UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE Agriculture and Natural Resources

Cooperative Extension Service

Home Gardening Series

Irish Potatoes

Craig R. Andersen Environment Cultural Practices

Extension Horticulturist ­
Light – sunny Planting Time
Vegetables Soil – well-drained
Fertility – medium-rich Potatoes are among the earliest
pH – 4.8 to 6.5 vegetables planted in the garden.
Temperature – cool Early, midseason and late varieties
Moisture – uniform moisture may be planted in
early to mid
February through
Culture early March in
southern Arkansas
Planting – seed pieces late winter or
and early March to
early spring
early April in
Spacing – 10-12 inches x 24-36 inches
northern Arkansas.
Hardiness – cool season, hardy
Midseason and late
Fertilizer – medium to heavy feeder
varieties may be
planted as late as July to August 1 for
Irish Potatoes – Solanum fall production. Late potatoes are best
tuberosum for winter storage.

The potato is a cool-season Spacing and Depth of Planting

vegetable which ranks with wheat
and rice as one of the most important Start potatoes from a “seed piece”
staples in the human diet. Potatoes rather than from true seed. However,
are native to America and were culti­ there is a particular potato variety
vated from Chile to New Grenada at called Homestead Hybrid which is
the time the Spanish explorers grown from true potato seed. Plant
reached South America. The seed pieces in a window box or
Spaniards introduced the species to greenhouse for transplants, or plant
Europe soon after 1580, and the popu­ directly in the garden. Seed pieces are
larity of potatoes spread all over small, whole potatoes or larger ones
Europe and the British Isles by the that are cut into 1 1/2- to 2-ounce
end of the 17th century. In 1719, Irish pieces. Plant the pieces soon after
immigrants introduced white potatoes cutting. Be sure there are at least two
to New England, and now white pota­ to three good “eyes” in each seed
toes are often called “Irish potatoes.” piece. Some garden centers and seed
suppliers sell potato eyes that weigh
Potatoes are not roots but less than an ounce; these are not the
specialized underground storage desired size. Small, whole, certified
stems called “tubers.” Maximum tuber seed potatoes are the best choice for
Arkansas Is formation occurs at soil temperatures
between 60 and 70 degrees F. The
home gardeners.
Our Campus tubers fail to form when the soil Plant seed pieces 10 to 12 inches
temperature reaches 80 degrees F. apart and cover them in a furrow 2 to
Potatoes will withstand light frost 3 inches deep. Space the rows 24 to
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in spring and can be grown 36 inches apart. The 24-inch spacing
http://www.uaex.edu throughout Arkansas.

University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating
Cultivars
Seed/ Disease Sources
Days to 100 Ft Resistance (see “Sources”
Crop Variety Maturity of Row or Tolerance paragraph below) Remarks
Irish Kennebec 110 13 lb 12, 27 Smooth, oblong, white tuber; heavy
Potatoes yields; good quality.

Irish Cobbler 95 13 lb 12 Round, white tuber; early; well

adapted.

Pontiac 100 13 lb 12 Round, oblong, red tuber; heavy

yields.
Superior 90 13 lb 10, 16, 23 Early, white, round tubers; moderate
heat tolerance.
All Blue 13 lb 4, 16 Deep blue/purple colored skins and
flesh. Retains color after cooking as
well. Suitable for all cooking. Mid to
late maturity; vigorous plants. Blue
flowered.

Yukon Gold 13 lb LR, PVA 4, 8, 16, 33 Mid-early variety; oval, medium-large

potato with a light yellow flesh. Large,
upright plants have violet flowers.
Declared best eating potato.

Dark Red 13 lb PVA, PVY, *See note Early, stores well. Oval-oblong,
Norland PLRV smooth, red potato with white flesh.
Great for early digging. Medium-large
purple flowering plants.

Abbreviations: LR: Leaf Roll; PLRV: Potato Leaf Roll Virus; PVA: Potato Virus A; PVY: Potato Virus Y
(R): Resistant; (T): Tolerant
*NOTE: Check your local garden centers or farm stores for seed potatoes in the spring.

is often beneficial because plants will shade the soil Irrigate to ensure uniform moisture while the
and prevent high soil temperatures that inhibit tubers are developing. A uniform moisture supply
tuber development. also helps cool the ground and helps eliminate knobs
caused by secondary growth.
Care
Sources
The soil should be fertile and well-drained. Clay
soils should be improved with organic matter and For a list of sources referred to by number,
plowed in the fall. Use raised beds to improve request FSA6106, Seed Sources: Vegetable and Herb,
soil drainage. for current address, telephone and web site.

Mulching is usually helpful in growing potatoes.

Apply organic mulch after the potato plants have Harvesting
emerged to conserve moisture, help keep down weeds Harvest potatoes after most of the vines have
and cool the soil. Some gardeners cover rows of early died. Handle as gently as possible during harvest.
potatoes with clear plastic film at planting to warm Leave the tubers exposed to the sun just long enough
the soil and promote early growth. After the plants for the soil to dry and fall off. Too much direct sun­
emerge, remove the film to allow the plants to grow. light blisters the tubers and causes them to turn
green and rot in storage. Since the tubers develop
Hill the potatoes after they break the surface of 4 to 6 inches beneath the soil surface, a spade fork is
the ground, gradually build up a low ridge of loose useful for digging potatoes.
soil by cultivation and hoeing. This ridge, which may
become 4 to 6 inches high in summer, reduces the Potatoes for use in early summer (“new”
number of sunburned (greened) tubers. The object of potatoes) may be dug before the vines die (usually in
potato cultivation is to eliminate competition from July). When the potatoes reach 1 to 2 inches in size,
weeds, to loosen and aerate the soil and to build up dig a few hills to use for soups or to cook with peas,
the row. Misshaped potatoes result when the tubers cream or butter.
develop in hard, compacted soil.
 Late potatoes are usually dug in October. They Frequently Asked Questions
will keep in the garage or basement for several
weeks in their natural dormancy. Store over the Q. Should I save some of my potatoes for seed
winter in a dark room or in a cooler at a temperature potatoes?
between 38 and 40 degrees F with high humidity.
A. No. Saving your own seed potatoes can lead to a
Check periodically for spoilage.
buildup of viruses and diseases.
Common Problems Q. My potato plants flowered and formed
Early blight disease causes yellowing and dying green fruits that resemble small tomatoes.
of the leaves. The presence of brown spots and What are they?
yellowing of the lower leaves are the first signs of the A. These small seed balls are the fruits that contain
disease. The entire plant will become infected if the the true seeds. They are not edible.
disease is not controlled. Control early blight by
weekly applications of suggested fungicides, Q. What causes green skins on my potatoes?
beginning when seedlings are 6 to 8 inches high. A. The green areas on tubers develop where the
potato was exposed to the sun. This condition
Potato scab disease (indicated by scabby, rough occurs when potatoes are not planted deeply
skin) does not develop when the soil pH is 5.6 or enough or not covered with straw. The green
below. Plant resistant varieties when available. portions taste bitter because they contain an
alkaloid. Cut off and discard these green areas.
Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles and Exposure of potato tubers to fluorescent light or
leafhoppers can significantly reduce potato yields. sunlight will cause greening during storage.
Control these insects with suggested insecticides.
Q. Can I make chips from homegrown
diseases – early blight, scab, late blight, tuber potatoes?
rots, virus complex, fusarium, verticillium and A. Yes. Any potato variety can be used to make
bacterial wilts chips when the potatoes are freshly dug.
insects – Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles, Commercial chips are made from selected
leafhoppers varieties that are carefully handled and stored.
cultural – green skin (sun exposure), hollow Chips made from inferior varieties or improperly
heart (alternate wet and dry conditions), Black stored potatoes will be brown and have a dark
Walnut wilt (too close to a Black Walnut tree) ring because they contain excessive amounts
of sugars.
Harvesting and Storage
Q. I used potatoes bought at the grocery store
days to maturity – 100 to 120
as seed for planting, and they rotted
harvest – Dig early potatoes when tubers are
without sprouting. Why?
large enough to eat. Harvest potatoes for storage
A. Many potatoes sold for fresh market consumption
after the vines die down or just after the first light
have been treated to prevent sprouting in storage
fall frost nips the vines, before heavy freezing. Avoid
and when planted. Potatoes have a rest period
skinning tubers when digging and avoid long
exposure to light. that must be broken before the seed pieces will
approximate yields (per 10 feet of row) – 6 to 15 sprout. Cool or extremely warm temperatures
pounds can break the rest period and allow potatoes to
amount to raise per person – 75 to 100 pounds sprout. Plant certified seed potatoes that have
(plant about 15 pounds of seed potatoes per person) been properly stored to induce sprouting.
storage – medium-cool conditions (38 to
42 degrees F), moist (90 percent relative humidity) Q. Can I save the small potatoes from my
conditions; 6 to 8 months. Sprouting is a problem at spring crop for planting in the fall in my
higher temperatures. garden?
preservation – usually stored in medium cool, A. Yes. This is commonly done. Sometimes the
moist conditions potatoes saved from the spring garden fail to
sprout when planted in the fall because of a
There are more than 100 varieties of potatoes. natural dormancy in newly harvested potatoes. A
