Because soil temperature lags 3-4 hours behind air temperature rise each day, in cold weather, try to harvest late in the day, but with time to finish before dark. In hot weather, harvest in the morning as early as possible. Tuber temperature will also affect bruise and rot susceptibility.
Potatoes should be harvested between 5 am and 2 pm, to avoid high temperature which can decrease the shelf-life potential.
Harvesting potatoes: the right time
Early potatoes can be harvested as early as mid-June and second earlies take a few more weeks to mature, being ready to dig up around July and August. Harvesting of maincrop potatoes usually takes place later, from late August to October.
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).
Mature potatoes should be harvested about two weeks after the flowers and vines begin to yellow and die. Potatoes can handle a light frost, but make sure to dig them all up before the first heavy frost.
After the potatoes have been dug, brush the soil off. Do not wash potatoes until you're ready to use them. Washing can easily reduce the storage life and encourage mold. Store potatoes in a cool, dark area after harvesting.
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.
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.
A. Potatoes are a hardy crop and your plants will bounce back. New shoots will appear from below the soil and new leaves may appear on the stalks that are left behind. If the stalks start dying back, cut them back to ground level, this will promote even more shoots from below the soil.
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.
ANSWER: Don't worry if your potato plants aren't producing blooms. The flowers are not needed in order for the plants to grow delicious tubers underground. Instead, the blossoms are linked to production of the small, green above-ground fruits that resemble tomatoes.
Stop watering potatoes after the foliage turns yellow and begins to die off. This will allow the potatoes to mature to the right stage before harvesting. If you keep watering, the potatoes may mature and then rot in the ground before you dig them up.
This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black.
(Fun fact: supermarkets cover their potato bins overnight to block out the light and prevent greening.) It's not going to hurt you to eat that potato, but it may taste bitter, so you'll want to peel or cut away the green areas first. And keep the rest of your potatoes out of the light.
Frying fresh-cut potatoes.
Soaking peeled, washed, and cut fries in cold water overnight removes excess potato starch, which prevents fries from sticking together and helps achieve maximum crispness.
Soaking potatoes in water is the best way to keep prepped potatoes from turning brown.
If you have really long sprouts that are really delicate, lay those in a trench horizontally and gently bury them so you don't break them. They'll send vertical shoots up off that long sprout and you'll get a better yield that way since potatoes will grow all along the original sprout line you laid down.
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.
When you accidentally let your potatoes get old and they grow sprouts… Don't throw them away! You can plant those sprouts and grow several new potatoes.
Excess water causes potato leaves to turn yellow. Waterlogging reduces air circulation in the soil. Potato roots are highly sensitive to low oxygen levels, and they are damaged even by short periods of excess water. Overwatering potatoes slows down the growth and increases the likelihood of rot.
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.
Risks of over-watering potatoes
This slows plant growth, increases the likelihood of rot, and can be highly detrimental to yield and quality. Early in the season, over-watering can result in misshapen tubers. Later in the season, it increases the likelihood of powdery scab and lenticel growth.
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.
As you plan this year's vegetable garden, include a few slightly off-beat veggies among your tomatoes and potatoes, and they'll reward your efforts by providing fresh food next year without the work of replanting. Each of these veggies (yes, rhubarb is a vegetable!) will come back on their own.
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.