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Questions tagged [potatoes]

Starchy tuber crop, member of the perennial Solanaceae

Also known as "Irish Potato" (although originating from Peru), the potato is a significant staple for much of the world's population (on average, every human consumes 33 kg of potatoes per year). It is cultivated from Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family. As such, it is related to nightshades, , and peppers. The root system forms tubers which are principally starch - these form the potato crop.

Some varieties of potato can form small green fruit that resemble green cherry tomatoes but with large numbers of seeds. These are toxic due to their high alkaloid content. Potato and green tubers should also not be eaten due to their high alkaloids.

As befits such a widely used crop, there are over 4000 different varieties of potato. They are available in white, yellow, red, and purple colors. For culinary purposes they are also classed according to their starch content which influences their texture.

Use this tag for all questions about savoury 'Irish' potatoes. Use the tag for questions about the similar-looking, but unrelated sweet potato.

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Minimal conditions necessary for growing potatoes

I am pondering the minimal conditions for growing potatoes. What type of soil, nutrients and space would it necessitate?
aitía
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Potato plants have tiny leaves and grow really tall

Potato plants are less than 4 weeks old and they are growing as if on steroids. The leaves are really small and look rather miserable. I read potatoes don't get taller than 60cm, mine are already 95cm and beyond. Now they are starting to fall over,…
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Will potatoes in containers grow more potatoes?

I am under the impression that people grow potatoes in bags, containers, stacked up tires and so on because they get higher potato yields this way. The way I've heard it explained is that you plant the seed potatoes on the bottom and wait for the…
MyNameisTK
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Should I remove potato leaves when mounding soil around them?

I want to know if I should remove the leaves on my potato plant as I bury it more after it has grown 12" or so. Or do I leave the leaves on the plant?
user18162
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Why are my Yukon golds wilting?

I'm brand new to gardening. I've got a raised bed filled with composted garden clippings and soil. I just grew a bunch of radishes and lettuce is the soil and it did very well. After removing it all and tiling the soil, I planted some Yukon golds,…
Blake P. Ramsey
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Why do you need to change potato seeds every couple of years?

My relatives say that you need to change potato seeds every couple of years. They didn't specify why. Why is that? Is it because we normally leave small potatoes for seeds and generate negative selection? Would potato crop be better if we planted…
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Should I harvest potatoes even if they haven't fully flowered?

I planted some potatoes about 10 - 14 weeks ago. They have tall strong tops. Only a few small buds/flowers appear, then drop off. They have been well watered every day. Should we start to harvest now? What if no flowers appear?
Chrissy Paton
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Potatoes chewed

My crop of early potatoes in containers has been decimated . They look like a mouse has been chewing on them with good sized potatoes chewed in half but they were too deep for mice to reach and no sign of the surface soil being disturbed. Worm of…
Barry
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When should I repot a newly planted potato?

I recently planted a potato in my cubicle at work (don't ask why, long story) in a pot that is much too small for the potato. The soil that I used was completely bone dry, it had been sitting in a coworker's cubicle for years. I watered it about…
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Do you recommend putting compost containing tomatoes onto potato plants?

For reasons unbeknownst to me one is not supposed to plant tomatoes and potatoes in close proximity to one another. But what about putting compost containing tomatoes onto potatoes or vice versa?
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Proper potato watering time

One of the traditional ways potato's are often grown is by slowly piling up dirt and straw around them as they reach around 7-8 inches above the last layer. I am wondering when would be the best time to water at a time when the are ready for…
sir_ian
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Growing Potatoes in small space

Question prompted by @Stormy who wanted to impart a few ideas. I have had a few attempts at growing potatoes in bags but they never seem to work out. They grow ok then the green tops just start to wither. Last year I had a watering system and…
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Is it too late to plant potatoes in Dorset, UK in Mid -september?

Is it too late to plant potatoes in Dorset, UK now (Mid-September) ?
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Protecting winter potatoes from frost with a growhouse

In the first week of August (2013) I started my first attempt at growing potatoes, in grow bags. Actually got the miracle-gro root vegetable bags from garden centre and seed potatoes, so the mix should be ideal. The seed potatoes are Maris Peers in…
Morgan
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Is harvesting purple potatoes any different than white potatoes?

We are trying to grow purple potatoes for the first time, and the plants look really nice. I am wondering if harvesting them is any different than for white potatoes?
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