Growing potatoes in Connecticut can be a rewarding experience . The res publica ’s climate is well - suited for producing a full variety of potatoes , including red , white , icteric , and purple varieties . Potatoes are plant in the early spring , when soil temperature attain around 45 ° F , and reap in late summer or early fall when the plant lead off to go back . Planting potatoes in raised beds is the good manner to ensure good drainage and reduce the risk of exposure of disease .
Mulching with straw or compost can facilitate to keep the soil temperature and moisture levels consistent . fertilize industrial plant with a balanced fertiliser can also help promote healthy growth . With a lilliputian chip of care , Connecticut gardeners can enjoy a successful crop of potatoes each year .
Connecticut’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
geographical zone 5 has some of the coldest temperatures in the state , with the coldest temperatures unremarkably hap in January . This zona is prone to frost and snow , so be after to protect any tender plants you contrive to develop . Summers in this zone are pleasant , with mean temperature in the 70s .
zona 6 is also prone to rime and snow , with the cold temperatures unremarkably occurring in late December or early January . middling summer temperature in this zona reach the mid to upper 70s .
Zone 7 has some of the mildest temperatures in the state , with the coldest temperatures normally come about in December . This geographical zone is not prone to frost or snowfall , and average summertime temperature can gain into the 80s .
No matter the zona , Connecticut has a humid continental mood . Rainfall is evenhandedly evenly distributed throughout the twelvemonth , so be sure to water your plant regularly . With careful planning and preparation , you could successfully grow plants and veg in any of Connecticut ’s growing geographical zone .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed white potato vine for growing in Connecticut , it is important to be mindful of the sort ’s day to harvest time and the length of time you have before you want to glean them .
Early - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have fewer Clarence Day to reap and should be engraft as before long as possible for harvest in later summertime .
Mid - season varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more days to glean and should be planted in recent April or former May for harvesting in fall .
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 harvesting in early winter . Be certain to select assortment with the right bit of days to reap for your mean harvest date . Some good potato varieties for Connecticut let in :
When To Plant Potatoes In Connecticut
In Connecticut , potatoes should be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the give , commonly between mid - March and mid - April . The soil should be moist and the air temperature should be between 40 ° F and 50 ° F . The best time to harvest time white potato is usually late August or early September .
How To Plant Potatoes In Connecticut
Begin the planting process for seed Solanum tuberosum by till the soil to a depth of 8 inches and incorporating constitutive compost . Once you have done this , find a sunny fix that receive at least 8 hours of lineal sunlight and place the seed potatoes .
embed the seed potatoes with the “ eye ” facing upward , leaving a aloofness of 8 to 10 inches in between each . Cover the seed potatoes with a layer of soil that is 3 - 4 inches thick , and make certain to irrigate them adequately . As the potatoes go to sprout , tot more dirt to the row to keep them adequately bury .
irrigate the potatoes on a regular basis and remove any weeds from the area . For those living in hot and dry climates , you may want to insure the soil around the potatoes with straw , although this is not all important .
Caring For Potato Plants
care for potato industrial plant is pretty easy – they ’re incredibly hardy and generally no - fuss . Potato plants need full sun and well - drain ground to thrive . They should be water deeply and regularly , grant the soil to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also important for optimal growth . Potato plants involve a balanced plant food with equal portion nitrogen , daystar , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six week , depending on the grunge ’s nutrient subject matter .
It is also authoritative to keep the soil evenly moist , as murphy do not tolerate dry or waterlogged conditions . mulch around the potato plants can help hold back wet and dilute weeds .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Connecticut
There are two sure way to eff your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is counting backward from your current day of the month to their planting date . Potato miscellany have an approximate issue of Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to harvest , so look up the twenty-four hour period to harvest for the picky variety of spud you ’ve establish . If you are n’t certain , assume it ’s around 100 day .
The visual aspect of your potato plants is another dead game show . You will know your potatoes are ready to reap when the leafage begins to turn sensationalistic and die back . Your plant will go through an entire unfolding Hz , which is nice because the blossom are really beautiful .
Allow the soil around the works to dry out before harvest , but do n’t take into account it to be dry for too long . Once harvest , audit the white potato vine carefully- they should be fast and free of light-green or cushy patch .
Carefully dig up the potatoes with a garden fork , taking care not to damage the white potato in the process . Once the potato have all been dug up , thicket off any spare soil and inspect them for any equipment casualty . Discard any murphy that are damage , as these are not suited for long - term store .
at last , lightly place the white potato in a cool , dry , and disconsolate surface area for storage . It is important to only stack away undamaged potatoes , as damage white potato can quickly rot .
