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| Planting Times |
Potatoes may be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the early spring, but do keep soil temperatures in mind. Potato plants will not begin to grow until the soil temperature has reached 45 degrees F. The soil should be moist, but not water-logged. A potato plant will grow in most soils as long as it has been well dug.
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The soil should be clear of large lumps and stones. Add as much compost as is available, or bone meal (or similar) at the time of digging. The ideal position for a potatoes is a warm and sunny site with little or no shade.
Do not grow potatoes in the soil for two years in succession, this will increase the risk of disease. For the same reason do not plant potatoes where tomatoes were grown the previous year. Both are from the same family and will readily transmit diseases to each other. |
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| The Cold |
Potatoes can tolerate a light frost, but you should provide some frost protection for the plants if you know that a hard, late season freeze is coming. If you want to extend storage times, and have a long growing season, you can plant a second crop as late as June 15 and harvest the potatoes as late as possible.
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