How to Harvest Potatoes: A Complete Guide from Planting to Storage 

Published on: 15 March 2024 Last Updated on: 04 September 2024
How to harvest potato

If there is something that I have learned in life, it is about gardening. Well, almost everything if not all. And if there is one thing that took me some time to master, it was knowing how to harvest potatoes at home! 

Potatoes are one of the most versatile and popular vegetables in the world. They can be cooked in many different ways, such as boiled, baked, fried, mashed, or roasted. Moreover, they are also rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.

But how do you grow and harvest your own potatoes at home? You see, potatoes are not like cilantro or other plants. These are tubers. 

In this article, I will show you everything you need to know about how to harvest potatoes, from planting to storage.

So, if that is something that you are interested in knowing, then I have you covered! Keep on reading this blog till the end to learn more… 

How to Plant Potato Seeds or Tubers? 

How to Plant Potato Seeds or Tubers_

The first step in how to harvest potatoes is to plant them. You can start with either potato seeds or tubers. Potato seeds are small, round, and black, and they are usually sold in packets.

Potato tubers are the actual potatoes that you eat, and they have eyes or buds that can sprout new plants.

You can buy certified seed potatoes from a nursery or garden center, or use organic potatoes from the grocery store. 

Here are some if the steps that you must take to plant them: 

Planting Potato Seeds 

  • To plant potato seeds, you need to sow them indoors in pots or trays filled with moist potting soil.
  • Place them in a sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
  • The seeds will germinate in about two weeks and produce small green shoots.
  • When the shoots are about 3 inches tall, you can transplant them outdoors in your garden or in containers. 

Planting Potato Tubers 

  • To plant potato tubers, you need to cut them into pieces, each with at least one eye.
  • You can do this a few days before planting to let the cut surfaces heal and prevent rotting. Alternatively, you can plant whole small potatoes with several eyes.
  • To prepare the soil, you need to loosen it and add some organic matter, such as compost or manure. 
  •  You also need to make sure the soil is well-drained and slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0.
  • You can use a soil test kit to check the pH level and adjust it with lime or sulfur if needed. 

Planting Potato Pieces 

  • To plant the potato pieces, you need to dig a trench about 4 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
  • Place the pieces about 12 inches apart, with the eyes facing up.
  • Cover them with 3 inches of soil and water well.
  • As the plants grow, you need to hill up the soil around them to cover the lower stems and prevent the tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which can turn them green and bitter.
  • You can also mulch the soil with straw, leaves, or grass clippings to retain moisture and suppress weeds. 

How to Care for Your Potato Plants? 

How to Care for Your Potato Plants_

The second step in how to harvest potatoes is to care for your potato plants. You need to water them regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You also need to fertilize them every two weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract. Also, you can add some wood ash or bone meal to provide extra potassium and phosphorus, which are essential for tuber formation. 

You also need to protect your potato plants from pests and diseases, which can reduce your yield and quality. Some of the common potato pests are: 

  • Colorado potato beetles, which are yellow and black striped insects that feed on the leaves and can defoliate the plants. You can handpick them and drop them in a bucket of soapy water, or use an organic insecticide, such as neem oil or pyrethrin. 
  • Potato leafhoppers, which are small, green, winged insects that suck the sap from the leaves and cause them to curl and yellow. You can spray them with a strong jet of water, or use an organic insecticide, such as garlic or hot pepper spray. 
  • Wireworms, which are thin, brown, worm-like larvae that bore into the tubers and cause holes and tunnels. You can trap them with pieces of carrot or potato buried in the soil, or use beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic worms that parasitize and kill the wireworms. 

Common Potato Diseases 

One of the most common reasons why a potato cannot grow or survive is the diseases. If you were wondering what some of these can be and how to deal with them, I have you covered! 

Some of the common potato diseases are: 

  • Late Blight: It is a fungal disease that causes brown spots on the leaves and stems, and black or brown lesions on the tubers. It can spread rapidly and destroy the entire crop. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, avoiding overhead watering, and removing any infected plants and tubers. You can also use a fungicide, such as copper or sulfur, as a preventive measure. 
  • Scab: This is a bacterial disease that causes rough, corky patches on the tubers. It does not affect the taste or edibility of the potatoes, but it reduces their appearance and storage quality. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, maintaining a slightly acidic soil pH, and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization
  • Potato Virus Y: Lastly, this is a viral disease that causes mosaic patterns, mottling, or yellowing on the leaves, and misshapen or knobby tubers. It can reduce the yield and quality of the potatoes, and it can be transmitted by aphids or infected seed potatoes. You can prevent it by planting certified virus-free seed potatoes, controlling aphids, and removing any infected plants and tubers. 

How to Determine When Your Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest? 

