Potato Care and TIPS????

[DennisArrow]

Back in late Feb I planted seed potatos. Have never grown them before so thought I would try............

In tilled soil perhaps a foot deep a created a perhaps 8 inch or so deep rounded furrow that was perhaps 18 inches wide. I planted the seeds a couple of inches deep. They all sprouted and grew well............

After they were 8 inches or so tall I pulled some of the furrow down on them so that perhaps 2 inches or so were left exposed...........A week or so later another 8 inches or so; but this time I covered with goat manure/mulch............A week or so later covered with hay/mulch.............a week or so later.......fresh hay from the floor......

HOW LONG does this go on???????.......I am now almost knee high and 3 feet wide and the growth continues. I thought I would be see blooms or something by now.......

Do I keep hilling???????

Do I just let them grow, fall over, and then hill?

Thanks guys...........God bless......Dennis

 

[nybirdman]

You should have them hilled enough.I do mine until they get too high for the tractor.When you start to see flowers.....the potatoes are starting to form.
Let them go until the tops start to brown and wilt.Dig up and enjoy.
I am in northern NY,last year I planted the first week in May,dug a few in August,the rest in Sept.
Another note..potatoes like sulfur....I add when planting.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

What kind of potatoes do you have? I only know about russets as I live in Idaho potato country. I've never grown my own potatoes as there's always someone around I can get them from for free. But, I do get involved with the farmers and Quality Control on their crops.

I think your hills will be plenty high. Guys around here are always doing test digs. You could probably dig a little out of one of the hills to see what how they're doing. When your potatoes are big enough you can break the vines off at the ground rather than waiting for the vines to die on their own.

 

[DennisArrow]

So now it is OK to just let the tops grow........Today they are 12 to 15 inches tall out of the hill of straw.............Do I just let them fall over and then perhaps hill them again...........

From my research the blooms will come in August or so???????????????

The plant will start to die in Sept or so?????????????????????

If either one of these is the way it is, by then the tops will be VERY LONG......perhaps 3' or so or more???????


Thanks guys.......God bless.......Dennis

 

[radioman]

I only hill mine twice. then check every now and then after the rains to make sure potatoes are covered. If they were exposed to light, it will be green. not good. hay straw is ideal to cover any potatoes from the light. I might dig a couple plants to eat after 5-6 months. around 6th month they flop over and die off. That is when I dig and put away for winter to eat. since you have planted in feb, you might be able to dig up a couple plants for dinner right now or soon within a month. just dig with your hands and look. :thumbsup:

 

[bp fick]

Hill once or twice, but that is enough. For the average gardener, they are going to produce 8 to 1 or 10 to 1. In other words, 10 lbs planted yields 100 lbs of potatoes.

The tops will flop a bit, but as they bloom, then they'll produce "off-spring" down below. Potatoes also do not like a lot of (N)itrogen, as that tends to encourage plant growth rather than root production. They also like slightly acidic soil, so don't over lime the potato patch.

In the photos below, you'll see them growing with straw mulch, after being hilled, which mixes the straw into the hilling soil, and a photo of digging.

Just planted this year's crop today. :thumbsup: