get murphy in Iowa can be a rewarding experience . The state ’s robust , loamy soil and humid climate are idealistic for grow potatoes , and there are quite a little of varieties to choose from . As a cool - season crop , Solanum tuberosum are broadly institute in other spring , when the stain is still cool but begin to warm up .
For estimable results , potatoes should be plant in full sun and well - enfeeble soil that is robust in constitutive affair . leaven beds or ridgepole can also be used to help oneself meliorate drainage . Potatoes should be water regularly and mulch to help keep the stain temperature and moisture levels even . With right concern and tending , you could expect a bumper harvest of potatoes come harvest time .
Iowa’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
geographical zone 4 has the cold climate of the four zones , with average wintertime temperatures cast from -15 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit . summer are warm , with temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degree Fahrenheit . winter are recollective and snowy , with the average snowfall being approximately 40 in per year .
Zone 5 is slightly warm than Zone 4 , with average winter temperatures ranging from -10 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit . Summers are balmy , with temperature range from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit . snow is around 35 inches per year .
zona 6 has affectionate temperature than the other two zones , with modal winter temperature ranging from 0 to -10 arcdegree Fahrenheit . Summers are usually blistering , with temperatures range from 70 to 90 level Fahrenheit . snow is around 25 inch per year .
Zone 7 has the fond climate of the four zones , with fair winter temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degree Fahrenheit . Summers are very raging , with temperature ranging from 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit . snow is around 15 inch per year .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When select semen potatoes for acquire in Iowa , it is of import to be mindful of the salmagundi ’s day to crop and the length of time you have before you want to glean them .
Early - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have fewer days to harvest and should be institute as before long as potential for harvesting in late summer .
Mid - season varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more daylight to glean and should be imbed in former April or early May for harvest home in fall .
tardy - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All dreary ’ have the most days to glean and should be planted in former April or former May for harvesting in other winter . Be certain to select varieties with the right number of days to harvest for your mean harvest date . Some good potato varieties for Iowa include :
When To Plant Potatoes In Iowa
In Iowa , potatoes should be planted in late March or former April . This is when the ground temperature is typically around 40 - 50 ° F and the risk of exposure of frost has overhaul . Planting too early may result in poor emergence , while plant too late may result to trim back yields . Planting dates for potatoes in Iowa are :
How To Plant Potatoes In Iowa
Begin the planting summons for source potatoes by tilling the land to a depth of 8 inches and incorporating organic compost . Once you have done this , find a cheery localization that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight and place the germ Solanum tuberosum .
Plant the seed potatoes with the “ optic ” facing upwardly , will a length of 8 to 10 inch in between each . overlay the seed potatoes with a level of dirt that is 3 - 4 inches chummy , and ensure to water them adequately . As the potatoes start to sprout , add more soil to the rows to keep them adequately buried .
Water the white potato on a unconstipated basis and remove any weeds from the area . For those live in blistering and dry climates , you may need to cover the dirt around the potato with drinking straw , although this is not all important .
Caring For Potato Plants
Caring for potato flora is pretty promiscuous – they ’re implausibly stalwart and by and large no - flurry . white potato vine plants require full Dominicus and well - drained soil to boom . They should be watered deep and regularly , allowing the soil to dry out between watering .
Fertilizing is also important for optimal growth . Potato plants need a balanced fertilizer with adequate part atomic number 7 , P , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six weeks , depending on the grunge ’s alimental content .
It is also authoritative to keep the soil evenly moist , as potatoes do not stand dry or waterlogged conditions . Mulching around the potato industrial plant can help retain moisture and reduce weeds .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Iowa
There are two sure way to have it away your potato are aboutready to harvest!The first is count backward from your current day of the month to their planting date . Potato variety have an approximative number of mean solar day to harvest , so confer with the days to reap for the special variety of potatoes you ’ve planted . If you are n’t sure , adopt it ’s around 100 days .
The show of your potato plants is another dead giveaway . You will know your potatoes are quick to glean when the leafage get down to turn yellow and die back . Your plants will go through an entire efflorescence cycle , which is courteous because the bloom are really beautiful .
reserve the soil around the plant to dry out before harvesting , but do n’t allow it to be dry for too long . Once harvested , scrutinize the potatoes carefully- they should be loyal and devoid of greenish or flaccid spots .
Carefully delve up the white potato vine with a garden fork , take care not to damage the murphy in the unconscious process . Once the potato have all been dug up , encounter off any excess soil and inspect them for any damage . Discard any potato that are damage , as these are not desirable for farsighted - term memory .
Finally , mildly place the potatoes in a coolheaded , wry , and dark domain for storage . It is important to only store undamaged potatoes , as damage white potato can quickly rot .
