The country of Idaho is well know for its Solanum tuberosum product , as the commonwealth produce more than 13 billion pounds of white potato each year . Growing murphy in Idaho is a great way to produce a mellow output of potatoes with minimal effort . As Idaho is known for its robust , fertile grunge and temperate climate , potatoes can be well grown in the nation . With a snatch of planning and care , murphy can be embed and harvested in Idaho , with the harvest typically ready for picking in previous summertime or former tumble . Potatoes grown in Idaho are also have sex for their excellent feel , pee-pee them a great option for home gardens .
Idaho’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
Zone 3 is locate in northern Idaho and has a cold clime compared to the rest of the state . wintertime are long and harsh , with temperature rarely rising above freezing and snowfall of up to 20 column inch . Summers are short and coolheaded , with average temperature in the 70s .
Zone 4 is located in the panhandle region of Idaho and has an overall moderate clime . Winters are cold with temperature seldom above freezing and snowfall of up to 20 inches , while summer are warm and mild with temperature reaching the low 80s .
Zone 5 is located in the southwest part of Idaho and has a warm and juiceless climate . Winters are mild with temperature seldom falling below freezing and snowfall of only five inches . Summers are strong with temperature reaching the downhearted 90s .
Zone 6 is located in the south - fundamental part of Idaho and has a hot and dry climate . Winters are mild with temperatures seldom below freezing and snow of only five inches . Summers are red-hot with temperatures accomplish the humbled 100s .
zona 7 is located in the southeasterly part of Idaho and has an arid clime . wintertime are mild with temperatures seldom falling below freezing and snow of only five inches . Summers are red-hot and dry with temperature reach the low 100s .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When select seed potatoes for growing in Idaho , it is important to be mindful of the variety ’s years to harvest time and the distance of time you have before you want to harvest them .
former - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have few day to harvest and should be planted as soon as potential for harvesting in later summertime .
Mid - season varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more daylight to reap and should be planted in late April or former May for harvesting in fall .
Late - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All dispirited ’ have the most day to reap and should be planted in late April or early May for harvest home in early winter . Be sure to choose varieties with the right number of day to harvest for your designate harvest escort . Some skilful potato varieties for Idaho include :
When To Plant Potatoes In Idaho
Idaho has a long growing time of year with affectionate days and cool nights . Ideal potato planting time in Idaho is typically between mid - April and mid - May , after the last expected frost date . Potatoes can also be planted in tardy August for a fall crop . The soil should be well - run out and rich , with a pH between 5.0 and 7.0 .
How To Plant Potatoes In Idaho
lead off the planting process for seed potatoes by till the grunge to a depth of 8 inches and incorporate organic compost . Once you have done this , find a sunny localisation that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight and rank the seed Irish potato .
Plant the come potatoes with the “ eye ” face upward , give a distance of 8 to 10 inches in between each . shroud the seed potatoes with a level of filth that is 3 - 4 inches dense , and make certain to irrigate them adequately . As the tater start to sprout , sum up more soil to the rows to keep them adequately bury .
irrigate the potatoes on a regular basis and remove any grass from the area . For those living in hot and juiceless climates , you may need to report the soil around the potato with husk , although this is not of the essence .
Caring For Potato Plants
Caring for potato plants is pretty easy – they ’re incredibly hardy and generally no - fuss . Potato plants need full Sunday and well - drain soil to thrive . They should be watered deeply and regularly , allow the territory to dry out between watering .
Fertilizing is also important for optimal growth . white potato vine plant require a balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium . This should be apply every four to six weeks , depend on the filth ’s nutritive message .
It is also important to keep the soil evenly moist , as potatoes do not tolerate wry or waterlogged circumstance . Mulching around the Irish potato plants can serve retain moisture and reduce weeds .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Idaho
There are two certain way of life to know your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is calculate rearwards from your current date to their planting date . Potato varieties have an close together number of days to harvest , so consult the days to harvest for the particular variety of potatoes you ’ve plant . If you are n’t sure , take up it ’s around 100 24-hour interval .
The coming into court of your white potato plant life is another bushed giveaway . You will know your potatoes are quick to glean when the foliage begins to change state yellowed and die back . Your plants will go through an integral flowering cps , which is nice because the flowers are really beautiful .
earmark the soil around the plants to dry out before harvesting , but do n’t allow it to be dry for too long . Once harvested , inspect the potatoes carefully- they should be steady and free of light-green or lenient spots .
Carefully dig up the white potato vine with a garden fork , taking fear not to damage the potatoes in the outgrowth . Once the potatoes have all been compass up , brushing off any supererogatory stain and inspect them for any damage . Discard any potato that are damaged , as these are not suitable for long - term storage .
Finally , lightly put the potatoes in a cool , dry , and dark field for repositing . It is of import to only lay in undamaged potatoes , as damage potatoes can quickly decompose .
