With the correct growth circumstances, potatoes are a very productive crop that yields a great quantity of potatoes. They require little care after planting until harvest time. The best part is that potatoes keep well, allowing you to use your harvest for several months. Although potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are a food that grows best in cold areas, they may also be cultivated as a winter crop in warmer environments.
The Incas of Peru are the ones who first documented potatoes; they are related to peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants but are adapted to greater elevations and more difficult growing circumstances. The underground "tuber," or expanded subterranean storage section of the potato plant, is the edible component of the potato.
Potato Planting Guide
Here's how you can grow potatoes in your backyard:
Planting Period
Potatoes are often planted in mid-to-late spring by gardeners in cold climates. Planting in late summer or late winter is ideal in a warm environment since it prevents the plants from trying to thrive during the warmest months.
Efficient Spacing And Depth
Plant the seed potato pieces in a 6-inch-deep hole or trench, cut side down. Give each 12 inches of room on both sides. In between each section, scatter two tablespoons of a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous fertiliser. Once the potatoes and fertiliser are covered, add two inches of soil and give them plenty of water.
Full Light
Plant potatoes in full light to promote top development, which will assist root growth. Although they may tolerate some darkness, the tubers below are fed by the rich top foliage. It is recommended to get six to eight hours of sun every day. If the tubers grow close to the surface, they must be shielded from the light to prevent becoming green. This is avoided by hilling the soil around the developing plants. The act of piling soil around a plant's stem during growth is known as hilling.
Acidic Soil
Plant potatoes on soil that has an acidic pH of 5.0 to 6.0. Higher pH soils appear to make potatoes more susceptible to scab, which causes the potato to develop rough patches. Rich soils do not suit potatoes well. The potatoes should do well if the pH of the soil is neutral to slightly acidic and if there is a significant quantity of organic matter present. It must be loose and well-draining soil. You will need to prepare your heavily clayed soil by adding loose soil down to the depth at which the potato tubers will develop.
Sufficient Watering
Potato plants need a consistent flow of water. Ensure that the plants get one inch of water or more each week. Being at their optimum for the formation of potato tubers during flowering makes them particularly vulnerable to drought conditions. Mulching around plants can help with moisture retention.
Ideal Temperature
It is not advisable to plant potatoes until the soil temperature reaches 7 degrees Celsius, or better, 10 degrees. Potato tubers develop best at soil temperatures between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius, and they cease to grow when the soil reaches 27 degrees; therefore, summer harvests do best in regions with cold summers. Mulching the area surrounding the plant—for example, by covering it with a thick layer of straw—can lower the soil's temperature.
Organic Fertiliser
When planting potatoes, you can fertilise them using a slow-release organic fertiliser. Feed them with fish emulsion or diluted liquid fertiliser every two weeks.