How do you plant potatoes? What do you plant them in? and what do you cover them up with?

When the sprouts come up, do you cover them up completely? The Yates books says to hill them, which is different to what I’ve always thought.

The local produce store had certified seed potatoes, so I bought a 1/2 dozen thinking I knew what to do with them. But now I’m not sure.

Can I cut them to get more plantings? I know they’re supposed to have eyes, but should they have actual sprouts before I plant them? If so, what’s the best way to get them to sprout quickly.

Ahhh, so many questions. The Man thought it was extravagent to buy seed potatoes when there’s spuds in the cupboard, so I don’t want to upset him further by forgetting to plant these things out. I told the cupboard spuds might not be very productive as growing spuds. I don’t know if that’s true, but he bought it LOL.

SueBk said:

How do you plant potatoes? What do you plant them in? and what do you cover them up with?

When the sprouts come up, do you cover them up completely? The Yates books says to hill them, which is different to what I’ve always thought.

The local produce store had certified seed potatoes, so I bought a 1/2 dozen thinking I knew what to do with them. But now I’m not sure.

Can I cut them to get more plantings? I know they’re supposed to have eyes, but should they have actual sprouts before I plant them? If so, what’s the best way to get them to sprout quickly.

Ahhh, so many questions. The Man thought it was extravagent to buy seed potatoes when there’s spuds in the cupboard, so I don’t want to upset him further by forgetting to plant these things out. I told the cupboard spuds might not be very productive as growing spuds. I don’t know if that’s true, but he bought it LOL.

what i do is cut them so they have an eye on each bit i am going to plant, i am not good with spuds my self.

spuds need terrific soil.
you use a hoe to make furrows say 200mm deep. in go the tubers – then use the hoe to mound the spud furrows up say 200mm above the soil level. the mounding material comes from dragging up the soil between the furrows, mulch heavily and keep damp.
normally if seed spud come 7-8 per kilo – just plant them as is. cut the bigger ones in half with an eye in each half.

pepe said:

spuds need terrific soil.
you use a hoe to make furrows say 200mm deep. in go the tubers – then use the hoe to mound the spud furrows up say 200mm above the soil level. the mounding material comes from dragging up the soil between the furrows, mulch heavily and keep damp.
normally if seed spud come 7-8 per kilo – just plant them as is. cut the bigger ones in half with an eye in each half.

When the shoots reach 6” tall, hill them up another 4”.The leaves need to be kept exposed to absorb sunlight. Just keep adding earth in this way.

I’ve been doing a “potato study” as I’m growing them seriously this year. Mine will be in pots and bins though – not enough room in the vegie beds.

Did any of you see the item on Land Line? yesterday about growing potatos in Peru? I certainly didn’t know there were that many types of potatoes.

Crinkle said:

Did any of you see the item on Land Line? yesterday about growing potatos in Peru? I certainly didn’t know there were that many types of potatoes.

yes i did see it, i enjoyed it. can you download it? my dad would like to know.

veg gardener said:

Crinkle said:

Did any of you see the item on Land Line? yesterday about growing potatos in Peru? I certainly didn’t know there were that many types of potatoes.

yes i did see it, i enjoyed it. can you download it? my dad would like to know.

I really don’t know vg.

Crinkle said:

veg gardener said:

Crinkle said:

Did any of you see the item on Land Line? yesterday about growing potatos in Peru? I certainly didn’t know there were that many types of potatoes.

yes i did see it, i enjoyed it. can you download it? my dad would like to know.

I really don’t know vg.

thanks any way, we are always doing something when its on Lunch here is 1pm :).

Something nobody told me when I first grew them is that all your spuds are produced above the seed spud. So the more you mound it up the more you’ll get.

Green Harvest always has good info.

http://www.greenharvest.com.au/Plants/potato_info.html