potatoes- solanum tuberosum

sun-water-pH 4.5-6.0

sow 5"-6" in very rich loose well drained aerated soil

for in-depth soil, soil food and watering go to www.intertruth.name

  • easy to grow and harvest
  • always by "certified organic disease-free seed potatoes
  • grow in your garden, flower bed or container
  • 2-4 months to mature
  • nightshade family-solanaceae
  • store seeds and potatoes in cool dark dry place
  • potatoes do not like too much sun or too much wind

Soil:

nitrogen-potassium-phosphate rich and well-composted humus, likes lots of manure and moisture add alittle bit of sand in the spring to keep the soil drained well

Seed:

  • sow seeds in warm climate from late winter-spring or late summer
  • sow seeds in cool climate in the summer
  • make sure seed has at least three eyes
  • place seed in soil at approximately 5" deep
  • place shoots of the rose end up
  • cover with approximately 4" of soil
  • as the foliage grows apply more soil around the stem to cover growing tuber (keep potato under soil, sunlight turns potatoes green)
  • water in dry weather
  • top dress manure once shoots are 6"
  • once foliage blossums stop applying soil and once foliage withers and browns cut back on water, leave in ground for 1 more week
  • I use my hand to dig them up

water:

water in dry weather

companion plants: corn, beans, horseradish, cabbage, strawberries, celery, mustard, eggplant, nasturtiums, nettles, marigolds

varieties:

Early: Red Pontiac, Rose Gold, Yukon Gold, Russet: Irish Cobbler, Whit Cobbler, Kennebec, Charlotte, All Blue, Red Norland, Fingerlings: Russian Banana, La Ratte,

pests:

  • to keep scab off the surface of your potato keep you pH at 4.-8-5.0 (my potatoes are about 4' from my tomatoes)
  • water well until plants bloom but avoid overhead watering
  • to keep your plants healthy see www.intertruth.name for my special harmless neem oil recipe for aphids, and other pests

bibliography:

GOLDEN GATE GARDENING - PAM PEIRCE

GROWING VEGETABLES & HERBS - MITCHELL BEAZLEY

organic GARDENING - Geoff Hamilton

RODALE'S Ultimate Encyclopedia of ORGANIC GARDENING - Rodale

THE GARDEN PRIMER - BARBARA DAMROSCH

A-Z for COMPANION PLANTING - PAMELA ALLARDICE

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