Plant Potatoes in Autumn
Gardeners can garden in spring, summer, fall and winter too!
You can plant potatoes in late November following these tips for a bountiful spring harvest.
You can plant potatoes in late November or early December in many gardening zones. If you don't already have seed potatoes, order them quickly. To plant in fall, it is best to get an early variety red skin potatoes. Approximately 2 1/2 lbs is enough to fill a 20 foot row. Get your garden plot ready by amending with good compost.
Plant your seed potatoes in late November or early December. They are ready to plant when they show 1/4" sprouts. For larger potatoes, cut them into sections, with two eyes if possible, but you must have at least one. Make a shallow furrow down your row (or in your raised bed.) Insert with the eyes "up" about 4" deep in the furrow about 12" apart. Cover with a light layer of soil. Then cover with mulch. Mulch helps prevent freezing, so it is very important for fall and winter gardens.
When tips appear and growth begins, start pulling up soil and mulch in a hill around the plant, but leave the plant and roots undisturbed. If it is still cold weather when tips appear, add extra mulch because frost can kill them. Don't remove the mulch until it is warm in the spring and freezing weather has stopped. Buds and flowers should appear around May, with your first harvest soon thereafter.
Harvest the first new potatoes by lightly loosening the soil and digging around the outside of the plant with your hands. Remove some small potatoes to enjoy as a first harvest, but leave some to develop into larger potatoes for later.
Tips
- Don't plant fall potatoes where you planted tomatoes previously
- Putting an apple in the bag with your seed potatoes aids sprouting
- New potatoes go great with early greens--enjoy your harvest!
