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Soil preparation: Potatoes need space, sunshine, and fertile, well-drained soil. Acid soil (those with a pH below 7.0) provides good growing conditions and reduces the chance of scab.
Planting: Although you can plant a few cultivars from seed, it's easier to plant certified, disease-free "seed potatoes" purchased at a garden center or from a mail order catalog. You'll need 5-8 lb. of potatoes to plant a 100' row.
Spacing: Space seed potatoes 6" apart and cover them with 4"-5" of soil. Space rows 3' apart. Mound soil up around the emerging plants (leaving at least 8"-12" of foliage) every two to three weeks.
Watering: Water deeply during dry spells.
Special hint: Plant potatoes whole, or cut them into good-sized pieces, each which should contain 2-3 eyes. Cure the cut pieces by spreading htem out in bright, airy place for 24 hours or until they are slightly dry and the cut areas have hardened. In wet climates, dust seed potatoes with sulfur to help prevent rot. Plant seed pieces 6" apart.
Pest Watch Aphids, Colorado potato beetles, cutworms, and flea beetles. Other possible pests include blister beetles, leafhoppers, and wireworms.
Disease Alert Black leg, blight, ring rot, scab, and verticillium wilt. Avoid most potato disease by rotating crops, providing good air circulation, selecting resistant cultivars, and planting disease-free seed potatoes.
Harvesting Blossoming plants are a sign that the first "new" potatoes are ready to harvest. Pull aside the earth around the base of plants and gently pick off cooking-size tubers, which are delicious boiled with the skins on. Carefully replace soil so that the remaining tubers continue to grow.
Once the foliage starts to wither and die, the tubers will be full-grown. If the weather is not too warm or wet, they will keep in the ground for several weeks. Dig them up with a spading fork before the first frost. Potatoes that are nicked or bruised duing harvesting won't store well, so eat them as soon as you can. Clean and dry the crop as quickly as possible, but never expose it to sunlight. Store tubers in a dark place at around 40 degrees.
