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Making Potatoes a Garden Priority

In the past growing potatoes has been a bit of an afterthought. Last Fall while thinking about seed I heard that seed potatoes may be short in Spring 2023, so I committed. Nothing like something being rare to motivate interest.

As it turns out United Potato Canada is reporting seed potato inventories on January 11, 2023 at 10.6 million hundred weight. This is 5.2% above the 3-yr. average and 3.5% over last year at the same time.

Glad I committed early though, to get the varieties of my choice.

Here are tips on growing your own potatoes this year from West Coast Seeds:

  • Potato plants are cool soil and frost tolerant (soil temperature 6 degrees C+)
  • Well-drained, loamy soils rich in organic matter are preferred
  • When the plant is a foot tall, “hill up” around plants with soil, straw or grass
  • No irrigation between planting and sprouting to avoid disease
  • Don’t let the soil totally dry out
  • Irrigate while plants are flowering

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Source : Small Farm Canada

Trending Video

What I’m Checking Behind the Planter This Spring

Video: What I’m Checking Behind the Planter This Spring



This is the first episode of a new behind-the-scenes series on our farm.

Today I’m checking behind the planter looking at planting depth, seed-to-soil contact, and making sure we’re placing seed into moisture, even in a dry spring.

Everything can look good from the cab, but this is where you find out what’s really happening.

We also ran into a prescription issue that slowed us down, which is a good reminder that even when conditions are ideal, the little things still matter.

If you’re planting right now, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check behind your planter.