How to Determine When Your Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest_

The third step in how to harvest potatoes is to determine when they are ready to harvest. This depends on the type and variety of potatoes you planted, and the size and maturity you want.

There are two main types of potatoes: early and late.

Early potatoes are ready to harvest in about 10 to 12 weeks (about 3 months) after planting, and they produce small to medium-sized tubers that are tender and thin-skinned. They are best for boiling, steaming, or roasting. 

Late potatoes are ready to harvest in about 15 to 20 weeks (about 4 and a half months) after planting, and they produce large, starchy tubers that are firm and thick-skinned. They are best for baking, mashing, or frying. 

Early Harvesting 

  • To harvest early potatoes, you can start digging them up when the plants begin to flower, or when the lower leaves start to yellow.
  • You can use a garden fork or a spade to gently lift the plants and tubers from the soil, or you can use your hands to feel for the tubers under the soil.
  • You can harvest as many or as few potatoes as you need, and leave the rest in the ground until you are ready to use them.
  • You can also harvest some of the young, tender leaves and stems, which are edible and nutritious. 

Late Harvesting 

  • To harvest late potatoes, you need to wait until the plants have died back completely, or until the first frost.
  • This allows the tubers to develop a thicker skin, which helps them store better.
  • You can use a garden fork or a spade to dig up the entire row of plants and tubers, or you can use a potato digger, which is a special tool that lifts and separates the tubers from the soil.
  • You need to be careful not to damage or bruise the tubers, as this can cause rotting or spoilage. 

How to Dig Up, Cure, and Store Your Potatoes? 

How to Dig Up, Cure, and Store Your Potatoes_

The final step in how to harvest potatoes is to dig up, cure, and store your potatoes. This is important to preserve the quality and shelf life of your potatoes, and to prevent them from sprouting, rotting, or shrinking. Here are the steps to follow: 

Digging Up 

After digging up your potatoes, you need to brush off any excess soil and remove any damaged, diseased, or green tubers.

Do not wash your potatoes, as this can remove the protective skin and invite bacteria and fungi. You can wash them just before cooking or eating them. 

Curing 

You need to cure your potatoes for about two weeks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place, such as a basement, garage, or shed.

This allows the skin to harden and heal any minor cuts or bruises and enhances the flavor and texture of the potatoes.

The ideal temperature for curing is between 50°F and 60°F, and the ideal humidity is between 80% and 90%.

You can spread your potatoes in a single layer on a newspaper, cardboard, or wooden crate, and avoid exposing them to light, which can turn them green and bitter. 

Storing 

You need to store your potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a cellar, pantry, or closet. The ideal temperature for storage is between 40°F and 50°F, and the ideal humidity is between 65% and 70%.

You can store your potatoes in paper bags, cardboard boxes, mesh bags, or wooden crates, and check them regularly for any signs of sprouting, rotting, or shriveling.

You can also store your potatoes in a root cellar, which is an underground or partially underground structure that maintains a constant temperature and humidity.

Additionally, you can also store your potatoes in a clamp, which is a mound of straw, hay, or leaves covered with soil, that insulates and protects the potatoes from frost and rodents. 

Wrapping It Up! 

If you want to know about how to harvest potatoes, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. However, if there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know.

All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and suggestions in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you!

Read Also:

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

sugar free protein

3 Most Effective Sugar Free Protein Shakes

Some say that meal replacements like ViSalus protein shakes can do more damage than benefit to a user because of a rather disputable content. Indeed, all your endeavors to shed overweight can be crossed by unacceptably big sugar content. If you are unaware, sugar is the major enemy in any weight management campaign. Regardless of your goals, sugar is the first ingredient to be excluded out of the diet. Nevertheless, a complete abandonment of this element may lead to the loss of flavor of a supplement. Those who do not practice DIY sports drinks will be frustrated to lose an opportunity to enjoy the delicious flavor of the product. At the same time, it does not mean that a decent supplement depends on sugar and tastes disgusting if it lacks. The following selection refutes the above-mentioned assumption and proves that a sugar-free product can be rather effective. 100% All Natural Whey This supplement produced by MRM is free of sugar. Moreover, you won’t find any unnatural component inside the package. Its name completely corresponds to its content. The purpose of the shake is to serve as an auxiliary source of protein for female and male users regardless of age. Even growing children can opt for the merchandise without any risk to damage the health. The volume of the core ingredient is more than enough. Each serving supplies 18g of a powerful formula consisting of whey concentrate and isolate. Despite the absolute absence of sugar, users are not deprived of gustatory delight. The shake is available in two flavor options – French Vanilla and Dutch Chocolate. On this account, users obtain a combination of effectiveness and great taste. The supplement can be used either before or after your muscular activity. However, pre-workout consumption is recommended to achieve the highest performance. Isopure Unlike the previous solution, this protein shake by Nature’s Best is absolutely unflavored. No hints of vanilla or chocolate are provided. Nevertheless, such naked protein source has own benefit. First of all, the powder is rarely used as a regular drink. Even if you mix it with the milk, the result will be frustrating. The taste is horrible. However, any combination of the product with other flavored beverages and victuals or its use as a component in DIY drinks elicit the huge potential of the supplement. Such words as sugar, carbohydrates, lactose, and fat are unknown to this merchandise. On this account, the list of components is rather short. As for the core nutrient, users can enjoy of 26g of whey protein isolate in each scoop. Shake by NOW The final item in our top 3 is a kind of golden mean between the two mentioned products. It is not as natural as Isopure but free of gluten and numerous allergens like an egg, wheat, shellfish, etc. At the same time, the shake is available in three flavors, as well as in the tasteless form. Similar to previous brands, you won’t find sugar here. As for the efficiency, the shake can give a head start to its competitors since a high concentration of BCAA’s is the ace of trumps of this merchandise. The source of the core component is also decent because it is the whey protein isolate in the volume of 25g per serving. In short, this is a good solution for your weight management tasks. Read More :  The Mouthwatering Foodie Tour To Mumbai Top 5 Foods For Healthier And Thicker Hair Top 7 Superfoods For Healthy Skin And Hair Meals That Matter: The Best Foods And The Ways They Make You Fit

