If you want to grow your own potatoes, there are some things you need to know. For example, when should you plant your potatoes? What temperature should the soil be at? What about watering and pruning? All of these things will help you grow a great crop of potatoes. Read on for more tips. In addition, we’ve compiled some of the most common potato growing mistakes, so you can avoid them next time.

Planting time

When it’s time to plant potatoes, there are a few tips you can use to get the best results. First, you need to get a seed piece. A seed piece is a small piece of a mature tuber, usually containing at least one or two buds. Ideally, seed potatoes should be planted in a soil that’s at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and has a moderate amount of fertilizer. Most gardeners prefer to cut their seed pieces two or three days ahead of planting time to give them time to sprout. Sprouting is especially important in cooler climates, and can help prevent the potatoes from rotting.

Potatoes are one of the earliest vegetables to be planted in the garden. However, if you live in a cold region, you may want to plant a midseason variety as soon as the ground is workable. But be careful to avoid planting your seed potatoes too early, as they may suffer from late frosts, which will ruin your crop. Potatoes need to be planted when the soil is dry enough to be worked, but not so dry that it sticks together.

Soil temperature

Soil temperature is an important factor in potato gardening. The ideal temperature range for growing potatoes is from 59 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. However, potatoes are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. They will produce smaller tubers if the soil temperature is too warm or too cold. The best time to plant potatoes is early spring when the days are shorter.

Depending on where you live, you may need to wait until the soil temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) before planting. This allows for more time for the tubers to form. In the colder regions, it may be advisable to plant potatoes as early as possible in April.

Watering

Watering potatoes is an important aspect of growing them in your garden. As potatoes are a root crop, they require different levels of moisture throughout their growth cycle. Excess moisture can damage their roots, or even cause them to rot before they are ready to harvest. Overwatering the soil can also make them more susceptible to disease and infection. To avoid these problems, water your plants only when they require it.

After staking and planting your potatoes, you can apply a fertilizer. The fertilizer should contain phosphate, potassium, and nitrogen. Applying too much nitrogen can promote the growth of foliage above ground, but not the underground tubers. The tubers are the part of the potato that you will harvest.

Pruning

Pruning potatoes is not a difficult process, but it’s important to do it right to get the best crop possible. Certain potato plant species develop foliage, which can result in weak, leggy stocks. This foliage also increases the risk of a potato falling over, so prune your potato plants back to the ground. To prune potato plants correctly, keep the leaves and stems off the tubers, which are the most vital part of the plant.

If you’re growing ornamental potatoes, make sure you prune them differently than edible ones. You can cut back to ground level to encourage new growth, or aggressively prune them to encourage a bushier shape.

Harvesting

Potatoes are a member of the nightshade family, along with eggplant, tomato, and pepper. They are usually a cool-weather crop, but can be grown year-round in warmer climates. The edible portion of a potato is the underground “tuber,” which develops from underground stems called stolons. These stems form around five to seven weeks after the plant is planted.

When planting potatoes, place them in rows about 30cm apart. Add more soil around the plants as they grow. Cover the tubers with soil when they are a few inches tall. Mulching also conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds. This method also helps protect plants from insects such as Colorado potato beetle. The downside to this method is a smaller yield than planting in a hilled row. In addition, field mice have been known to eat crops under the mulch.