If you are growing potatoes, you need to wait a few weeks before digging them.
This will give the tubers time to develop thicker skins, which will allow them to remain more stable while being stored.
However, you can cut off foliage as soon as it begins to die.
Planting early maincrop potatoes
Planting early maincrops is a good idea as they tend to grow bigger over the growing period. Ideally, you can begin harvesting these crops about 100 days after planting. However, most of these maincrop varieties are left in the ground until they have reached maturity.
This will allow them to develop a flavorful, floury texture. After this time, it is best to harvest them by cutting them with secateurs.
Maincrop potatoes can be planted the same time as second early potatoes or as late as a month later. These potatoes need around 20 weeks to mature. They grow in a large, heavy crop and are harvested in late summer.
The best time to harvest these potatoes is when the foliage begins to turn yellow and the stems become brown.
The ideal time for planting potatoes is in mid-April. This is because the soil has warmed and the weeds are growing well. A sunny location is ideal for this crop, but the soil must be warm enough to prevent frost damage.
A traditional planting method involves digging a trench 12cm (5in) deep. After planting the tubers, space them 30cm (1ft) apart and add a general-purpose fertilizer if necessary.
In mild climates, planting potatoes is a good option. However, early planting must be done before frost strikes, as the plants are more vulnerable to frost than other crops. If frost does happen, you must cover the tubers with horticultural fleece.
Planting early maincrops can start in March or even earlier. Usually, earlies are planted 30cm apart in rows 50cm apart, while maincrop varieties need to be planted 40cm apart in rows 75cm apart.
If you are planting earlier, you can use a trowel, but when it comes to planting main crops, you should use drills.
Pruning mature Potatoes
Pruning mature plants before they have flowered is an effective way to control the growth of potatoes. This method helps the plants to mature earlier and develop thick protective skin, which is vital for storage.
This allows you to keep your potatoes fresh for up to six months after harvest. When digging potatoes before they have flowered, make sure to remove the flowering branches. This will reduce competition and promote larger and healthier potatoes.
If you must prune a mature plant, make sure to disinfect the pruning blades thoroughly. Applying eucalyptus oil or tea-tree oil to them will kill fungi and bacterial diseases. You can also use hospital-grade disinfectants on pruning equipment.
Potatoes are ready to harvest approximately 80 to 115 days after planting. It is important to allow your plant to reach maturity before harvesting. For this reason, wait until the plant has flowered a couple of weeks after you have dug the potatoes. If you don’t wait until the flowers have faded, you might damage the tubers, reducing the storage life.
Before harvesting your first harvest of potatoes, it is important to avoid blight conditions. Late blight prefers cool, humid conditions. It is a serious problem in western Oregon and in the Willamette Valley. It can be controlled by weekly spraying and dusting. Fungicides should be applied at least 14 days before harvest. Your county Extension office can provide you with more details on the right time to apply fungicides.
Watering potatoes before they have flowered
The best time to water plants is before they have flowered. However, the exact timing varies. Morning is the ideal time for premium watering.
In the afternoon and evening, the plants need less water, but they still need to be watered. Watering in the early morning will help prevent the leaves from curling and wilting, which can encourage fungal diseases.
When watering plants, the soil at the base should be thoroughly moistened. It is important not to water the tops of the leaves or the flower buds.
This can encourage diseases and ruin the flower buds. Moreover, wet leaves and flowers do not last as long. To ensure the proper watering of your plants, you can also use soil tests and weight tests.
Watering plants can be very easy, but there are some important tips that you should follow. Avoid watering too much, since you will invite fungus and insects.
Also, avoid watering too late in the evening as they lose half of their moisture due to evaporation. If you follow these tips, you will be able to water your plants properly.
If you are growing plants in an area with hot summers, you should avoid watering during the day. Instead, try to water your plants early in the morning.
This will give them time to dry and prevent fungal diseases. In addition, early morning watering is better for overhead watering.
Waiting for the potatoes to die back
Waiting until the plant has fully died back is necessary for potatoes to have thicker skins and mature properly.
After the plants have died back, they should remain in the ground for two weeks before being dug up. This allows the tubers to develop a thicker skin that will keep them fresh for longer periods of time.
The best time to harvest potatoes is between two and four weeks after the plant has died back.
This gives the tubers time to harden and develop a thicker skin, preventing rot. Then, stop watering the plant to prevent the potatoes from resprouting. After a couple of weeks, the potatoes no longer need watering.
When digging potatoes, use gloves to avoid damage. It is important to keep the soil dry and frost-free to prevent the potatoes from sprouting and rotting. If the soil is wet, you can bring them inside for the hardening process. Once you have dug them, store them in a dark and cool place to keep them fresh and safe.
The best time to dig potatoes depends on the variety of potato you grow. You can harvest baby potatoes within a week after they flower, but if you want to get the main crop, wait until the entire crop is ready. Generally, this time frame is two to three weeks.
No-dig potatoes
You can dig potatoes before they have flowered if you’re ready to harvest them when the foliage begins to die down. However, you should wait at least two weeks before digging them.
This will allow the tubers to develop thicker skin, which will help them keep their shape and stay fresh longer.
Before you dig potatoes, it’s important to determine the size of your tubers. The size of a potato is best determined by poking around the base of the plant. When the potato plant flowers, it means that tuber formation has started. Harvesting before the plant flowers may result in tiny potatoes.
Maincrop potatoes are ready for harvesting about 10-12 weeks after they have been planted.
Harvest the first potatoes when they’re just beginning to grow, then the second potatoes a few weeks later.
Conclusion
After harvesting, be sure to remove the mulch and soil surrounding the plants. Also, make sure to pick up a few baby potatoes if possible, so you don’t damage the plant. Then, let them mature until they’re ready for storage.
If you want to harvest potatoes before they’ve flowered, you should wait until the foliage has turned yellow. This will protect the tubers and prevent the plant from becoming droopy and weak.
Also, hill your potatoes to avoid damaging them by being sun-dried. Sun-burned potatoes can be toxic and cause their tubers to turn bitter.
If you’re growing potatoes for the main crop, check for signs of potato disease. The leaves will turn yellow or brown.
They’ll also start to fall over. You can dig them when they’re full size, but make sure you wait a few weeks until the foliage starts to die back.