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

Published on: 15 March 2024 Last Updated on: 04 September 2024

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

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

10 Types of Cow’s Meat

Though there’s a saying that every part of a pig can be used except the squeal, a cow is nearly as versatile. Following are 10 types of cow’s meat: 1. Chuck: The chuck comes from the shoulder of the cow, and since the muscle has to work hard to move the animal around, it has a lot of connective tissue. Cuts from this part of the animal are meant to be braised or put in stews. Popular cuts are the chuck eye roast, boneless shoulder pot roast, blade roast, short ribs, and boneless top blade steak. 2. Brisket: The brisket is found below the shoulder but above the leg or the shank. It is a famously fatty meat that needs to be braised or roasted. This part of the cow is made into corned beef and is served as luncheon meat. Corn has nothing to do with the vegetable but is a word for the rock salt used to prepare the meat. 3. Shank: Shank is the meat found at the top of both the forelegs and the hind legs of the animal. Both of these cuts are gelatinous, and the hind shank is especially grisly, but many people love the taste. Cow’s hooves are also used as well as the shanks. 4. Rib: The rib is next to the chuck and between the loin. This is where roast beef comes from, including the beautifully prepared standing roasts served with Yorkshire pudding. The rib can be bought boneless, but the meat tastes better with the bone in. Short ribs are found further down the animal’s ribcage and are good braised or cooked in pot roasts. 5. Loin: The loin lies next to the rib and provides the tenderest meat because this part of the animal doesn’t really have to work much. Sometimes it is larded to keep it moist, and it’s often cut into steaks. The thinnest steaks are the fillets mignons, followed by tournedos, which are often wrapped in pork fat, then the tenderloin and the Chateaubriand. The sirloin is found in the upper part of the loin right at the rump. It gets its name because it was so good that Henry VIII knighted it. Hence, Sir Loin. 6. Flank: The flank is at the bottom of the loin and its thinner part is used to make beef stock and stews. It grows more tender the closer it is to the cow’s leg. Flank steak and flank steak rolls are best broiled, pan-broiled or fried. Skirt steak is lean meat from this area. In America, it’s called London broil and is often served in strips. In England, it’s mixed with chuck meat and kidney for pies and puddings. 7. Tip: The tip is a triangular muscle whose sides are bordered by the loin, the flank, and the round. When it’s whole, it makes a delicious roast, but it's often cubed for stews. 8. Rump: The rump is right next to the sirloin and so provides amazingly juicy roasts and steaks. Meat from this area often has a few sinews, but these can be easily cut out with a paring knife. 9. Round: The round lies beneath the rump and is pretty much the cow’s thigh area. Top round from inside the leg is excellent in a pot roast and just as good braised, but it is so lean that it often gets wrapped in fat or lard. It can be roasted, but roasting risks drying the meat out. One way to avoid this is to cook the round roast until it is no more than blood rare. When it is this rare it also makes very good luncheon meat. The bottom round is much like the top round, but shouldn’t be oven roasted because it is too lean. It is for stews and pot roasts. 10. Organ Meats: These include the kidney and the liver, which are rich in iron. Calf’s liver and brains are also enjoyed, and the tongue is considered excellent luncheon meat. Fat Cow Best Butcher Brisbane. Read Also:

7 Modern Day Beer Drinking Etiquettes You Should Know

Imagine a pub setting in the earlier days. Beer served in a pint glass with packets of greasy peanuts and a jukebox playing music in the background. In recent years, the scene has changed. Now, you have hipster, craft ale, and gastropubs that are dominating the arena. The common misconception of beer is that it's fairly straightforward. There's nothing sophisticated about the taste since the main goal is to get drunk. However, beer brewing is an art in itself. Artisan brewers made it their life's mission to change the way beer is viewed and consumed. From simple, large beer pints, beer is now better served in unique beer glassware. Sampling beer is a big part of beer culture now. One reason for this is the myriad of flavors that are available in the market today. Your grandfather simply didn't have the luxury of options when it came to beer or glassware! With the pub culture constantly changing, what should you know when it comes to beer drinking etiquette? Here are seven beer-drinking rules for most modern-day pubs: Make Sure Everyone Has Their Beer Before proposing a toast, make sure that everyone has their beer ready. Whether they are holding a can, small unique beer glassware, or bottle, make sure that everybody has a drink in their hand. Say No to Warm Beer “Thou shalt not offer warm beer.” The drinker can’t appreciate the aroma and taste if the beer is not served at the right temperature, which is between 3 to 5 degrees Celsius. Make sure to keep the beer chilled before serving. Be Choosy with The Glass It’s also discouraged to pour the beer in any glass. Each type of alcohol requires the right glass to enhance the flavor. While some of these glasses may look great, a beer would look out of place in a champagne glass. Most beer drinkers know what kind of beer glass is appropriate to enjoy the aroma and taste of the beer. Be a gracious host and choose the right glass for the beer. Keep the Foam Never scrape the beer foam away. The foam keeps the taste of the beer. And as you chug it down, let the beer head touch your tongue. You can enjoy the flavor better when you do that. Don’t Order Beer for Someone Else Beers have different flavors and characteristics. In the same vein, beer drinkers have different tastes. So let others order their beer out of respect for their preferences. Let them decide the flavor they want. Never Pour Beer in A Frozen Glass In the same manner, don’t accept beer in a frozen glass. While beers taste best when chilled, it’s the beer that needs chilling not the beer glass. Freezing the glass kills flavor so you or your guest will not enjoy the taste. Don’t Blindly Follow the Crowd You drink beer for the aroma, taste, and experience. Don't succumb to peer pressure by blindly ordering what everybody else is drinking. If you want your beer sweet, light, or soft, go for it! Unless, of course, somebody else is picking up the tab. Keep these rules in mind the next time you drink with your friends or the next time you host a party at your home. Also, if you have been using beer pints, get rid of them and order your beer glasses today at Cheers All. Enjoy shopping with their extensive beer glass collection that will leave you in awe. Read Also: The Best Red Wine That Suits Your Taste The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Non-Alcoholic Spirits

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

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