Potato Growing Tips in Michigan
If you've been around for a bit you probably have heard me talk about seasonal planting, and how it is one of the keys to successfully and effortlessly growing in Michigan.
So here's a (not so secret) secret….
Potatoes are a COOL season vegetable.
They prefer temperatures 45-75 degrees.
If you have ever looked at growing potatoes here you may have seen the recommendation of needing a deep container, or using 5 gallon buckets. The reason that works is because potatoes hate the heat of the summer (and that is when we are told we should grow potatoes). I really recommend ordering seed potatoes that are certified to be free of bacteria and viruses, and these companies will send these to you in April, which is when they are supposed to be planted 😉
One more note: My business is literally how to set up and grow in Raised Beds - but potatoes are one of the few vegetables that I recommend NOT putting in your bed, they take up too much space for me so I grow them in the good ol' ground.
Here's How I grow Potatoes:
Order potatoes in the winter from a certified organic seed potato source
Chit the potatoes in early April (presprout them to warm them up, this avoids cold potatoes in the cold ground which is a bad combo)
Check the temperature before you plant, make sure the soil is about 60 degrees. For us in 2021 this was early April, this year it was late April.
Amend my planting beds with fresh compost
Plant the potatoes about a foot deep, they do need to be deep enough to avoid the sunlight otherwise they will turn green
Cover the soil with garden straw to keep the potatoes cool
Sit back and watch them grow! I usually am able to harvest in July
“If you’re thinking “okay but now I have to wait until April to plant”
It’s important to plan ahead and start looking around your garden space now to find a home/start prepping for trying potatoes this year. Hope this was helpful!”
How Can I Get More Help?
When I work with gardeners, especially those in the Detroit area that already have gardens, a lot of our work together is problem solving what’s going wrong in the moment. Whether it’s through my virtual coaching program or down in the dirt work with me one on one, if getting support in your garden this year is on your list, let’s talk.
www.floraculturegardens.com/consultation
