Your comments and tips

30 May 20, Laura (USA - Zone 7b climate)

Could I plant certain potatoes in zone 7B in June? I live in Southampton County, Va.

Reply or Post a new comment

07 Jun 20, Ross (USA - Zone 7b climate)

I live in Zone 7b in Arkansas. It's been an unusually cool and wet spring / summer. I planted four varieties in a prepared bed. (composted manure was tilled in.) The varieties were Pontiac red, Kenebek, Russet and Yukon Gold in roughly equal amounts, purchased prepackaged at a farm store. The seed potatoes were sown in rows 12 -18 inch spacing on Feb 28 by burying shallow, then covering with several inches of composted manure followed by several inches of straw, two bales on roughly 120 sq feet. I did not document when they sprouted but it seemed weak initially but success rate of sprouts was eventually good. The composted manure is weedy and so was the straw, eventually weed pressure was high so I covered with another layer of composted manure. ( I don't remember the date and the plants were 20 inches or so tall, some in blossom. ) Although at the time of harvest the bed was heavy with weeds again that worked long enough to bring in a harvest on June 4th. While harvesting the soil was still quite moist, only two or three potatoes had rotted and the yield was about 2 to 3 nice sized potatoes per plant with up to three small potatoes per plant too. I followed the harvest with a sweet corn. I contemplated a second potato planting but i think it will be too hot. I'm going to make a deep raised bed from pallets manure and straw out in a shady part of my homestead and try a few to see what happens. Hopefully that helps.

Reply or Post a new comment

27 Apr 20, Shirley (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)

When growing potatoes what fertilizer does one use

Reply or Post a new comment

28 Apr 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

Just look for a general all round gardening fertiliser. If you look at all the fertilisers for different crops there is not a big difference in the NPK of them. Depending on your soil 8-12N, 3-6P, 3-6K. I read of fertilisers like 10, 10, 10, and 8, 8, 8. I don't know where you buy them (USA stores?).

Reply or Post a new comment

27 Apr 20, Marg (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, I have some organic potatoes that are starting to shoot quite a lot, I cut them in pieces was about to plant them in containers,but now have heard they should be planted at the end of winter. What can I do? Store them, throw them or give them a go? Marg

Reply or Post a new comment

28 Apr 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

If you live in an area with no frosts I would plant them. Leave them out of the ground for 3-4 days to let the cut edge dry up a bit. Plant them then water and don't water again until they shoot.

Reply or Post a new comment

15 Apr 20, Robin (Australia - temperate climate)

I have some saved potatoes in a box of sand in the bottom of my fridge which have sprouted. surely if they sprout at 4 degrees c. they will grow in our winter months ? Cheers Robin

Reply or Post a new comment

15 Apr 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I'm sub-tropical and they grow them from April/May here and in the spring also. You probably don't want frosts.

Reply or Post a new comment

17 Apr 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Commercial blokes here plant them in May, in good draining red soil that is above frost line, like on a high area not in low areas.

Reply or Post a new comment

15 Apr 20, John Mauger (Australia - temperate climate)

In very cold or wet soil potatoes are likely to rot. Frost will also burn them off. If you have an area where the soil is warmer and is protected from frost you could give them a go if you wish. Better to plant them about 3 weeks before the expected last frost so they will have emerged after the frosts have finished. If they come up early and a frost is expected just cover them with a box, a suitable sized flower pot or a layer of straw for protection.

Reply or Post a new comment