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© Frances Michaels
COMMON NAMES: potato BOTANICAL NAME: Solanum tuberosum FAMILY: Solanaceae, the tomato family PLANT DESCRIPTION Potatoes like a fertile, deeply dug, moist, acidic soil with a pH of less than 6. They do not grow well in heavy clay or a limed soil, which promotes potato scab. To avoid this, always rotate your potato patch each year. Many potatoes have lost favour commercially because of either deep eyes or an irregular shape but these varieties may have many advantages to the home grower in hardiness, disease resistance and prolific production.
USES Potatoes are a staple food, many heritage potatoes have a superb flavour whether used as an 'old' potato and baked or used as a 'new' potato and steamed or mashed.
PLANTING For early potatoes, plant shortly before the last expected frost, planting can continue into summer. Plant the seed potatoes 13 cm deep and then cover with a mulch 25-30 cm deep. Choose seed potatoes with at least 2 eyes per piece, if cutting into smaller pieces leave plenty of flesh with each eye and allow the cuts to dry for 24 hours before planting. Space the tubers 30-35 cm apart.
HARVEST Potatoes are ready for harvesting when the majority of the tops have withered. Early potatoes may be dug for table use at any time but for storage the potatoes should be fully mature. After they are dug, dry as quickly as possible, and then store immediately in a cool, dark, dry place. Exposure to light will turn the potatoes green; green potatoes are poisonous and should not be eaten.
Available from Green Harvest: March to April 2009
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POTATO
GROWING
INFORMATION