There are two great events going on this time of year! Potato planting time and the Harvey County Home and Garden Show! The Show is March 10 and 11 this year at the Armory in Newton.
My favorite varieties of potato to plant are ‘Red Norland’ and ‘Yukon Gold’. Each will produce the early “new potato” my family likes to eat with a roast at my house. Also, these two can produce larger potatoes for baked or mashed. But the real reason is they just taste great!
Traditionally, we use St. Patrick’s Day as a date to target for potato planting.
Actually, any time from mid- to late-March is fine for potato planting. Be sure to buy seed potatoes rather than using those bought for cooking. Seed potatoes are certified disease free and have plenty of starch to sprout as quickly as soil temperatures allow. Most seed potatoes can be cut into four pieces, though large potatoes may yield more, and small less. Each seed piece should be between 1.5 and 2 ounces. Seed pieces this size will have more than one eye.
Each pound of potatoes should yield 8 to10 seed pieces. Cut the seed 2 to 3 days before planting so freshly cut surfaces have a chance to suberize, or toughen, and form a protective coating. Storing seed in a warm location during suberization will speed the process. Plant each seed piece about 1 to 2 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart in rows. Though it is important to plant potatoes in March, emergence is slow. It is often mid- to late-April before new plants poke their way through the soil. As the potatoes grow, pull soil up to the base of the plants. New potatoes are borne above the planted seed piece, and it is important to keep sunlight from hitting the new potatoes. Exposed potatoes will turn green and produce a poisonous substance called solanine. Keeping the potatoes covered will prevent this.