Have you been trying to crack the secret to growing the best potatoes in your garden? Well, if it hasn’t worked out for you yet, I may know why.
In this article, I’ll be walking you through a list of some very important potato-growing tips every grower must know. And, before you ask, yes, these tips apply to container growing as well. Let’s get into it!
12 Must-Know Tips For Growing The Best Potatoes In Your Garden!
1: Choose The Right Potato Variety
There are mainly 3 different categories of potatoes you can choose from.
Not sure when to plant your potatoes? This guide breaks down everything: When To Plant Potatoes? The Best Time For Your Zone Or State!
2: Chit Your Seed Potatoes
Chitting is a process that allows your seed potatoes to develop some shoots before being planted into the ground. It encourages faster growth and results in more stable harvests later on.
3: Plant In Loose, Well-Draining Soil
Something you need to be very careful with when it comes to growing potatoes is not letting their soil get too compacted. Compaction coupled with sogginess is a recipe for disaster.
Loose, airy soil with lots of texture works very well for drainage and supporting healthy potato growth.
4: Use The Trench Method
When it comes to growing potatoes, the trench method is a popular one for encouraging the safest and healthiest potato growth. By digging trenches and planting your potatoes in there, you protect the potato tubers from excessive sun exposure.
5: Try The Container Method
For those of you who’re low on space in the garden, container planting is still a solid option. Buckets and grow bags work extremely well for potatoes. You can control their environment much more easily in containers and manipulate growth factors according to how your potatoes respond.
If you’re interested in different no-dig methods for growing potatoes, this guide covers four great techniques to choose from: How to Grow No-Dig Potatoes – 4 Methods to Choose From.
6: Water Deeply But Infrequently
Potatoes are one of those vegetables that greatly benefit from deep, nourishing watering sessions. However, you need to keep these watering sessions infrequent as watering too often can lead to soggy soil which isn’t ideal for potato growth.
Potatoes are also quite susceptible to root rot and waterlogging issues, so you may want to keep a lighter finger on the trigger for those reasons as well.
7: Mulch For Moisture & Weed Control
Your potatoes will absolutely appreciate some mulch. It will limit unwanted weed growth and keep the moisture locked in the soil so your potatoes are never dry and thirsty during long gaps between watering sessions.
Straw and grass clippings will work wonders as mulch.
8: Feed With Compost Or Organic Fertilizers
Compost or organic fertilizers are essential for improving the nutrient composition of the soil. They will allow your potatoes to develop to their fullest potential without being limited by nutrient deficiencies.
Keep in mind, however, to avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers at all costs if your aim is to grow the best potatoes. Excessive nitrogen majorly triggers leafy growth, taking away from the growth potential of your potatoes.
9: Rotate Crops Early
If pests or fungal diseases are an issue in your garden, you’re much better off learning and implementing crop rotation techniques early.
By changing things up and not planting potatoes in the same spots every time, you limit how much these harmful external factors affect your crop.
Not sure what to plant after potatoes? This guide has great suggestions: What to Grow After Potatoes to Extend Your Season!
10: Watch For Pests & Diseases
Potato beetles can truly ruin your potato-growing journey as they’re a real nuisance and require some serious effort to get rid of. You can pick these potato beetles by hand and throw them away or use store-bought pesticide solutions to resolve the issue.
In case of blight, remove all affected potatoes and improve air circulation around your potato crops to keep the fungal spores from spreading.
11: Stop Watering Before Harvest!
Pausing the infrequent watering sessions right before harvesting time helps toughen up the potato skins, allowing for better and safer long-term storage.
12: Cure & Store Properly
If keeping your stored potatoes safe and healthy is a goal for you, keep them in a cool, dark place where excessive sunlight doesn’t bother them. Moisture can also be detrimental to long-term potato health so ensure storage conditions are dry.
For the best long-term storage tips, check out this guide to keep your potatoes in top shape: How to Store Potatoes From the Garden? Long-Term Tips.
