How To Grow Irish Potatoes - Simple Ways to Grow Irish Potatoes Easily

  Irish potato also known as solanum tuberosum is an edible tuber from the family of nightshade. They have thin brown back and fleshy inner with a slight yellow color. Irish potato is rich in potassium, vitamin C which is known for boosting immune system.

 It's also beneficial as it helps to reduce the risk of hypertension, heart disease and stroke. 

They are seven main types of irish potato that is; white potatoes, red potatoes, russet potatoes, yellow potatoes, purple potatoes petite potatoes and fingerling potatoes. 

How To Grow Irish Potato From Seed 

 Irish potato grow well in areas with loose, fertile soil with full sun. The first thing to do if you want to grow irish potato is to choose the right seed. Select the seeds that are disease free and free from chemicals. 

Purchase your seeds from a catalog or farm store. Select seeds that has already sprout, then cut the seeds into pieces in such a way that each piece have at least 2 eyes, place them in a well ventilated area for 4-5 days 

How To Plant Irish Potato

  Prepare the soil by tilling and incorporate compost manure into the soil to increase soil fertility. Plant Irish potatoes when temperatures are moderate, plant them in a way that the eyes are facing upwards, them 3 inches deep and space them 10-12 inches apart. Then add two tablespoons of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer in the trench, then cover the seeds with soil of 3 inches.

How To Care For Irish Potatoes During Growth 

  1. Watering. Water your irish potatoes regularly to keep the soil moist but avoid water-logging 

  2. Fertilization. Fertilize your potatoes with a balanced fertilizer rich in nitrogen, and phosphorus. Make sure to follow the instructions on packages 

   3. Weeding. Weed your garden regularly and keep it weed free. This is because weed compete with the plants for nutrients and water.

Fertilizing

The plant must have adequate moisture and fertilizer when the tubers are

forming. This usually occurs when the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall. Apply 1 cup of fertilizer for each 30 feet of row beside theplants when they are about 4 inches tall.

Pests And Diseases Affecting Irish Potatoes 

1. Mildew. It's caused by fungus called Phtophtora. It attacks the leaves, and the stems. The infected leaves become brown and later die. To control this disease, plant disease free seeds and make sure all potatoes are removed from the ground when harvesting 

2. Tuber worms moth . It's caused by an insect called phthorimaea operculella. This insect attacks the tubers causing them to rotten. This can be combat by using disease free seeds 

3. Late blight. It's caused by fungus. It affects the leaves and they become dark green and pale, irregular shaped spots. 

This disease spread to the stem and eventually kills the whole plant. Apply fungicide to the leaves and stem to minimize the disease. Also, make sure to remove all the potatoes from the garden when harvesting. 

4. Fusarium wilt. This disease is caused by fungus. It affects the leaves from down to the top. To minimize the disease, use disease free soil, and seeds.

5. Black leg disease. It's caused by bacterium. It attacks the stem and it becomes black and rotten. To combat this disease, disinfect the equipment you are using to cut the seeds before using them. 

Apply fungicide before planting and also make sure potatoes from the last season are not on the farm 

When And How To Harvest Irish Potatoes 

 Irish potatoes takes about 3-4 months to be mature. To know when your Irish potatoes are ready for harvest, the leaves changes the color from green to yellow and starts falling off. This is usually some weeks after flowering. 

When harvesting, use a spading fork to dig up the tubers. When digging be very careful not to bruise the tubers. 

Harvesting and storing

Potatoes are ready to harvest when the tops begin to die and the potato skinbecomes firm. 

The skin is set when it doesnot scrape easily when rubbed with the thumb. Skin set can be speeded by cutting back the tops of the plants Most of the potatoes should weigh 6

to 12 ounces at harvest. You can harves small “new potatoes” during the growing season by carefully digging beside the plants with your fingers.

Conclusion 

  Conclusively, if the following steps are well followed carefully, you will successfully grow plenty Irish potatoes for home consumption and for commercial purposes in pots or in a garden.