Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Planting the potatoes
• Part 3 of 4: Dealing with pests and diseases
• Part 4 of 4: Harvesting and storing potatoes

Potatoes are nutritious and tasty tubers and are a source of potassium, fiber, protein, vitamins C and B6 and iron. There are many different ways to eat potatoes, but they always taste best when fresh, especially if you grow them yourself. It is not difficult to grow potatoes, but it is important to grow them in acidic soil, to provide them with plenty of sun and water, and to grow them in warmer climates in the winter as they grow best in cool climates.

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Part 1 of 4: Planting the potatoes

1. Choose the right time to plant. Because potatoes need cool weather, they can be planted in the fall in warm climates where the ground does not freeze and grow in the winter. In cooler climates where the ground does freeze in winter, potatoes should be planted two weeks after the last frost.
   • Potatoes do not start growing until the ground temperature reaches 7 ° C, so do not plant the potatoes before the last frost.
2. Choose a sunny location to plant. Although potatoes like cooler weather, they do like full sun and grow best in a location that receives several hours of sunlight daily. You can continue planting potatoes wherever you want, including directly in the ground or in a vegetable bed.
3. Let the cultivation potatoes germinate. Potatoes grow fastest when they grow from a seed potato, a potato that has sprouted. 2 weeks before planting, place the seed potatoes somewhere where they get a lot of light and the temperature is between 15.5 and 21 ° C. Leave the potatoes there in the light to sprout until it's time to plant.
   • Use small, but healthy potatoes as seed potatoes.
   • If the seed potatoes are larger than a chicken egg, you can cut it in half or in thirds. There must be at least 2 eyes or germs on each part.
   • You can grow any potato you want, but make sure to use unsprayed potatoes that have not been treated with an anti-sprouting agent. This will prevent the potato from germinating, preventing a new plant from growing.
4. Regularly pull out weeds. Potato plants do better when they are not stunted by weeds. Pull or dig up weeds when they appear in your vegetable bed to make sure the potatoes are getting all the nutrients they need.

Part 3 of 4: Dealing with pests and diseases

1. Buy disease-resistant varieties. To reduce the chances of your potatoes developing disease, you can buy a disease-resistant variety. For example Agria, King Edward or Winston.
2. Avoid late blight by changing the location of your potato plants every year. Make sure to wait 3 years before planting potatoes in a previously used spot. Too many plants can also cause problems with potatoes, so make sure they get enough space.
3. Lower the soil's pH to eliminate scab. Scabies is a very common disease that can be recognized by smallpox on the potatoes. The potatoes can develop scab if the pH of the soil is too high. You can add sulfur to the soil to lower the pH.
4. Remove pests by hand or with water. Colorado potato beetles must be removed by hand. Aphids can be removed with a strong water flow. You can also get rid of these pests with a natural insecticide, such as neem oil. This can be found in the local garden centers.

Part 4 of 4: Harvesting and storing potatoes

1. Trim browned foliage when it wilts. As the potato plants reach maturity, the foliage will turn yellow and die as the plant nears the end of its life cycle. When this happens, remove brown leaves with garden shears or kitchen shears. Once the leaves are dead, wait another 2 weeks before harvesting potatoes.
2. Dig the potatoes out of the ground. Once all the leaves are dead and you have given the potatoes some time to ripen, you can dig them out. Use a spade or small shovel to carefully dig out the potatoes. This ensures that you will not pierce or damage them with your shovel.
   • Depending on the type of potato you have planted, your potatoes will be ready to harvest 60-100 days after planting.
3. Place the potatoes in a cool, dry place to dry. After digging up the potatoes, place them in a garage, covered patio, or any other location that's cool, dry, shaded, and well-ventilated. Leave the potatoes there for at least 3 days and up to 2 weeks to dry. This gives the skin time to ripen and the potatoes will have a longer shelf life.
   • The ideal temperature for drying the potatoes is between 7 and 15.5 degrees.
   • Do not allow new potatoes to dry, as they should be eaten within a few days of harvest
4. Store potato in a cool, dry and dark place. After they have dried and brushed off, place the potato in burlap or paper bags for storage. Move the potatoes to a cellar or other location where they are protected from light, heat and moisture.
   • The ideal temperature for the storage of potatoes is 1.6-4.4 degrees.
   • The potatoes can be kept for several months in these conditions.