Potatoes are a staple in home gardens, offering a rewarding and versatile crop that thrives with proper care. Whether you prefer white or red varieties, following the right planting and maintenance techniques will ensure a successful harvest.

Grocery store potatoes are often treated with chemicals to prevent sprouting during storage, which can delay or prevent them from growing when planted. Earl May Garden Centers provide high-quality and certified seed potatoes, ensuring you start with the best selection for your garden.

Planting Potatoes

For a productive potato crop, plant 4lbs of potatoes per 50 ft row.

• Preparing Seed Potatoes: Quarter whole potatoes, ensuring each wedge has at least two eyes. For early planting, allow the cut pieces to heal before planting to reduce the risk of rot in cold, wet soil. Do so by laying the cut pieces exposed to air for 24 hours to form a callus over the potato.

• Spacing and Depth: Plant chunks 12 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart and cover with 4 inches of soil.

Soil Care for Maximum Yields

A well-drained soil rich in organic matter is essential to growing the very best potatoes. Incorporate soil amendments such as organic compost and Earl May structure to loosen soil. Good cultivation practices are essential to produce a high yield. Keep the soil loose and well-aerated, and once plants are half-grown, mound up soil around them. This prevents sun scald on developing tubers and encourages healthy growth.

Harvesting and Storing Potatoes

• When to Harvest: Dig potatoes when the vines begin to die back late summer or fall. Harvest earlier for smaller "new" potatoes.

• Post-Harvest Handling: Avoid exposing freshly dug potatoes to direct sunlight. Cure them in a dry, well-ventilated area before storing.

• Storage Tip: Keep potatoes in a cool, dry place for longevity.

Top Potato Varieties at Earl May

Earl May Garden Centers offer a selection of high-yielding and flavorful potato varieties suited for different culinary uses.

White & Red Potatoes

• Kennebec - Best-selling variety with smooth white skin and shallow eyes. Great for baking. (Mid-Season)

• Norland - Early red potato with smooth skin and excellent yields. Ideal for baking. (Early)

• Red LaSoda - Mid-season red-skinned potato with white flesh, perfect for baking, boiling and frying. (Mid-Season)

• Earl May Medley - A fun mix of Kennebec, Norland, Viking, Yukon Gold, and Blue.

• Viking - Mid season large red potato with a high yield and shallow eyes.

• Yukon Gold - Early-season, yellow-fleshed favorite for baking, boiling, and French frying.

• Norkotah - Early-maturing, Russet-skinned, oblong-shaped potato with a medium-brown color and excellent flavor.

Time to Maturity

• Early varieties: 65 days
• Mid-season varieties: 80 days
• Late-season varieties: 90+ days

Sweet Potato Varieties

Sweet potatoes require a longer growing season but reward gardeners with delicious, nutritious tubers.

• Georgia Jet (100 days) - Quick-maturing with red skin and orange flesh, great for shorter growing seasons.

By choosing high-quality, certified seed potatoes from Earl May Garden Center and following these growing tips, you can enjoy a bountiful, flavorful harvest of potatoes this season. Whether you prefer baking, boiling or frying, there's a perfect variety waiting for you in our garden centers!

Learn more about potatoes and sweet potatoes.