Container Gardens
SPRING POTATOES
It seems like every spring when preparing the garden for planting that I am digging up potato starts. How do they survive the winter? I recently read an article that suggested planting potatoes in the fall for a spring harvest. Apparently, potatoes have a natural dormancy and don’t begin to grow for weeks.
Most of the winter growth should be root development. This should give plants a good foundation. The winter growth will mean fewer issues with bugs and disease.
When the potatoes do begin to grow and show through the soil and mulch left in the garden, their foliage will get frosted. However, just like they seem to survive the late spring frosts, they will survive any winter frost.
This planting in the fall for a spring harvest is not a new idea. Farmers have gotten a respectable spring crop by doing a fall planting. Some have suggested using Red Pontiac because it is such a prolific producer of tubers. The Yukon Gold variety is considered an early potato so you may wish to try planting those.
The use of bone meal will enhance a crop of large sized Reds or Russets. You may wish to try putting that into the soil before planting. Who says you can’t garden in the winter? Give it a try!
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