: Garden Pursuits: Vegetables: Potatoes

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Solanum tuberosum

Potatoes take up a good deal of space in a garden, but the treat of home-grown potatoes is worth tying up space for several months. Potatoes are best grown from specially grown seed potatoes; don't use food store potatoes. They may have been treated with chemicals to inhibit sprouting, and may not be an appropriate variety for your area.
Plant seed potatoes in the spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Buy small egg-sized seed potatoes, if possible, but if not, cut larger potatoes into small egg-sized pieces, making sure each piece has several "eyes." Cover with 3-4 inches of soil, and "hill up" soil around the plant as it grows. Young potatoes can be dug up (very gently--skin of new potatoes is easily bruised) when the plant begins to bloom, around 7-8 weeks after planting. Potatoes for storage should be dug up 2-3 weeks after the tops die down. Store in a cool dark place to prevent them from turning green and developing an unpleasant flavor. Potato tops and green skin are toxic. Do not ingest.

Kennebec. An all purpose potato, its versatility in the kitchen and ease with which it is grown has made this the favorite potato for home gardeners in North America. Heat tolerant, this variety performs better than some others in the South.

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Site launched January 1, 2000.
Site updated September 1, 2007.