The horticultural varieties generally have white flesh recommended procedure for breaking the
and light brown or red skin. There are different dormancy includes harvesting the potatoes and
types of potatoes with yellow to blue flesh and many placing them in a cool storage area, preferably
different skin colors. An interesting one now being about 50 degrees F, until about three to four
grown is Yellow Finn. Russet Burbank is one of the weeks before the anticipated fall planting date.
most important varieties produced in the United To prevent rotting, do not cut. Plant the small
States. The weather in Arkansas is too warm and the potatoes whole.
moisture fluctuation is too great for the production of
smooth Russet Burbank tubers and good yields.
Q. How do I know when my potatoes are ready Q. The stems of my Irish potato plants are
for harvesting? decayed. The plants weaken but do not die.
A. Potatoes are mature when the plant starts to A. This is Rhizoctonia, a soil-borne fungus that
yellow. Potatoes require 75 to 140 days from causes decay in stems and seed pieces. Approved
planting to maturity depending upon variety and seed-piece fungicides are the best control for this
the season they are grown. Immature potatoes disease. Always follow label instructions closely.
often skin and bruise easily. Dig spring-planted
potatoes before the soil becomes hot. Avoid Q. When I dug my potatoes, they were covered
harvesting potatoes when the soil is wet to avoid by small, raised bumps.
storage diseases. A. This is a physiological condition called large
lenticle. It is caused by water-saturated soil
Q. I have some seed potatoes left from my conditions. Choose a well-drained site and
spring garden. Would it be all right to eat raised beds.
them?
A. No. Potato tubers purchased for seed purposes Q. After I dug my potatoes, I found that they
should not be eaten because they frequently have were rough with deep scars.
been chemically treated. Like all treated seeds, A. This is potato scab, caused by a soil-borne
seed potatoes should not be fed to humans organism. Control by maintaining an acid soil,
or animals. below pH 5.6, around your potato plants and a
uniform moisture level from the time the potato
Q. After harvesting, how should I handle my is formed until it is harvested.
potatoes to result in the longest storage
time possible? Q. The lower foliage on my potato plants is
A. Dig potatoes when the soil is dry. Be careful not beginning to turn yellow and is covered
to skin or bruise the tubers. Do not wash the with brown spots.
potatoes. Place them in crates or some suitable A. This is early blight of potatoes and is similar to
container and store them in a dark area for three blight on tomatoes. Spray with a fungicide when
to five days at 60 degrees F with high humidity. spots are observed and repeat at 7- to 14-day
After this curing period, keep the potatoes at intervals for two to three sprays.
40 to 45 degrees F with humidity near 85 percent
and provide good air circulation. Q. The foliage of my potato plants is distorted,
rolled and is not as healthy as it should be.
Q. Can potatoes be left in the ground for A. Several viruses attack potatoes. The best
storage? prevention of potato viruses is to plant only
A. Generally no. Cool, humid conditions (38 to 45 certified seed pieces.
degrees F and 85 percent relative humidity) are
best for Irish potato storage. The potatoes would Q. When I dug my potatoes, I noticed small
not stay dry enough in the soil to prevent second holes chewed in the tubers. How do I
growth or sprouting. Several weeks at high prevent this?
temperatures can break the rest period in home­ A. Several soil-inhabiting insects, such as
grown potatoes after which sprouts will develop wireworms and white grubs, cause this type of
on the tuber. It is better to dig the potatoes and damage. Use control measures for these pests
put them in a cool, damp area. before planting. Use insecticides only as directed
on the label.
Q. After a rainfall, the potato plants in one
area of my garden began to die rapidly. The Q. The leaves of my potatoes are disappearing
stems rotted. A dark discoloration is moving fast. All I see on the plant are some pinkish
up the stem to the top of the plant, and the worms.
stem has a foul odor. A. These pinkish larvae are immature Colorado
A. This is black leg of potatoes, one of the major potato beetles. They defoliate plants and can be
bacterial potato problems. To prevent this controlled with insecticides. Use as directed on
problem, plant only in well-drained areas. Seed label. In small plots, control by hand picking the
piece treatment also helps prevent the entry of larvae and destroying them.
bacteria and other organisms.

DR. CRAIG R. ANDERSEN is Extension horticulturist - Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of
vegetables, Cooperative Extension Service, University of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S.
Arkansas, Fayetteville. Department of Agriculture, Director, Cooperative Extension
Service, University of Arkansas. The Arkansas Cooperative
Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age,
disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected
FSA6016-PD-2-03RV status, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.