Growing Potatoes in Your Home Garden
Well-known throughout the world for their versatility, potatoes have become a staple of many countries’ cuisines. It’s difficult to think of a holiday meal without a big batch of mashed potatoes on the menu. But did you know you can grow them in your own backyard?
As seen in the fan-favorite NC State Extension and UNC-TV partner project “Almanac Gardener,” Area Agent and Environmental Educator Bill Lord explains the best way to grow potatoes in your garden.
Tips for Growing Potatoes at Home
- Choose the right kind of seeds for the soil and climate of your region.
- Get certified seeds to guarantee they are disease and insect free.
- Cut a seed piece with at least two “eyes” and allow them to cure outside for at least a day.
- Plant in soil with low PH (between 4.8 and 5.4) and cover with leaf mulch — the mulch will protect the potatoes from disease!
- Make sure to watch out for Potato Beetles and get a Potato Beetle spray that will prevent them from ruining crops.
Additional Home Gardening Resources
- Find out what’s in season with he N.C. Fresh Produce Seasonal Availability Calendar from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
- Learn about what to grow and when to plant with the North Carolina Regional Vegetable Planting Calendars.
- Dig into more resources in the Vegetable Gardening chapter of the North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook.
