How to Grow Red Potatoes With Shade & Sun
When you think of potatoes you probably think of brown, or possibly gold, but potatoes come in reds and purples as well. Shapes range from the big Idaho baking spuds to tiny red potatoes no bigger than a marble. Potatoes are a member of the deadly nightshade family, so don't be tempted to eat any part except the potato tuber. In warm summer areas, red potatoes prefer afternoon shade and lots of morning and early afternoon sun. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Red seed potatoes
- Shovel
- Compost
- Slow-release fertilizer
- Knife
- Tray
- Mulch
Instructions
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1
Order red seed potatoes that grow well in your area. Most potatoes from the grocer's have been treated to prevent sprouting. You could look over the gourmet produce section, or the organic produce section, for red potatoes that have little eyes. The eyes become sprouts and eventually potato plants.
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2
Store the potatoes in a cool dark place until you're ready to plant. The potatoes are living, if they freeze or dry out they won't sprout.
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3
Prepare your potato patch by digging it at least 12 inches deep. Choose a spot that receives sun in the morning until midafternoon and then shade, if temperatures rise above 90 degrees on a regular basis. Add a 6-inch layer of compost and work into the ground. Potatoes are heavy feeders, so the more organic material in the soil, the better. Add slow-release fertilizer per package directions.
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4
Check with your local nursery, gardening association or university agricultural extension for the average last date of frost in the spring. Wait until all danger of frost is past to plant the seed potatoes.
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Cut seed potatoes that are larger than a hen's egg in half, so each section has at least one eye. Smaller potatoes are left as is. Spread the potatoes in a single layer in a flat basket or tray with the eye end up toward the sun. Leave them in dappled shade, if it's warm outside for up to a week until the eyes sprout. Mist with water to keep the potatoes hydrated. If it's too cool outside, keep the potatoes inside under bright light.
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Dig holes that are 2 inches deep. Plant the potatoes in the holes about 24 inches apart. Water until the ground is wet to a depth of 4 inches. Rows should be 24 inches apart as well.
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Cover loosely with 6 inches of fine straw or mulch. As the potatoes sprout, hill up the soil around the stem, or cover with more mulch. Alternating layers of mulch and soil improves the soil. The potato tubers are produced between the roots and the stem end. Covering, or hilling up the soil around the stems results in a greater yield.
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Tips & Warnings
Harvest potatoes at any time after they're the size of a marble. Dig through the soil and mulch layers with your hands or gently use a hand shovel. Tiny new red potatoes need to be barely cooked. Bigger potatoes may be baked and eaten whole. Full-size potatoes can be cooked like any other potato.
Don't eat any other part of the potato plant or let pets eat them.
References
- Photo Credit Yuji Sakai/Digital Vision/Getty Images
