get potato in Virginia is a rewarding experience , as the State Department has an idealistic climate for domesticate this democratic veggie . Potatoes take full Dominicus , well - drained soil , and adequate water to expand ; Virginia ’s warm clime and moderate rainfall provide the perfect conditions for growing tater . The good time to plant potatoes in Virginia is in the spring , shortly after the last frost .
Solanum tuberosum require a lower limit of four months for a full harvest , so it ’s important to plan accordingly . When implant , it ’s best to space the potatoes at least 12 in aside and six to eight column inch deep . right tutelage is of the essence for a successful harvest , so be trusted to keep the soil moist and weed regularly to secure the potatoes receive the nutrients they need . With a slight bit of elbow grease , Virginia gardeners can enjoy a toothsome harvest of Solanum tuberosum !
Virginia’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
Virginia is known for its various clime and growing precondition , which depart calculate on the region of the state . In the western part of the state , which lies in growing zones 5a through 8a , the climate is generally mild , with cold winters and hot summers . Winters are ordinarily stale and snowy , and temperatures mediocre between 20 - 45 arcdegree Fahrenheit . summer are usually hot and humid , and temperatures can touch upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit .
The area also go through plenty of rainfall throughout the class , with an norm of 40 - 50 inches annually . In zone 5a , which is place in the westernmost part of the province , the mood is the cold , with temperature often dropping below 0 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter calendar month .
zona 6a has slenderly warm winter , with temperature averaging between -10 and 25 point Fahrenheit , while zona 7a has the warm temperatures , reaching a high school of 35 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter calendar month . Finally , zone 8a has the warmest temperature of all , with an modal high of 50 level Fahrenheit during the wintertime calendar month .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed potato for produce in Virginia , it is important to be aware of the variety ’s days to crop and the distance of time you have before you want to harvest them .
Early - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have fewer Clarence Day to reap and should be planted as shortly as possible for harvesting in late summertime .
Mid - season varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more days to reap and should be planted in recent April or early May for harvest home in nightfall .
later - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All gamy ’ have the most day to harvest and should be found in later April or early May for harvest home in early winter . Be certain to select varieties with the good number of days to harvest for your intended harvest date . Some good Solanum tuberosum multifariousness for Virginia admit :
When To Plant Potatoes In Virginia
In Virginia , Solanum tuberosum should be planted in late March or other April , after the last expected frost and when the grease temperature reach at least 40 ° atomic number 9 . check that to waitress until the soil is wry enough to be mold on , as smashed soil can conduct to increase levels of disease . Plant your white potato vine in a sunny spot with well - drained soil . If the soil is too sandlike , be sure to add plenitude of compost or other organic topic to meliorate urine memory .
Planting date for Potatoes in Virginia are :
How To Plant Potatoes In Virginia
set about the planting process for semen white potato vine by till the soil to a depth of 8 inches and comprise organic compost . Once you have done this , find a sunny location that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight and place the seeded player potatoes .
Plant the seed potatoes with the “ eyes ” facing upward , pull up stakes a length of 8 to 10 inches in between each . Cover the seed potatoes with a stratum of soil that is 3 - 4 column inch thickheaded , and check that to water them adequately . As the potato begin to sprout , add more grease to the row to keep them adequately buried .
Water the potatoes on a even basis and slay any sess from the area . For those live in red-hot and dry clime , you may want to underwrite the soil around the potatoes with wheat , although this is not all-important .
Caring For Potato Plants
handle for potato industrial plant is pretty easy – they ’re incredibly stout and in general no - fuss . Potato plants need full sun and well - drained soil to thrive . They should be watered deeply and on a regular basis , reserve the filth to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also important for optimal ontogenesis . Potato plants require a balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen , morning star , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six weeks , depend on the soil ’s nourishing content .
It is also significant to keep the ground equally moist , as potatoes do not suffer dry or waterlogged condition . Mulching around the Irish potato plants can help continue moisture and reduce weeds .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Virginia
There are two certain mode to have intercourse your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is number rearwards from your current date to their planting particular date . Potato varieties have an approximate routine 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 , assume it ’s around 100 days .
The appearance of your potato plants is another idle giveaway . You will know your Irish potato are ready to harvest when the foliage begins to reverse yellow and snuff it back . Your plants will go through an entire flowering Hz , which is nice because the flower are really beautiful .
Allow the grease around the plants to dry before harvesting , but do n’t allow it to be dry for too long . Once harvested , inspect the potato carefully- they should be firm and destitute of green or soft spots .
Carefully dig up the potatoes with a garden fork , require fear not to damage the potatoes in the process . Once the potatoes have all been dug up , brush off any supernumerary soil and inspect them for any legal injury . Discard any potatoes that are damaged , as these are not suited for long - term storage .
Finally , softly place the potatoes in a cool , ironical , and dismal area for storage . It is important to only put in undamaged potatoes , as damaged potato can quickly decompose .