READ MOREDetails
Vietnamese Foods

Why Vietnamese Foods Are the UK’s Favourite Meals

Vietnamese foods are among the best foods in the world. Besides in Vietnam, these foods are also popular in the UK. Vietnamese people professionally prepare these foods. However, you can enjoy these foods in the UK by visiting a reputable Vietnamese restaurant London offers. These foods are more beneficial than other meals. Here are the great reasons why you should include Vietnamese foods in your diet plan. It improves digestion: Rice is very easy to digest. These foods also include other digestible foods such as noodles, fish and chicken meat. A bowl of fresh herbs accompanies every Vietnamese meal. These herbs are essential in the metabolism of food as they relieve indigestion, headache and nausea. Helps in weight loss: These foods have a low content of calories and fat. Vietnamese meals consist of a large portion of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. What you eat profoundly influences your body weight. Are you eating healthily? Regulates blood sugar: Vietnamese foods are naturally gluten-free. Most of these foods are noodles, rice flour, and rice paupers instead of wheat. People with diabetes are advised to consume foods with less sugar. Vietnamese foods are the best in regulating blood sugar as the ingredients are low in sugar content. It strengthens your hair: Most Vietnamese food ingredients are rich in iron and Vitamin C. These nutrients speed up the growth of hair. Iron is also an essential element to strengthen hair. It boosts your immune system and fights fatigue: Each bowl of Vietnamese food consists of loads of minerals and vitamins that help enhance your immune system. They include Vitamin C, B6, B3, magnesium, folate, and iron. In each meal, there is a bowl of vegetable salad containing biotin, copper, zinc, potassium, magnesium, vitamins B3, B6, and biotin. These are essential minerals that fight against fatigue. Keeps you young and beautiful: Stay young naturally by eating healthy foods. Vietnamese foods contain minerals needed by your body to stay young and beautiful. In every Vietnamese meal, there are herbs, spices and vegetables rich in Vitamin A and E. Research have proved that Vitamin A aids in the healing of scars and scrapes and eliminating wrinkles hence leaving you with smooth skin. Vitamin E is also an essential mineral as it fights free radicals that enhance the ageing process. Enhances fertility in both men and women: First, there is little fat used in preparing Vietnamese foods. Secondly, most of the red and green vegetables used in Vietnamese foods contain Vitamin C and E that are essential in boosting sperm count. Broccoli, pumpkin, and squash have B6 and B12 that help in maintaining a healthy reproductive system. Keeps you strong: Rice is the Vietnamese staple food. You will realize that every bowl of Vietnamese food contains rice, noodles, and vegetables. These are great as a source of energy for your body. These are significant health benefits of Vietnamese foods. It is advisable that you take these foods regularly for maximum benefits. You can find these foods in one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the UK. Read Also: The Top 10 Best Foods To Eat In Early Pregnancy Meals That Matter: The Best Foods And The Ways They Make You Fit

