Last Updated on February 16, 2021 by Gary Stephen
Potatoes are an amazing crop that anyone can grow. Perfect to grow for own use or to sell, potatoes can be used in so many dishes, you should definitely consider growing a crop of your own.
But how long does it take to grow potatoes? Well, the answer depends on the variety of seeds you plan on planting. This crop is one of the most inexpensive ones. You can almost get it at any local stores where you can buy crop seeds. Potatoes also aren’t finicky, and can grow under almost any circumstances.
Everybody loves having potatoes! You can cook it in any form you like. French fries, for example, are the most consumed item across the world. You do not need a large area for planting this amazing crop either, as you can do this in a small area. What I’m trying to say is, what are you waiting for!
How long does it take to grow potatoes?
Here are some tips on how long it takes to grow potatoes. If planted and taken care of in a proper way, this plant will produce a high yield. The length of time depends on the variety of seeds you plant. It is important that you check the labels on the back of the seed packets. There, you will find the needed information.
Learning about the seed type makes it easier for you to take care of them. There are 100s of species of potatoes available on the market. So, do your research first before buying the best seeds suited to your needs. There are 3 varieties of harvesting seeds that you may find on the market. To help you, I’ll go through them below:
Early season harvesting
This has the shortest maturation time. It is between 70 to 80 days, which is 9 to 10 weeks. If you are planning to harvest your crop early, this seed is the right one to plant. If you live in a cool area, these seeds can withstand the weather condition. Since the length of time is less, it will not get damaged. Try to plant these seeds later in spring. This way, you can harvest them in summer. Some of the seed varieties from these categories are:
- Amandine – They are round. This is for all types of cooking.
- Annabelle – It is oval. You can use them for steam cooking. You can also use them in salads.
- Belle de Fontenay – It grows fast. The potatoes have a standard shape.
- Cherie – The potato has pink skin. It looks like a long spud and the taste is incredible.
- Sirtema- It is good for all types of cooking. Generally considered best for frying or steaming.
Midseason harvesting
How long does it take to grow potatoes that have mid-season harvesting? It takes approximately 3 months. The maturation time for this type of seeds is 100 days. In other words, around 12 weeks or more. It the weather in your locality is warm then this type is a great pick. It is wise to plant the seeds later in spring. This way you can harvest the potatoes in early fall. Some of the seed varieties from these categories are:
- Bernadette – The potatoes are medium-sized. The look is very clean. You may use these potatoes for steaming. It also goes great with salads.
- Charlotte – You may use these for all types of cooking. The shape is long and has a nice color.
- Mona Lisa – These potatoes are big in size. They are for roasting, mashing, frying, and many others. They are very reliable.
- Rose of France – It is a long shaped potato that has pink skin. Great for steaming and salads.
Late season harvesting
If you are planning to store the potatoes you plant you must go with these types of seeds. Now, you must be wondering how long does it take to grown late season harvesting potatoes? The answer is simple: 120 days or more. In other words, 16 weeks. Try to plant the seeds in spring when it is warm but not hot. This way, you can harvest them in fall. The time is before extreme winter starts.
- Bleue d’Artois – The skin of the potato is purple in color. When cooked, the color of the potatoes does not change. Great for mashing and steaming.
- Caeser – The size of the potato is medium. This variety has a high yield. It is active in fighting off diseases.
- Corne de Gatte – The skin is pink in color. it looks a bit lumpy. Even the flesh is pale yellow, but the taste is amazing whether eaten cold or hot.
- Desiree – The potato is large. It has pink skin with yellow flesh inside. When the potatoes get fried or mashed the taste becomes amazing.
- Vitelotte – Both the skin and flesh of the potatoes are purple.
These are the 14 most common varieties of potato seeds. On the northern side, the climate is cold. So, the seeds are sown in the winter season. And on the southern side, the climate is warm. So, the seeds are sown in spring You can start to harvest as soon as you see a tuber big enough to consume. If you do not want to wait for the potatoes to reach its full size, then you can also harvest them early. They are going to taste tender.
Factors that postpone the growth of potatoes
You should not only worry about how long does it take to grow potatoes. There are many factors that can influence the delay in growth. It is important that you have knowledge about this, or else, when the time comes for harvesting, you may not have the number of potatoes you expected.
Soil
The soil must not be too cold, dry, or wet. It needs to be well-drained. Also, measure the temperature of the soil. It should at least be 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The soil may have problems if the potatoes are taking more than 150 days to grow. If the soil is not good enough, you can use organic matter before planting to rectify the soil condition. To measure the soil condition, you can use soil testing kits. These are easily available on the market.
Freshly cut seeds
It is best to avoid cut seeds. These tend to become dehydrated and they do not heal. Since the healing is very slow the growth of the potatoes is also. slow. These seeds need a lot of humidity and oxygen. You can always cure these types of seeds before planting them.
Diseases
Potatoes may get affected by diseases caused by pests. Such pests are potato beetles or bugs. You may prevent these bugs from destroying by using organic pesticides. Also, to avoid bugs you can use companion plants. They will help to distract and confuse the bugs.
Weed
Potential weed growth in the plot may hamper the growth of potatoes. You should remove the weed before planting the seeds. Also, to avoid further weed problems use mulch. This will distract the growth of weed and also keep the soil at the correct temperature.
How far apart should I plant my potato seeds?
This depends on the type of potato you’d like to harvest. It’s extremely interesting that, the wider apart you plant potatoes, the bigger they’ll grow. So, if you’re happy with smaller potatoes, you’ll only need about 9 inches between your spuds. In this case, just remember to ensure that all the soil is fertile and that the potatoes can grow in a happy and healthy environment. Looking for bigger potatoes? We suggest at least a square foot of space between seeds. If you’re planting your crop in rows, leave between 17 – 35 inches between them.
Final words
Ah potatoes, don’t you just love them? In this article, I’ve throughly explained the different typed os potatoes and their different seeds, as well as how long each type of potato will take to grow, and how you can best take care of your potato crop to ensure the very best potatoes possible. Whether for personal use (hello french fries!) or to sell, potatoes should be in every garden.