Planting potatoes ways
Even though the potatoes you saved from the previous harvest, or the potatoes you see in the supermarket may appear healthy, they should not be used for your seed.
A week or two before your are going to plant potatoes 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. Each seed should be approximately 1 1/2-2inches square, and must contain at least 1 or 2 “eyes” or buds.
Planting potatoes in rows
Traditionally potatoes are planting in rows.
If you decided to plant your potatoes in row then 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 inches apart in this trench.
If you’dwant to get a quick crop of “baby” potatoes you can plant the potato seeds 4 inches apart, and begin harvesting them as soon as they reach the desired size.
Put 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, sourounding conditions and variety the sprouts will begin to emerge in about 2 weeks.
At this time you shoud 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 need 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. Remember that this green parts may be toxic!
This hilling process is necessary to create sufficient space for the potatoes to develop large tubers, and an abundant crop.
Don’t get carried away with hilling though. If you cover up too much of the foliage, you may end up reducing your final crop yield.
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Mound way planting of potatoes
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). Plant 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 potatoes in rows.
