Summary
In February , when the sun is shining and the days are getting longer , it ’s a sign thatspring gardeningis just around the nook ! If you ’re eager to get a capitulum commence on your vegetable garden , planting Irish potato in Februaryis a fantastic way tobridge former spring andwinter gardening .
Learnhow to start potatoesin February . Plus , get tips on in force practice forhow to grow potato , so you’re able to enjoy a bumper harvest !
How to Plant Potatoes in February
Gather starters, a shovel, and a soil thermometer before you begin
Before youstart potatoesin yourwinter garden , first you ’ll need a few essentials .
Once you have your horticulture tools handy , grab somecozy gardening baseball glove , and a jacket crown , so you canstay toasty and warmforwinter gardening . Then , head out of doors toenjoy the brisk February weatherand hopefully even a bit of wintertime sunshinewhile you ’re starting your tubers .
6 step to Plant Potatoes
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Method
Step 1 : industrial plant at the upright temperature
allot toSouth Dakota State University , the idealsoil temperature rangeforplanting semen potatoesis between45 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit . more often than not , this falls aroundtwo weeks to a month before the last springtime frost .
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Step 2 : Test the soil temperature
Insert a grunge thermometer into the soilof your garden bed tocheck how ardent it is . If temperatures are optimum in February , thenstart planting tater ! However , if thesoil is still too parky , it ’s skilful to wait .
Step 3 : Prepare
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If yourseed potatoesare comparable to thesize of a golf game ball , skip this stone’s throw . If your seed potatoes arebigger , a week before planting , take a astute tongue and carefullycut themintosections . Each parcel shouldhavetwo eyes .
pace 4 : make rows with trench
When the soil is consistently 45 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit , prep the garden seam . Use a garden power shovel to createrowswith9 to 12 inch of space betweenthem . Then , dig atrench with a profoundness of 3 to 4 inchesthat is the same distance as the wrangle .
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stride 5 : get down potatoes in the garden
Tostart potatoes , put the tater in the trench . lay it , so theeyes are facing upwards . Then , blanketthe seeded player potatoes with2 to 3 column inch of earth .
Step 6 : Watch for sprouts
After cautiously planting your source potatoes , germination ranges from two hebdomad to one month . Keep an eye out for cheerful light-green shoot to emerge from the grime !
How to Grow Your Veggies Beautifully
Provide full sun, create a 6-inch straw or soil hill, and harvest in 60 to 90 days
After start potatoes , it ’s important tocontinue providing top - notch carewhilegrowing murphy plantstoencourage a bountiful harvest . Some key practice to be aware of are , provide enough H2O , ensuring optimum sunlight , and identifying the best time to harvestyour garden goodies .
Make growing potatoes a breezeby maintain gardening supply on paw :
road map to Plant Potatoes
steer
sunshine
Potatoes flourish when they receivefull sunin your garden , orsix hours per day .
water system
Proper lachrymation practices cater potatoes with all important wet while reducing the hazard of your veggies waste . For good results , feel the dirt down to 2 inches bass . If it ’s wry , then it ’s time to irrigate your garden .
Hilling
When yourpotato flora are 6 inches tall , usestraw mulch or soiltocreate a small hillthat extends as high as1 inch underneath the downcast foliage . Two to three weeks later , continue add to the J. J. Hill until it ’s 6 inches high .
plant food
While hillingaround your spud plants , it ’s convenient tofertilize the plantas well . Apply 3 tablespoons of 32 - 0 - 0 fertilizer for every 10 feet of your row . Combine the fertilizer with the soil or mulch that you are building around the plant life .
Harvesting
Potatoes arevegetables that grow quickly . Some varieties of these tuber areready to harvest two months after engraft . However , this canvary by cultivar , assomepotato varietiesmay take as long as90 days or more .
Once your veggies are quick , look for a dry day — it ’s best to gather these tubers when the soil is ironic and the weather is nice . Then , gently undo the soilaround the floor of the plantwith a garden trowel to aid release your harvestfrom the dry land .
If you are n’t sure whether your tater are quick , cautiously try and chafe away the skinfrom one of the potatoes . If it comes right offwith a little insistence , your tuber call for more time .
According toCornell University , hilling helpskeep your vegetables out of excessive sunlight . Too much light exposurecauses unripened patches that check a toxic chemicalknown assolanine .
Curing and Storing Your Potato Harvest
Cure potatoes for 14 days and store them for six months in a cool dark area
After all the dedication and worry you put intostarting potatoesand then develop them , it ’s significant tocure them the right way . Curingimproves storageand is a straight appendage .
basement and pantries are outstanding seat tostore potatoesbecause they are usually coolheaded and dark . However , you shouldavoid the fridge .
According to theUnited States Food and Drug Administration(FDA),when you use the electric refrigerator for storing potatoesitincreaseshow muchacrylamide(a chemical ) they contain . FDA investigator are presently studyingacrylamideto see out if it ’s a health risk .
Why plant potatoes in cold waterwhen boiling them?Once you ’re ready to cook your harvest , put them in a gage with insensate water , so theycook equally . Otherwise , place veggie in a smoke of boiling water will speedily ready the exterior , making it mushy .
Start Growing Your Potatoes
If you ’re eager to get an early start on your vegetable garden , cultivating origin veggie is an excellent idea !
