Consider using a standard potato dust or spray regularly. It is a mixture of chemical insecticide and fungicide which prevents troublesome diseases such as early and late blight. It thwarts some pests, too, such as the Colorado potato beetle. To be effective, most standard dusts must be applied to the potato foliage every 7 to 10 days, beginning when the plants emerge.

You may have a disease problem in the potato patch one year and none the next. The weather plays a big part. Moisture and temperature conditions trigger certain diseases which will spread rapidly through the potato rows. Read the rest of this entry »

Potatoes need to be planted in a deep trench, and for good reason. You see, a potato plant will form its potatoes above the seed piece that you put in the ground. To get a good crop, you must provide the plant with room to form and develop those potatoes. The trick is to start low in a trench.

I plow a deep trench, at least 6 or 8 inches down, with my tiller and furrowing attachment. Then

I put a balanced fertilizer (such as 5-10-10) in a thin band along the bottom of the trench. I add a small handful of superphosphate (0-20-0) at 10- or 12-inch intervals right over the other fertilizer. This will furnish the plants with vital phosphorus as they develop their roots. I put this fertilizer at 10- or 12-inch intervals because I plant a seed piece directly above the superphosphate and I want 10 to 12 inches between my potato plants. Please note: there should be a buffer of 2 or 3 inches of soil between the seed piece and the first band of fertilizer. If the seed piece touches the nitrogen in the 5-10-10, it may burn and rot. Read the rest of this entry »