How to Grow Fall Potatoes
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Potatoes are typically grown from seed potatoes (SP), but you can grow potatoes from true potato seed (TPS), too. Both are warm season crops, so the plants can be killed by frost; however, potatoes generally do better when planted in cooler seasons (spring and fall) than in summer in hot climates.
When to Plant Fall Potatoes
Because potato plants can be killed by a frost, you want to plant them well before frost, so that they have enough time to mature. Maturity days vary depending on variety, so google the name of the variety you are growing, to get the number of days. Then, count back from your first frost date so you will know when to plant. Note: add 4-6 weeks for chitting, if you plan to do so, and about a week for potatoes to dry if you plan on cutting them (we discuss both of these topics below).
Potatoes Grown from True Potato Seeds
Growing from True Potato Seeds
There are not too many varieties of true potato seeds available to home gardeners, but Clancy is the most popular (you can find seeds here). Clancy takes 90-100 days to mature. These are actual seeds you start in soil that grow plants that produce potatoes. We grow one plant per 14 inch container. Although the potatoes are not as large as potatoes grown from seed potatoes, they are super easy to grow. The potatoes in the photos above and below were grown from true potato seed.
I start true potato seeds indoors when I start tomatoes, then transplant into the garden. The plants grow, and bloom beautiful purple flowers. It is best to transplant the plants low in a container, then add soil around the stem as they grow. The plant will produce more potatoes this way. When they start to die back, harvest the potatoes. They are delicious!
Seedlings grown from Clancy True Potato Seed
Growing from Seed Potatoes
Seed potatoes are potatoes grown out for the purpose of replanting, in order to grow more potato plants. They are actual potatoes, which when planted, grow eyes, plants, and more potatoes. This new plant from the seed potato is essentially a clone. You can grow potatoes in ground, in containers, in grow/potato bags, and in hay.
Spring 2022 Potato Harvest
The Best Seed Potato Varieties
The past spring, we grew Russet, Red Norland, and Yukon Gold. The best ones were the Red Norland and Yukon Gold - they produced twice as much as the Russett. And the Red Norland produced twice as much as the Yukon Gold (photo, above).
Potatoes are super easy to grow. Don’t overthink it, or try to do everything perfectly. As long as they have good soil and some water, they are going to grow.
Should You Cut Up Your Seed Potatoes?
If you plan to cut up your seed potatoes, then here are some best practices for you:
leave at least two eyes on each piece,
do not cut each piece less than an inch thick, and
allow the cut side to dry before planting.
We grow potatoes the easy way - in hay. To make it even easier, we plant the whole seed potato. We have tested both: cutting them up and planting, and planting them whole. There is not such a considerable difference in yield that makes the effort worth it, for the amount of potatoes that we grow.
We also replant our own harvest as seed potatoes each time, so cost of seed potatoes is not a factor. For example, we use part of our spring harvest as seed potatoes for fall. Then when we harvest fall potatoes, we use part of the fall harvest as seed potatoes for spring. So, we never have to buy seed potatoes.
Chitted Seed Potato
How to Chit Seed Potatoes
Most gardeners allow their seed potatoes to chit 4-6 weeks before they intend to plant them. You can accomplish this by laying your seed potatoes in a cool, sunny location. The light will encourage the growth of eyes.
Potatoes will eventually grow eyes, even if in the dark. If you stored your potatoes in the dark, and they have long sprouts, you can remove them, and plant, or you could remove them, chit, then plant. Potatoes grow potato plants that grow more potatoes, regardless.
We do not wait until the potatoes chit to plant them. If you do the same, then know the harvest will take longer, because the seed potato still has to do this before making plants.
How to Hill Potatoes
Potatoes benefit from "hilling." Plant them deep, and add soil around the plant stem as they grow, for larger harvests. This is normally done two to three times throughout the potato life cycle, as the stem becomes exposed.
When to Harvest Potatoes
Harvest your potatoes when the plants start to die back. You can harvest earlier (for "new potatoes"). The potatoes will just be smaller. Do not wash them, only remove any loose soil once it has dried. Green potatoes are caused by sun exposure. Do not eat green potatoes, and do not eat the fruits that form on the potato blooms. Both can make you ill.
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How to Grow Fall Potatoes Two Ways
