How to Grow, Harvest and Store Potatoes

Potatoes have been a staple ingredient in many cultures for centuries. From baked potatoes and french fries to mashed potatoes and potato soup, these hardy little starches are so versatile in the kitchen that it’s always a good idea to keep them on hand. You might even want to try cultivating your own. All you need is a little outdoor space, sunshine and a bit of patience.

Ready to get started? Check out our growing guide below to learn how to grow potatoes in your own backyard.

See more: How to Grow Your Own Sweet Potatoes

Choose Your Potato Variety

There are several varieties of potato, and each one excels in certain areas. Some are best for baking while others make great candidates for mashing. When the time comes to actually order or select your potatoes, choose tubers that are beginning to sprout. Otherwise be prepared to leave them on the counter until you start to see those determined little shoots peek through.

Important note: Don’t use potatoes from the grocery store. Many have been treated with sprout-retardant, which makes them bad candidates for replanting for your own harvest.

Cut Them into Golf Ball-Sized Pieces

You don’t want to plant potatoes whole. Instead, cut them into smaller pieces that are about the size of a golf ball. Make sure each piece has at least two or three sprouts.

Cure the Potatoes

Before you start digging, you want to let your potatoes cure. Set them in the sunshine, on a porch or bright kitchen counter, for three to five days. This is crucial for helping to prevent rot. Once they’re a little calloused, you’re good to go.

See more: 10 Tasty Potato Recipes for Any Occasion

Time to Plant

Now onto the fun part. Dig a trench in the garden and place each golf ball-sized piece of potato about 6 inches deep into the dirt. Depending on the variety, potatoes can grow to a substantial size so be sure to space them at least 12 inches apart.

Fertilize and Water

Sprinkle the area between each potato with a low-nitrogen and high-phosphorus fertilizer to jumpstart the growth and give each plant the best chance at success. You want to cover the potatoes and the fertilizer with another 2 inches of soil before watering.

See more: 5 Foods You Can Use as Plant Fertilizer

Hill the Vines

Let your potato sprouts reach around 8 inches tall before you hill the vines. It sounds more complicated than it is. All you need is soil, straw or leaves. Use whichever you choose to cover half the sprouts to form a hill around the base of the vine. You may be tempted to skip this step, but it helps keep the potato tubers insulated and dark, which is what they need to thrive and produce a generous harvest.

Harvest

Wait until your potato vines begin to flower before digging gently into the soil to check on your crop. They may be baby potatoes at this point, depending on which variety you planted. You can either dig them up at this stage or wait until the vine dies back, which means your potatoes are fully grown and ready to harvest.

Store the Potatoes

Unless you plan to eat potatoes for each and every meal, you probably need a storage solution. Potatoes last longest when stored in cool, dark places. If you have a root cellar or cold storage room, those are great options. Otherwise you can consider using thick paper bags, doubling up for extra protection.

Before you store, allow the potatoes to sit out for a few days to completely dry and brush off any loose soil to keep them as clean as possible.