GERMAN BUTTERBALL
Product Description:
Potatoes begin shipping mid-March and shipping continues until we are sold out. We will prioritize orders for warmer zones to ship first and will avoid shipping to cooler zones until threat of freezing has diminished. Order early for best availability. Sorry, not available to Canada.
| Seed Depth | 4-6" |
| Seed Spacing | 12" |
| Row Spacing | 24-36" |
Solanum tuberosum Our favorite comfort food has proven to be an amazing source of nutrients and nourishment. High in vitamins, such as vitamin C, they rival broccoli as a source of phytonutrients. We offer only certified disease-free seed potatoes. Easy to grow, we will include complete cultural directions with each order.
Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding.
Culture
• Potatoes prefer fertile, loose, well-drained soil
• Forking beds is recommended
• Apply a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus such as bone meal — use 5-7 pounds per 100 square feet
• Proper soil pH of 5.2-6.0 will help avoid scab
• Irrigate thoroughly when needed, allow the soil to dry out somewhat before watering again
• Hilling: as plants grow, cover with soil, mulch, or compost, while leaving top-growth exposed
• Repeat hilling process 3-4 times throughout season
Direct Sowing
• Plant potatoes up to 3 weeks before your last frost date
• Larger potatoes can be cut into smaller pieces to use as seed — allow the cut potato to heal before planting to prevent rot (2-3 days at 70°F)
Insects & Diseases
• Common insects: Colorado potato beetle, tuber flea beetle, potato aphid, potato psyllid, potato tuber worm/moth
• Insect control: Pyrethrin and row covers
• Common diseases: Early and late blight, white mold, botrytis, leaf roll virus, mosaic virus, verticilium wilt, potato scab
• Disease prevention: 4-year crop rotation, and fungicide applications
Harvest & Storage
• "New" potatoes can be harvested from early varieties beginning 60 days after planting
• Once top-growth dies down, leave in the ground for 2 weeks and then harvest
• Dig tubers carefully, brush off soil and allow skins to dry before storing
• Standard potatoes yield about 10 times the amount originally planted
• Fingerling potatoes yield 15-20 times the amount originally planted
• Store in a dark location; 40-45°F and 90% relative humidity