The Yard Farmer

Potatoes are one of the easiest crops to grow and they can also be eaten at various stages of growth. Young potatoes can be harvested and cooked with peas and gravy while most of them can be left to mature till the appropriate time and once harvested, it can be eaten or stored for use throughout winter. You can accommodate a small area for potatoes and they are also fun to grow, yielding a tasty harvest. The best time to plant potatoes are in early spring. Here are a few hints that can help you in growing potatoes in your own garden:

You can choose the varieties of potatoes to fit your cooking needs as well as taste preferences. There are some potatoes that are harvested for a particular reason such as for baking, while some are great for making French fires, for boiling, as well as for making hash browns.

White Rose: These types of potatoes are the best known variety. They are white on the inside and are excellent for boiling, to be used for making a potato salad and also good for baking. Though for storage purposes, these kinds of potatoes only work fairly well.

Netted Gem: These types of potatoes are also in the popular variety. Netted gem potatoes are the best for baking compared to white rose kinds. Netted gems are also excellent if you want to keep and store them for later use.

Kennebec: This type of potatoes are the late maturing white potato variety. If you are looking to make fries, chips, for baking or hash browns, this type of potato is your best friend.

Norgold Russet: This is also an excellent variety for baking and boiling purposes. Though that, this potato has to be used fast as they don’t fair well for storage.

Yellow Finnish: This is the kind of potato that is normally found in any household. Smaller sized with a yellow, this potato is a burst of flavor and it is excellent for baking. It is a versatile potato that can be used for baking, boiling, fries and hash browns and it also stores well.

Red Pontiac: This is also a popular kind of potato and is easily distinguished thanks to its red skin. Of average quality, this potato stores quite well and is great for planting during mid season.

Red Norland: These varieties of potatoes are well-rounded and has excellent properties for the purposes of baking or boiling.

With these many varieties, knowing when to plant your potatoes is crucial. In a common home garden, growing potatoes are among the first vegetables planted. Early, mid season and late varieties can be planted in March or in early April. If you plant potato seeds too early in damp and cold soils will result in the seed rotting even before they can even grow.

Also, if you plant in March, the potato seeds may also end up frozen in back into the ground by late frosts. Though the plants recover, blackened shoots can dampen any gardener’s spirits.For mid season and late varieties, July is the best time and these late varieties can be kept for winter storage use.