How To Grow Organic Potatoes - MIgardener Growing Guide

4 comments by Halley -Author at MIGardener

There's no doubt that potatoes are the most loved vegetable in the world. Rich in fiber and potassium, and cooked in a myriad of mouth-watering ways, you really can't go wrong with potatoes. The way we consume them in such mass quantities makes it funny that everyone isn't growing potatoes at home right now. Not only are they delicious, but they are effortless to grow. Here are MIgardener's tips on how you can grow amazing potatoes at home.

Let's get started.

Seed Potatoes

Locate seed potatoes online, in stores, at farmers' markets or click here for a video on how to make your own! Starting with non-organic potatoes won't work because most store-bought potatoes are sprayed with sprout inhibitors on them that will keep it from producing more. It's essential to choose a variety that will best suit your use and location. Different types will have multiple maturity rates and disease resistance.

 

Sunlight/Temperature:

Make sure soil is at least 45°F. At least 6 hours of full sun per day. 

Soil Prep:

Potatoes require very loose soil to allow the roots and tubers to spread and form under the soil. If the ground becomes compacted, you'll notice the potatoes will come out smaller, or not at all. Compacted soil doesn't drain well. We recommend reusing potato soil year after year to save money. As long as your soil is disease-free, it will be perfect for use in the following year. Make sure your soil is rich in organic matter. Fill your garden beds with a compost blend (topsoil, pearlite, and compost) to create a loose, airy, fluffy mixture. 

Fertilize:

When growing potatoes, use an all-purpose fertilizer like Trifecta+. If not, make sure to find a fertilizer with a high amount of potassium. When nitrogen and phosphorus remain the same, the potassium levels are what matter the most. What potassium does is increase production, plant health, tuber development, and keep the plant growing stress-free throughout the season. 

Ph Level:

5.5, higher ph is better because it'll allow the potatoes to take up more nutrients. Adding sulfur will protect the potatoes from developing scab. Add 2tbs of pelletized sulfur to lower the ph. 

 

Spacing:

Space 7-8 inches apart. Cutting seed potatoes into slices before planting is optional, and is useful to increase your harvest. Plant in a trench about 5-6 inches deep. This will allow potatoes to send out roots and prevent sunlight from touching any new growth. Start deep to keep from having to mound up soil throughout the growing season continually. 

 

Important Tip: Remember to plant seed potatoes with spikes pointing up! These are sprouts, not roots. If you plant with the spikes pointing up, you will be wasting space and energy. 

Water:

Consistent watering is vital for good potato growth, especially during tuber formation. Make sure not to overwater by checking the soil regularly. If you can feel the moisture two inches into the ground, you know it's not time to water yet. 

Harvesting:

The time of maturity will change with each variety. On average, potatoes will take 90-100 days until harvest. You'll be able to tell when its time to harvest when the potato plants die back. If your goal is long-term storage, wait until the tubers are fully mature. For optimal long-term storage, potatoes are cured at about 60°F and high humidity for two to three weeks, and then temperatures lowered to about 40°F. Here's our video on how to cure potatoes for long term storage. 

grow potatoes

Written by - Kaitlynn from MIgardener

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4 comments


  • Leah

    Hello I watched your videos on potatoes. My family eats a lot of potatoes and we would like to grow our own. However there aren’t really any farmers markets in my area and idk if they spray them or not so idk if they’d be good for planting. Do u sell seed potatoes or do u know where I can get some?


  • Kay Giblette

    There are determinate and indeterminate potato varieties. They are planted differently. Just learned this a year ago. It has made all the difference for us knowing the right varieties to grow for our high mountain, short season garden and planting them as you showed in a six inch deep trench. Game changer for us.
    https://www.google.com/amp/s/laidbackgardener.blog/2020/04/05/determinate-and-indeterminate-potatoes/%3famp=1


  • Jackie Cope

    Your important tip contradicts itself:
    Important Tip: Remember to plant seed potatoes with spikes pointing up! These are sprouts, not roots. If you plant with the spikes pointing up, you will be wasting space and energy.

    I believe it’s supposed to say “if you plant with spikes pointing DOWN it wastes time and energy.

    What types of potatoes do you recommend for southeast Michigan?


  • Yossarian

    From above: “Important Tip: Remember to plant seed potatoes with spikes pointing up! These are sprouts, not roots. If you plant with the spikes pointing up, you will be wasting space and energy.”
    The second “pointing up” should be “pointing down”, correct?


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