the weather is dry, allow the potatoes to lay on the soil surface, unwashed, for 2 to 3 days so they can dry. If the ground is wet or rain is expected, move the harvest to a cool, dry area like a pantry, garage or basement for the drying period. This drying step is necessary to mature the potato skin, which will protect the potato during storage.
If, by the end of September, the plants have not begun to die back, all of the foliage should be cut off to ensure your crop has ample time to mature before winter.
Store your undamaged potatoes in a well-ventilated, dark, cool location. Properly dried and stored potatoes should keep well for three to six months. Don't grow potatoes in the same soil more than once in three years.
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