Dig up a test hill to see how mature the potatoes are. The skins of mature potatoes are thick and firmly attached to the flesh. If the skins are thin and rub off easily, your potatoes are still too new and should be left in the ground for a few more days.
Wait until the tops of the vines have completely died before you begin harvesting. When the vines are dead, it is a sure sign the potatoes have finished growing and are ready to be harvested.
Harvest after about 15-20 weeks, when the leaves start to yellow. If you can't wait, you can sneak an early crop of 'new' potatoes after the plant has flowered by digging gently under the plant with your hands and pulling out a few spuds.
Don't leave your crop in the ground for too long after the plant dies, or they could start to rot. It's also a good idea to harvest potatoes before frost. If you can't get to them in time, they should still be fine, but make sure to dig them up before it gets below freezing.
Dig potatoes too early, and you'll harvest a measly crop of minuscule tubers. You'll also risk stressing the plant and its precious root system, so although you could try replanting it, the plant might not thrive. Wait too long, and your potatoes may get damaged by frost, or begin to sprout, crack or rot underground.
In cool climates, plant potatoes between July-August. Potatoes can be harvested between 90-120 days from planting. In warm climates, harvest potatoes between June-August and in cool climates harvest between December-February.
Cure newly dug and cleaned potatoes for a week to 10 days in a dark, well-ventilated area with moderate temperatures and high humidity, and they will last longer.
Now reach into the soil with your hands and pull the tubers up. How long do potatoes take to grow? Small new potatoes can be ready as early as ten weeks. However, full sized potatoes take about 80-100 days to reach maturity.
Can you eat potatoes right after harvest? Sure can! While we recommend curing them for long-term storage, freshly-dug potatoes are perfect for eating right out of the ground (maybe clean them off a bit first).
Young or new potatoes can be hand harvested as soon as they develop. These are a real summer treat, not available at the grocery store. Flowering just means that the vines are mature enough and have enough leaf area to start forming tubers. It doesn't mean the tubers are ready to harvest.
Potatoes need 1 to 2 inches of water a week. Too much water right after planting and not enough as the potatoes begin to form can cause them to become misshapen. Stop watering when the foliage begins to turn yellow and die off.
Potatoes are not hardy plants, so in general they are planted in spring from mid March to late April and can be harvested anywhere between June and October.
Generally, potatoes need between 1-2 inches of water per week; this could be provided by rain events or you to make up the difference.
The flowers and foliage determine when to best harvest your crop. Harvest baby potatoes (new potatoes) two to three weeks after they've finished flowering, and harvest potatoes for storing (mature potatoes) two to three weeks after the plant's foliage has died back.
Cure potatoes at a temperature of 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and high relative humidity (85 to 95 percent) for two weeks. Healing of minor cuts and bruises and thickening of the skin occurs during the curing process. Once cured, sort through the potatoes and discard any soft, shriveled, or blemished tubers.
Never grow potatoes in the same soil year after year as this could lead to a build up of pests and diseases. These include potato eelworm, which causes stunted growth and poor cropping.
All you need is a sunny space to grow them, a steady supply of water, and seed potatoes (the sprouted portion of a potato that you plant in the ground). So, yes, it's true: you can grow potatoes from potatoes!
A garden bed used for potatoes one year should not be used the following year for another crop of potatoes. One problem with growing potatoes in the same bed year after year is that potatoes are heavy feeders.
Potatoes can last for up to several months in a cool pantry. If stored at room temperature, they are best if eaten within one to two weeks. Once cooked, keep them in the fridge for no more than three days.
The Food and Drug Administration advises you wash potatoes before you eat them. Potatoes grow in the ground, and carry not only dirt but also bacteria to the grocery store and later, your table. Pesticides also remain on potato skin; even organic potatoes carry some degree of contaminants.
If keeping potatoes in water for more than an hour, refrigerate. However, don't soak them any longer than overnight—after that, the potatoes start to lose their structure and flavor.
General Advice. Potatoes always do best in full sun. They are aggressively rooting plants, and we find that they will produce the best crop when planted in a light, loose, well-drained soil. Potatoes prefer a slightly acid soil with a PH of 5.0 to 7.0.
If you want grow potatoes bigger than your fist, you will need to space the plants at least 14 inches (36 cm) apart. Some people go even wider and plant potatoes in hills, with 3 plants per 24-inch (61 cm) diameter "hill". Actually, potato "hills" are flattened mounds about 6 inches (15 cm) high.