key points
- Potato maturation depends on the variety, from about 110 days to early types for late 120 days.
- Major harvest signals include firm skin, flowers for early crops and leaf dyback for complete maturation.
- The time of growth may shift due to sunlight, temperature dips or humidity imbalance, so conditions play a big role.
Most of the vegetables mature before your eyes. Potatoes are different because they grow under the soil surface. So, how do you know when the potatoes are ready for the crop? There are some signs to go, but, fortunately, you are also guided by knowledge of how much time it takes to grow your particular type of potatoes; This information will be made available when you buy your “seed potato”.
In this article, we will look at the time of maturity for some different varieties of potatoes, signal to help determine the time of the crop, factors that affect the time of growth, and tips to close you on the right leg in mounting potatoes.
How long does it take to develop different potato varieties?
In terms of the number of days between planting and harvesting, potatoes are divided into three categories: early, medium and late. An early type takes up to 110 days to mature, a medium type between 111 and 120 days, and more than 120 days late type.
But there is also another way to classify potatoes: from skin color (the most common color with brown, red, white and yellow). Potatoes are a cool weather crop and should be planted in the early spring (Although you should avoid planting before reaching the soil temperature 45 ° F).
- Raset Norkotah: Plant this cultivation of Russet potatoes in the initial spring. A brown -skinned variety takes up to 110 days to mature.
- Dakota Jewel: Plant Dakota Jewel in the initial spring. It is a red -skinned variety. It takes between 111 and 120 days to mature.
- Kenneback: Plant kenback potatoes in the initial spring. A white -skinned variety, it takes more than 120 days to mature.
- Yucon Gold: Plant Yucon Gold Aloo in the initial spring. It is a yellow -skinned variety. It takes up to 110 days to mature.
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4 signals are ready for potato crop
There are four things to tell you that your potatoes are ready to dig:
- Potatoes are usually planted using “seed potatoes”. These are obtained from potatoes that have sprouted. Such potatoes are cut into squares, each consisting of one sprout or two. When you buy them, along with the information will include a target date for maturity. Make a note in your garden journal what this date is and when you have planted your seed potatoes. When the target date is completed, your potato should be ready for the crop soon.
- To confirm that your potatoes are ready for crop, dig a little search and check the skin. The skin should be thick and firm.
- If you are still not sure whether your potatoes are mature based on skin tests, you can wait for the leaves to die back. Once this happens, the potatoes are definitely ready to be cut.
- If you want to harvest some “new potatoes” (potato prematurely dug), you will have the appearance of cue flowers.
Factors that affect the time of development
We have already addressed the question how much time it takes for different potato varieties to grow. However, the answer comes with a major warning: various factors affect the time of development, which is why a time limit was given (instead of a certain number).
If everything goes wrong for an initial variety and everything goes correct for late variety, then the difference in maturity dates for them may be reduced as a week and a half. Let’s look at some factors that affect the time of development:
- Decrease in photosynthesis: This can be caused by two factors. First, potatoes should be grown in full sun. If they are grown only in partial sun, they will not grow quickly. A second reason due to a decrease in photosynthesis is sometimes slow when there is damage on the leaves. Most often, it is caused by an infection of colorado potato beetle.
- Soil very cold: If there is a cold snap after your potato is applied, the soil may be cold enough to slow down their growth for a while, which means that the crop time will be delayed.
- Moisture imbalance: Potato best grows when a balance is killed in humidity: not too little, not too much. For example, if subject to high humidity, potato plants may be victims of fungal diseases that will weaken them and grow slowly.
Tips to grow potatoes
For a bumper crop of potato, apply the following growing tips:
- As a root crop, the ground in which you apply your potatoes are of special importance. It should be A horrific loamYou want a deep, fertile soil.
- To avoid diseases, practice crop rotation: grow potatoes in one place for the year.
- Keep your potato inside Full sun,
- It is important to keep the soil equally moist. Water well once or twice a week.
- “Hill” your plant. Once the plants reach one leg or height, use a garden hoe to pull some soil around the plants.