READ MOREDetails
Alkaline Foods

7 Surprising Benefits Of Alkaline Foods

When it comes to the workings of these wondrous human bodies of ours, we truly reap what we sow. What we choose to put into our bodies has a profound effect on how it chooses to support us and perform for us. Our modern convenience food diets are riddled with acidic and overly processed foods that are harmful to our health. Things that we may have grown up with---meats, dairy, and coffee---are robbing us of our strength and vitality at every meal. Dangers of acidic foods: Our bodies strive to maintain a delicate PH balance throughout the day; this eliminates the acidic ash that can take its toll on bones, tissues, and organs that might otherwise function to support us. A body that is placed in a chronic, highly acidic state is more prone to disease, weight gain, and even a shorter life span. An alkaline diet rich in fresh, whole, organic foods becomes the very lifeforce of the body as it rebalances the PH and gives the body a chance to heal and regenerate itself. While it may seem at first that making the switch from acidic foods to alkaline foods is going to saddle you with culinary limitations and all sorts of unpleasantness, the feeling you will experience when you give your body a chance to "sigh" will be worth any comfort foods that you will be giving up for this new lifestyle. Whether you have been recently diagnosed with a chronic illness, or you simply want to improve your quality of life you owe it to yourself to give alkaline foods a chance. Here are some ways they can benefit you and your marvelous body: 1. Alkaline foods eliminate fatigue issues: An excess buildup of acid in the body depletes its natural store of oxygen; as a result, the body feels fatigue and so do you. Cells don't function as they should, and every system is working harder than ever to dump toxins and breathe once more. Switching to snacks that are alkaline in nature will reduce acidic buildup and release life-giving oxygen back into your system once more. 2. Alkaline foods strengthen the immune system: An imbalance in your PH levels weakens your body's ability to fight off disease and infection. Bacteria and viruses thrive in an anaerobic, or low-oxygen environment. Increasing your intake of alkaline foods brings more oxygen back into the body, battling disease and viruses and strengthening all systems. 3. Alkaline foods reduce inflammation: An acidic body is an inflamed body; when you have a buildup of acid in your body, you are prone to the development of chronically acidic and diseased states such as heart disease, arthritis, and even cancer. Bringing alkaline rich foods into your diet will reduce your risk for the development of these diseases and bring inflammation under control. 4. Alkaline foods strengthen bones and tissues: As we age, our bodies naturally pull calcium and other minerals from bone material to balance our body's PH. As a result, we grow gradually weaker and more prone to illness and injury. Consuming alkaline foods puts much-needed calcium back into our bodies and restores our strength and vitality in natural and healthy ways. 5. Alkaline foods can prevent the occurrence of cancer: Cancer cells thrive in an anaerobic environment, and by bringing alkaline foods into your diet, you increase the healing properties of vitamins, minerals, and vital oxygen that makes it difficult for cancer cells to multiply and grow. When you give your body the natural tools that it needs, the wonderful self-healing mechanisms present in your makeup go to work on their own, bringing your body into a state of balance once more. 6. Alkaline foods can help you lose weight...and keep it off: Giving your body the vital nutrients it needs through nutritious, whole foods is always preferable to the Standard American Diet, or S.A.D., for short. When you replace high-calorie acidic items like pizza, chips, cookies, and soda with high-quality fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, the equation is so simple. You'll experience permanent and lasting weight loss and you'll feel great! 7. Alkaline foods improve your quality of life: There are the whole brain, whole body benefits to eating alkaline foods--they heal and repair body tissues at a cellular level, they help to flush out harmful toxins that might slow you down, and they provide the energy necessary to lead a healthy and active life well into your later years. Alkaline foods can improve how you look, how you feel, and what you experience as your body gives back to you based on the wonderful, life-giving foods that you feed it with. Is An Alkaline Diet Right For Me? No matter what diet you choose to follow, it has to be manageable and sustainable in order for it to work. If you are going to derail yourself two weeks after starting an alkaline diet with a cheeseburger and fries, then perhaps going all in isn't for you right now. Making small, deliberate changes to your diet and assessing how you feel will help you create healthy habits for long term success. Many people become overwhelmed at the thought of having to replace everything in their diets; finding some tried and true alkaline diet snacks that you can use for a quick and healthy pick me up in between meals is one way to begin establishing new habits that will move you toward better health. Examples of healthy alkaline snacks include: fresh veggie sticks and hummus celery sticks with almond butter avocados with fresh salsa green juices smoothies nuts, seeds, and berries lara bars chia pudding with fresh berries Once you see how tasty and filling these new foods can be, it will become easier and easier to incorporate healthy, life-giving foods into your diet. Are you ready? Get ready! You are about to embark on an exciting journey to delicious food and better health. You'll experience vibrant energy, improved mood, and you'll feel better than you have in years. Don't look at all the things that you "can't" have on your new journey, focus instead on how much better you'll look and feel with a few simple changes and a whole new positive outlook on your health. Best of luck to you on your alkaline journey! Read Also: You Can’t Out-Diet Your Training 9 Magical Benefits Of A Vegetarian Diet Easy Diet Tips To Summer Six Pack Abs Foods To Eat On A Low-Carb Ketogenic Diet Choosing A Diet Based On Your Personality Type 11 Foods You Must Incorporate Into Your Diet For Great Skin Featured Image: istockphoto.com

READ MOREDetails