- 1). Consider growing a tilling, or cover, crop the fall before planting spring potato pieces. Excellent choices include winter rye, clover and buckwheat. When the crop reaches a height of 1 foot, mow the foliage down and rototill it 8 to 10 inches into the soil. Planting should be suspended for a week after tilling to ensure best results.
- 2). Perform a soil test with a kit, available at garden centers or through your local university extension office. A soil test will give you the pH soil as well as amendment suggestions for raising or lowering the pH. In general, potatoes prefer slightly "sour" soil (pH levels around 5.0 or 5.5).
- 3). Amend soil as recommended, using organic composts of natural materials. Avoid heavy amounts of manure, as this has been known to cause scab disease.
- 4). Incorporate a 10-20-20 fertilizer as indicated by the soil test, at the rate of up to 3 lbs. per 100 square feet. Fertilizer may be broadcast and tilled into the soil, or laid parallel to the planting rows at a distance of 3 inches and below the level of the pieces to support growth.
- 5). Gradually mound the soil up around the emerging potato plants with a hoe. Loosening the soil creates an environment that encourages more evenly shaped, smooth-skinned potatoes. This practice also discourages greening, or sunburning, of delicate potato skin. Take care not to cultivate the soil too closely to growing potatoes, as cuts will damage the tender tubers.
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