What are critical mistakes to avoid when growing potatoes?
Written by
Olivia Mitchell
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Recovering the harvest! The only thing preventing your crop from failing is common blunders made; I've known holiday potato growers to lose their full crop through avoidable mistakes. The most prevalent are poor planting depth and the wrong use of fertiliser. Keeping these golden rules in mind will lead to flourishing plants and a mighty crop of tubers.
Planting Issues
- Planting deeper than 4 inches (10 cm) delays sprouting by 2-3 weeks
- Exposed tubers develop toxic solanine from sunlight exposure
- Solution: Maintain shallow planting and hill soil regularly
Nutrition Mistakes
- Excess nitrogen causes leafy growth instead of tubers
- Inconsistent watering during flowering creates knobby potatoes
- Solution: Use balanced fertilizer and maintain 1 inch (2.5 cm) weekly water
Hilling technique keep from greening shoots. Start when the plants are about 8 inches (20 cm) and hill up about 4 inches (10 cm) of dirt (or straw) every couple of weeks until they have flowered up to their full length. In wet climates like mine, I prefer to use straw so there is less chance of the hills being a barricade between me and my lunch.
1-7/8 inches (1.9) weekly . During tuber formation , you will increase moisture.Measure the moisture levels by sticking your finger about 1 inch (2.5 cm) into the soil. Ensure the soil does not dry completely between waterings. Normalising the moisture content will reduce growth cracks.
Plant in different locations yearly. Do not plant tomatoes or peppers again after planting potatoes. They share similar diseases with potatoes. Use certified seed potatoes instead of those bought from the grocery store. To properly store leftover seed potato(s) until next year, keep them in cool storage at 40°F (4°C).
Read the full article: How to Grow Potatoes: Essential Gardening Guide
