Also receive the Almanac Daily newsletter including gardening tips, weather, astronomical events, and more.
Planting, Growing, Harvesting, and Storing Potatoes
Cooking Notes
Potatoes can be prepared in many ways: boiled, mashed, cut into pieces and roasted, french-fried, scalloped, made into dumplings or pancakes, grated into hash browns, and even brewed as alcoholic beverages.
Most potato dishes are served hot, but some are first cooked, then served cold, notably potato salad and potato chips.
ADVERTISEMENT
I was not able to harvest my potatoes last summer. Will they report in the spring? Or what should I do for a new crop this year?
Hi, Mary. If you live in a place where the ground does not freeze over in the winter, your potatoes likely continued to grow and will now be crowded and small. When you dig them up, check to make sure they are not green and that the skin is still firm.
I have had a problem with scab. But last year, when I dug my potatoes they were beautiful. I had moved my potatoes to a totally new location. After storing in the basement, they are now developing a rough skin that doesn’t look like scab. The potatoes are solid and beginning to sprout, but when I peel them they have tiny pepper size dots that I cut out. I plant red Pontiac potatoes. What is causing this? The potatoes show no rot or softness. I do not use manure but do use leaves that are composted. I would be grateful for any suggestions. Thank you KK
Hi KK,
That was a great idea to grow your potatoes in a new location to avoid another issue with scab. Sounds like it led to a successful year and harvest.
Black spots or dots in potatoes can be attributed to internal bruises caused by the movement of your potatoes after harvest or how they are stored together. It could also be the result of sugar concentrations brought on by a number of pre- or post-harvest conditions. You are doing the right thing by removing the areas, but the condition should be generally harmless.
I plant Russets but my potatoes are very small…why?
Hi, Mark. Was your entire crop of potatoes very small? It is not unusual for potatoes to vary in size and to have some large, some medium, and some small ones. If they were all small, it was probably a water issue which could be that alternate wet and dry conditions stunted their growth. Potatoes prefer evenly moist conditions.
Wonderful information on this site!
I’m harvesting Yukon Golds from a container for the first time. Is it safe to consume the seed potato along with the others?
my potatoes are 2-5 ft. tll....do i cut them back or let them keep growing
Hi Gary,
You should allow your potato plants to continue to grow and not cut them back. Your plants need to flower to produce potatoes and cutting them back could affect that process. It is best to allow the top growth to die back naturally in anticipation of the harvest so that your potatoes grow to their largest size.
Since your plants are quite tall, you can pile soil around the base to help stabilize them. It will also help protect the potato tubers from exposure to sunlight.
You could pinch out new growth at the ends of the stems to prevent your plants from growing any taller, which will lead to new growth along the stems. The result will be a more bushier plant.
Hope this helps!
I've always been told to plant potatoes on dark nights so there is less chance of potato bus. Is this true? I know my husband always did this. He planted according to the moon. Always had a beautiful garden and plenty of produce.