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How to Farm Potatoes
How to Farm Potatoes. There are literally hundreds of types of potatoes to grow, but there are several commonalities among the breeds. Most potatoes are either waxy or floury, with the former more suited to salads and the latter better for dishes like mashed potatoes. Collectively potatoes grow best in moist, slightly acidic soil and require large...
There are literally hundreds of types of potatoes to grow, but there are several commonalities among the breeds. Most potatoes are either waxy or floury, with the former more suited to salads and the latter better for dishes like mashed potatoes. Collectively potatoes grow best in moist, slightly acidic soil and require large amounts of fertilizer to mature fully. Potatoes are classified by their time to maturity -- "earlies" are ready in 10 weeks, "second earlies" are harvested in 13 weeks and "maincrops" are mature after 20 weeks.
Things You'll Need
Spade or tiller
Fertilizer
Seed potato
Water hose
Choose a large patch of field that will receive full sun and can be easily watered.
Dig or till furrows that are 10 to 12 inches deep, then spread fertilizer or compost along the top of the furrows.
Plant your seed potato an inch into the ground. Each seed potato should be about 12 inches from its neighbor and row of potatoes should be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart.
Soak the ground around your potatoes with a water hose once a week, but not so much that water is running down the furrows. Over-watering causing black centers, but infrequent watering creates misshapen potatoes.
Pile more dirt over the seed potatoes as they begin to sprout and grow.
Harvest your potatoes when the leaves turn and wilt after a few weeks of flowering. Place them in a dry place with strong sun for two or three days before storing them.
Tips & Warnings
If your seed potato is a small- to medium-sized potato, plant the whole thing;. If it's large then halve or quarter the potato before sticking it in the ground; just make sure there are at least two or three eye buds on the portion.
Potatoes can also be grown in containers and in large piles of straw.
