Q.
I want to plant potatoes here in Vegas. Our season is timed different than
others though so there aren’t seed potatoes available now for a mid or late
July planting. Will standard Yukon Gold, Russett, fingerlings or Sweet Potatoes
from the grocery survive here? Or can you suggest where to get some suitable
seed potatoes?
A.
You are planting too late if you put them in the ground in July. We need to
plant Irish potatoes here in late February or early March. Purchase seed
potatoes early in the spring. Sweet potatoes are a hot weather crop and need to
go in later when soil temperatures are warm, around the first week in late
April or early May.
I want to plant potatoes here in Vegas. Our season is timed different than
others though so there aren’t seed potatoes available now for a mid or late
July planting. Will standard Yukon Gold, Russett, fingerlings or Sweet Potatoes
from the grocery survive here? Or can you suggest where to get some suitable
seed potatoes?
A.You are planting too late if you put them in the ground in July. We need to
plant Irish potatoes here in late February or early March. Purchase seed
potatoes early in the spring. Sweet potatoes are a hot weather crop and need to
go in later when soil temperatures are warm, around the first week in late
April or early May.
Any Irish potato can be quartered
and used for “seed”. Potato seed are not seeds at all but cut up potato tubers.
When cutting potato tubers for seed, make sure each seed piece has at least two
“eyes” or “dimples” and plenty of tuber connected to it.
and used for “seed”. Potato seed are not seeds at all but cut up potato tubers.
When cutting potato tubers for seed, make sure each seed piece has at least two
“eyes” or “dimples” and plenty of tuber connected to it.
 |
| Potato tuber developing on underground rhizome |
Sterilize knives used for cutting and
allow the cut pieces to “heal” in the refrigerator, moistened, for a few days prior
to planting. Warm up seed pieces taken from the refrigerator to room
temperature before planting.
allow the cut pieces to “heal” in the refrigerator, moistened, for a few days prior
to planting. Warm up seed pieces taken from the refrigerator to room
temperature before planting.
I have used potatoes from the grocery stores
for seed but you should realize that they are not certified disease free so
diseases are more of a potential problem. Purchase organic potatoes for seed since
standard potatoes may be treated with a sprout inhibitor. Sprout inhibitors are
sometimes applied to keep them from sprouting in storage.
for seed but you should realize that they are not certified disease free so
diseases are more of a potential problem. Purchase organic potatoes for seed since
standard potatoes may be treated with a sprout inhibitor. Sprout inhibitors are
sometimes applied to keep them from sprouting in storage.
 |
| Harvesting potatoes |
All of the potatoes you mentioned will
grow here including Sweet Potatoes. Consider Red Pontiac and Red La Sota for
red skinned potatoes as well as those you mention. Also try blue potatoes such
as “Adirondack Blue” as well as fingerlings.
grow here including Sweet Potatoes. Consider Red Pontiac and Red La Sota for
red skinned potatoes as well as those you mention. Also try blue potatoes such
as “Adirondack Blue” as well as fingerlings.
If you’re going to grow potatoes here,
make them really special because regular old potatoes are not terribly
expensive to purchase. I don’t know of a potato that will not grow here.
make them really special because regular old potatoes are not terribly
expensive to purchase. I don’t know of a potato that will not grow here.