POTATO VARIETIES

Early  Season

Russet Norkotah - Russet Norkotah is by far the leading Oregon variety for early fresh market. It is also marketed from storage in the Klamath Basin. It produces medium yields with a very high proportion of U.S. No. 1 tubers. Appearance is outstanding; tubers are medium long, smooth with netted dark-russet skin, shallow, golden eyes with white flesh.  Good storage.  Resistant to scab and root knob.  From planting to vine kill are 95 to 110 days.  Primary uses: baking

Mid-Season

Yukon Gem  - Released in 2006, this round-oblong, yellow fleshed variety is very similar to its parent, Yukon Gold.  However it is higher-yielding (21% higher) than Yukon Gold and is resistant to PVY, common scab, tuber blight (early and late), net necrosis, blackspot and shatter bruise. Its resistances make it a good candidate for organic production. Good for boiling, baking and microwave.  First potato that is blight resistant! 

Red Pontiac - Tubers are "oblong to round; smooth, sometimes netted, red skin; medium deep eyes; white flesh.... High yielding variety of attractive appearance, widely adapted (especially to muck soils). Some drought resistance, bruises easily; susceptible to air cracking at harvest. Low total solids. Good storability, medium dormancy." "Pontiac was bred from a cross between Triumph and Katahdin and was originally released in the USA in 1938 and to Australia in 1940. Red Pontiac, a selection with a brighter skin color, was released in the USA in 1949. Certified seed of Red Pontiac was released in 1975" (Australia). Primary uses: boiling, baking, French frying 

POTATO CULTURE 

Soil Preparations

All potatoes need full sun to develop properly.  They also need well draining soil with lots of compost added.  Seed potatoes can rot in wet soils and diseases spread rapidly.  Sandy loam is ideal but if that is not what you have, incorporating organic matter will greatly improve your soil.  It is best to keep your soil slightly acidic to prevent scab.  Never add lime or wood ashes to your planting bed.  

Growing Potatoes

Potatoes need regular watering until vine kill occurs, then stop watering.  Irregular watering creates opportunity for disease.  Planting soil should be 50 degrees or stem cankers, Rhizoctonia, develop resulting in poor roots and poor nutrient uptake.  Do not use manure on potatoes.  An organic vegetable fertilizer is ideal.  Only fertilize before blooming and that’s all. 

Planting

Potatoes are members of the nightshade family (Solenaceae).  This means that they are related to tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.  If possible do not grow potatoes in the same area as other members of the nightshade family, or where they have been grown in the previous 2 years.  This is because they share the same pest and disease problems, which can easily be spread from one to another.  Do not plant store purchased potatoes as these have been treated with a sprouting inhibitor so they keep longer in storage.  When these potatoes finally sprout, the chemical inhibitor continues to retard shoot growth.  The consequence will be a low yield.  Organically-grown table potatoes could be virus-infected and you will risk infecting your other potatoes.  Virus infected potatoes look fine but the yield is greatly affected and it will continue to decline.  There are many different methods and techniques to planting potatoes.  Choose what is best for you and your garden.  Space and soil quality are the determining factors when choosing a planting method.

In the Ground:  Start by digging a shallow trench 6” deep by 3” wide.  Place seed potatoes in the trench 10-14” apart then lightly cover the seed pieces with no more than 4” of soil.

Hilling:  Plant in the ground.  When plants are 8” tall, gently start to mound the soil around the stem, leaving 4” of the plant above the ground.  More potatoes will develop along the buried stem.  You will need to hill again in about 2-3 week and again in another 2-3 weeks. You’ll be making a mound of dirt as tall as possible.

Cage method:  Grow vertical!  Use boxes, trashcans, or wire cages.  For good drainage cut the bottoms out.  Set your cage on prepared soil.  Plant the seed potatoes 6-8” apart and cover lightly with soil.  Begin adding compost, mulch or soil weekly as the plant grows.  More potatoes form in less space.  Check your watering more often with the cage method. 

Storage

Keep the potatoes cool, dry, and in the dark.  Potatoes will rot in humid, moist conditions.  Storage in the refrigerator will bring out the sugars in the potato and can only be used for a short time.  A cool garage, basement, or well house usually works best.  Never eat a potato that has turned green from exposure to light.  Potatoes produce a poison in sun light that will make you sick.