Potato

Botanical Name

Solanum tuberosum

Hardiness

Annual

Height

18 to 36 inches

Width

18 to 36 inches

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained, organic, acid

Planting & Care

Potatoes should only be planted after the soil has reached a temperature of 40 F. Tubers will fail to form in soils over 80F.
Use certified disease-free seed potatoes from your local garden center or catalog source
Cut seed potatoes into 1 to 2 inch pieces with at least one good eye (preferably 2) per piece. Plant pieces 1 to 3 inches deep, spacing them 10 to 12 inches apart. Space rows 24 to 36 inches apart.
When the plants reach 6 to 8 inches, begin to hill the soil around base of plant. Repeat every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season.
Hilling prevents the tubers from becoming exposed to the sun and becoming green and bitter
Green potatoes contain solanine, which can be toxic when eaten in large quantities
Providing even soil moisture cools the soil and aids in uniform tuber development
Use floating row covers to protect plants from insect damage

Problems