Posted: 2/19/2010 3:33:42 PM EDT
| Went to Lowe's today and they had the garden on a bucket starter sets for $1! Reg $10 but some of the potatoes are rotting. Can they go into the ground while it is still cold or do I need to keep them warm? |
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While planting time depends on your local climate this link should help.... http://lmgtfy.com/?q=when+to+plant+potatoes This is from the very first link.... Your next step is to determine the recommended planting time for your climate. Since it takes potatoes two to three weeks to emerge from the ground, the earliest you should plant seed potatoes is two weeks before your last anticipated freeze date of 28 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. (If you don't know your local last freeze date, you can find it here.) About a week before your planting-out date, bring the seed out of the fridge and place it in a bright warm window for about a week. This will help break the spuds' dormancy and assure they will grow quickly when you put them into the still-cool spring soil. If you garden in areas that have hot summers be sure to plant your potatoes early, and to play it safe, choose varieties that mature in early- or mid-season. This is because potatoes do not do well when the temperatures climb into the 90s. They may actually keel over and die when the temperature gets to 95 degrees. If a late planting or a late season variety runs into that hot weather while the tubers are in the early bulking stage you may get a very low yield. |
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Don't plant rotten potatoes, you're just asking for disease, I don't care how cheap they are. Either get certified disease-free seed potatoes, or buy some at a farmers market (they won't be treated to prevent sprouting like supermarket potatoes). Once you get diseased potatoes, that area of your garden may be no good for potatoes, and possibly other solanums (tomatoes, peppers, etc.), for years. Better to avoid it if possible.
I plant potatoes from April to May. I'm in zone 8. I get my certified seed potatoes from Roningers. |
| Here in south central Washington (Columbia River Basin, eastern, dryside of the state) is a major growing area for manufacturing grade potatoes (think McDonalds, BK, Wendys etc.). Fields are being prepared as I type this and seed goes in the ground in the lower elevations (closest to the river) next week! That means seed in the ground in late Feb/ early March. |