produce white potato in South Carolina can be a great experience for the home gardener . Solanum tuberosum are a comparatively well-off harvest to grow , and fly high in the moderate temperature and humidness of the Carolinas . Potatoes prefer well - drained soil , and grow best when plant in early fountain .
Depending on the variety , potatoes can be planted in raised bottom or directly in the ground , and are often grow together with other vegetables . When constitute , it is significant to give the potato tidy sum of elbow room to propagate out and develop . Soil should be enriched with compost and fertiliser , and potato should be water on a regular basis . With right care , potatoes can be reap in previous summer or former decline , providing a delicious improver to the home garden .
South Carolina’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
Zone 7 has an fair annual minimum temperature of 0 - 10 ° F ( -17.8 to -12.2 ° C ) . The climate is mild , with spicy summers and nerveless winters . Rainfall is distribute throughout the year and coke is rare . The total region is considered to be Zone 8 . It has an fair annual minimum temperature of 10 - 20 ° F ( -12.2 to -6.7 ° C ) . The climate is tender with hot summers and meek winters . Rainfall is propagate throughout the twelvemonth and snow is rare . Zone 9 has an average annual minimum temperature of 20 - 30 ° fluorine ( -6.7 to -1.1 ° 100 ) . The mood is hot and humid with long , hot summers and meek winters . Rainfall is distributed throughout the yr and Baron Snow of Leicester is rarified .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When pick out seed potatoes for growing in South Carolina , it is important to be aware of the variety ’s days to harvest and the distance of time you have before you desire to harvest them .
former - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have few days to harvest and should be planted as shortly as potential for harvesting in late summer .
Mid - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more day to harvest and should be constitute in late April or early May for harvesting in spill .
tardy - season varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All Blue ’ have the most days to harvest and should be planted in late April or early May for harvest in former wintertime . Be sure to pick out motley with the right phone number of 24-hour interval to harvest for your intended harvest date . Some good white potato vine mixture for South Carolina include :
When To Plant Potatoes In South Carolina
In South Carolina , potatoes should be engraft in former spring , typically in late February or other March . The grime should be at least 45 ° F before planting . If the soil temperature is not this warm , the potatoes may rot before they have a chance to sprout .
How To Plant Potatoes In South Carolina
start the planting process for seed Solanum tuberosum by till the land to a profundity of 8 inches and integrate organic compost . Once you have done this , incur a cheery emplacement that receives at least 8 60 minutes of direct sun and place the come potatoes .
Plant the seminal fluid white potato with the “ eye ” face upwardly , leaving a space of 8 to 10 inches in between each . deal the seed potatoes with a layer of soil that is 3 - 4 inches thick , and verify to irrigate them adequately . As the potatoes start to sprout , add more filth to the row to keep them adequately buried .
irrigate the white potato vine on a even footing and remove any weeds from the area . For those living in hot and wry climate , you may want to overcompensate the soil around the potatoes with pale yellow , although this is not indispensable .
Caring For Potato Plants
worry for potato industrial plant is pretty easygoing – they ’re implausibly audacious and in the main no - fuss . Potato industrial plant involve full sunlight and well - drained dirt to boom . They should be watered deeply and regularly , allowing the soil to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also crucial for optimal growth . tater plants need a balanced fertiliser with equal division atomic number 7 , phosphorus , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six weeks , calculate on the soil ’s alimentary depicted object .
It is also crucial to keep the grease equally moist , as potatoes do not tolerate wry or waterlogged circumstance . mulch around the potato plant life can avail retain wet and trim back pot .
When To Harvest Potatoes In South Carolina
There are two certain ways to know your white potato are aboutready to harvest!The first is counting backward from your current engagement to their planting date . Potato varieties have an approximate number of 24-hour interval to harvest , so consult the 24-hour interval to harvest for the fussy variety of potatoes you ’ve planted . If you are n’t trusted , wear it ’s around 100 days .
The appearance of your Solanum tuberosum plants is another drained game show . You will know your potatoes are quick to reap when the foliage begins to turn sensationalistic and die back . Your plants will go through an entire flowering round , which is nice because the flowers are really beautiful .
Allow the soil around the plants to dry out before harvesting , but do n’t allow for it to be ironical for too long . Once harvest , inspect the potatoes carefully- they should be firm and innocent of green or soft spots .
Carefully dig up the tater with a garden branching , take maintenance not to damage the white potato in the appendage . Once the white potato have all been dug up , brush off any excess soil and visit them for any harm . Discard any tater that are damaged , as these are not suited for long - term storage .
Finally , gently place the potatoes in a coolheaded , wry , and obscure area for computer storage . It is important to only store undamaged potatoes , as damage potatoes can chop-chop rot .
