Planting Potatoes in the Vegetable Garden
Work in the vegetable garden is well underway.
Last week, we planted three long beds of potatoes, with three rows in each bed. Potatoes are grown from “seed potatoes”, which are certified disease-free and specially grown in nurseries for planting purposes. We get our “seed potatoes” from Irish Eyes Garden Seeds, a small family-owned business located in Ellensburg, Washington.
Here are some photos from our planting process - enjoy.
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- Irish Eyes Garden Seeds strives to provide a variety of quality organic seed potatoes. They are one of only 10-certified organic seed potato growers nationwide. http://irisheyesgardenseeds.com
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- Ryan creates all the markers as the potatoes are removed from the bags. These large white markers come from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. They’re birchwood veneer stakes made in Maine, and are treated with an environmentally-friendly, water-based preservative so they last longer through the season. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
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- Some of the bigger varieties – bigger than the average sized chicken egg – are cut into pieces. Each piece should have at least two eyes.
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- Here are some of the freshly cut pieces. I like to grow many potatoes. Potatoes contain 18-percent starch, two-percent protein, and small amounts of vitamin-B6, iron, niacin, magnesium, thiamin, folic acid and potassium. They are also a good source of vitamin-C, low in sodium and easy to digest.
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- Each cut side of potato is then coated with Douglas fir bark dust – also from Irish Eyes Garden Seeds.
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- This dust helps to heal the sliced area, so it doesn’t shrink or curl. The slightly acidic bark is also a natural fungicide and moisture buildup barrier.
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- Among the potatoes we are growing this season is the variety called Bellinda. Bellinda is a popular choice because of its excellent flavor.
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- These Red Norland potatoes produce medium to large tubers with smooth, thin, red skin and shallow eyes, and white flesh. These are also known to be very flavorful.
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- Another popular favorite is German Butterball. These have smooth, thick, golden and netted skin with butter yellow flesh and outstanding taste when steamed or baked.
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- Magic Molly is an Alaskan bred potato variety that produces large fingerling shaped tubers. Its excellent earthy flavor and waxy texture are enhanced when barbecued, bringing out the warm woodsy smoke flavor.
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- Ryan makes sure every potato is coated. Defender potatoes are late season potatoes suitable for frying and excellent as a fresh market baker.
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- These are Kennebec potatoes – short oval potatoes with smooth pale yellow skin, shallow eyes and white flesh. They’re great for fries, hash browns and many other uses even without peeling.
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- The Jelly potato is a smooth skinned, long oval variety with rich yellow flesh. Jelly makes attractive golden roast potatoes or chips. All Red potatoes are medium to extra-large tubers with smooth, brilliant red skin, medium shallow eyes and pink swirled flesh that retains its color after cooking. Like most reds, this variety is good for steaming or boiling and makes an attractive potato salad.
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- These uniformly medium-sized oval Atlantic tubers have white, lightly netted skin and white flesh. They can grow quite large and are resistant to late blight and scab.
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- Ryan lined up all the trays of potatoes so they were ready to take down to the vegetable garden for planting.
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- All the potatoes are laid out in front of the beds in which they’ll be planted. The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial nightshade Solanum tuberosum.
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- Ryan measures each of the beds to make sure the three planned trenches in each bed are equally spaced.
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- Ryan uses this Intervale Garden Row Marking Line from Gardener’s Supply Company to mark the planting rows. https://www.gardeners.com/
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- Next, Carlos digs shallow trenches under the twine using a garden hoe. Adding organic matter is a good way to amend the soil before planting, but don’t use matter too high in nitrogen, as too much can encourage the growth of lush foliage at the expense of tuber development.
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- The trenches run the entire length of each bed, and are about four to six inches deep.
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- Here are the nine trenches ready for planting. Potatoes can be planted in cooler soils at least 40-degrees Fahrenheit. They do best as rotation crops, and should be placed away from where potatoes, tomatoes or peppers were grown in the last two-years.
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- Ryan starts placing the potatoes in the trenches. Potatoes perform best in soil with pH levels 4.8 to 5.5. Potatoes are easy to grow as long as they have access to full sun and moderate temperatures.
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- The seed potato pieces are placed in the trench with eyes faced up. When selecting seed potatoes, avoid planting those from supermarkets in case they were treated by sprout inhibitors.
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- As each row is planted, Ryan places a marker, so every variety can be identified. If the eyes are not planted faced up, it’s not the end of the world – the potatoes will find their way, but it may take a little longer for them to develop and grow.
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- Trenches should also be at least one to two feet apart to give the potato plants ample room to develop.
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- Carlos backfills the trenches with the same nutrient-rich soil, fully covering the potatoes at least four-inches. Potatoes do best in well-drained, loose soil, and consistent moisture.
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- Potatoes need at least one-inch of water per week. Potatoes require less water to grow compared to other staple foods such as wheat, rice and corn. I cannot wait until harvest time. A first modest harvest of potatoes should be ready about 65-days after planting.
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