The Texas spring planting guide for vegetable crops from Texas A&M recommends planting potatoes in March for Regions I and II, in February in Region III and January for Regions IV and V. Although related to warm weather crops like tomatoes, potatoes act more like a cool weather vegetable that prefers early spring planting with warm days and cool nights.
Once the plants produce leaves, they are susceptible to freeze damage and should be covered if the nighttime temperatures are forecast below 32 degrees. On the other hand, hot temperatures cause potatoes to go dormant. This slightly temperamental nature of potatoes means that the planting window is short.
Preparing the Vegetable Gardening Bed
Two weeks before planting, clean the bed of any opportunistic weeds or grasses and rake level. Use a soil pH test strip and amend the soil to a slight acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Lime raises pH and sulfur lowers it. However, the best pH control comes from fertile soil that has lots of organic matter. Add a balanced fertilizer and work into the top two to three inches of soil.
In some parts of Texas, the soil has sufficient phosphorous without amendments. If the garden soil test shows that it does not need or want more phosphorous, then select a 15-5-10 fertilizer.
Planting and Care of Potatoes
Buy only certified seed potatoes for planting in the garden. Although it may be tempting to use those old store-bought potatoes that have developed sprouts, do not do it. Most store potatoes have been treated with inhibitors that keep them from growing. Certified seed potatoes are disease free and produce true to type. Good varieties of seed potatoes for Texas include Kennebec, Yukon Gold, and Red Pontiac.
Seed potatoes are about the size of an egg. If the ones in the feed store or retail nursery are larger, cut them in pieces that have at least two eyes and allow the cut to dry for a couple days before planting. Drop the potatoes in a row in the garden about a foot apart and press into the soil. Then cover the plants with about four inches of soil.
When the plants are eight to ten inches tall, pull soil over the plant leaving about four inches above the dirt. Do this once or twice to create growing hills for the potatoes. Add a dressing of compost and mulch around the plant to reduce weeds and maintain moisture. Use soaker hoses to supplement rainfall, if needed to keep a consistent moisture level equal to an inch a week.
Harvest potatoes in late May or early June.
Potatoes make an excellent early spring vegetable for Texas gardeners. Potatoes fresh from the garden are slightly sweet and delicious served hot, warm or cold in salads. If a gardener is tempted in early May to get a couple potatoes for dinner that is okay. Just be sure to cover the remaining growing potatoes for later harvesting.
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