Potatoes

Purchase certified seed potatoes. They will be free of disease and viruses and more reliable.
Pre-sprouting (chitting) seed potatoes is not essential but provides stronger growth. Spread the seed potatoes out in a dry area away from direct light and allow sprouts to develop to approximately 1-2 cm in length.
Potatoes need full sun and well drained fertile soil. Make a planting hole 15-20cm deep. If you are using fertilizer or manure add a layer of soil on top of this before placing the seed. This prevents burning of the young shoots.
Space your seed potatoes about 25cm apart with sprouts pointing upwards and cover with soil.
When the plants reach about 10cm in height start mounding the soil around the stems. Keep mounding the soil as the plant grows. This protects the potatoes from going green and from insects.
Water regularly to keep the soil moist and remove weeds.
Potato fertiliser can be applied. Some good products are Morton Smith-Dawe High Grade Potato Fertiliser or Tui Potato Food.
Make a note on the calendar for your expected harvest date. Not all potato varieties produce flowers, but flowering is a good sign that some baby potatoes are ready to eat.
For main crops that you want to store, let the plants die right back before lifting. This allows the skin to strengthen for long keeping.

Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update.

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