Prunelle

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Description

The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a crop plant belonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The potatoes cultivated today are descended from various landraces found in the Andes, from western Venezuela to Argentina and the island of Chiloé, as well as the Chonos Archipelago in southern Chile. The oldest known traces of wild potatoes were found on Chiloé; their age is estimated at 13,000 years. The word “potato” (still spelled “tartuffel” in the 17th century) is derived from “tartufolo,” the Italian word for truffle, which in turn is derived from the Latin “terrae tuber” (“earth tuber”). In common parlance, the term “potato” usually refers to the tubers that grow underground, through which the plant reproduces vegetatively and which are the only edible parts of the plant, as they contain little solanine. The potato is one of the world’s most important food crops, but it is also used as animal feed and an industrial raw material. Growth Potatoes are upright or climbing, perennial herbaceous plants that can reach heights of over 1 meter. The stem is sometimes square in cross-section and, in some cases, even winged. Underground or just above the surface, the plant produces tuber-bearing stolons. The alternate leaves consist of a short petiole and a leaf blade. The imparipinnate leaf blade is 10–30 centimeters long and 5–15 centimeters wide. The leaflets, which are opposite or alternate, are lightly to heavily downy, often varying greatly in shape and size. The larger leaflets are partly stalked and are ovate to oblong-ovate with a somewhat heart-shaped base and a pointed to tapering upper end. The smaller leaflets are broadly ovate to circular and have a more heart-shaped base and a blunter tip. From June through August, white, pink, or purple, radially symmetrical, five-parted flowers with yellow anthers appear on the above-ground leafy shoots with pinnate leaves. The hermaphroditic flowers are arranged in corymb-like inflorescences. The fruit is a yellowish-green, cherry-sized, two-chambered berry containing many seeds; due to its solanine content, it is not suitable for human consumption and is poisonous. New tubers form underground and are connected to the root shoots by stolons. The tubers serve as nutrient stores. Depending on the variety, the tubers are round, oval, or elongated. The color of the tuber flesh varies from white to yellow to blue and violet.Alkaloids such as solanine and chaconine are found primarily in the potato’s skin and the layer beneath it; these form a natural defense barrier against bacteria and insects, for example. The solanine content increases during storage when exposed to light. Green spots and sprouts must be removed before consumption, as failure to do so can lead to symptoms of poisoning such as diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, or worse. Maturity Period The following categories are distinguished: • Early-maturing potato varieties: Growing season 90 to 110 days, Harvest: June–July Examples: Agata, Amandine, Birte Derby, Frühgold, Lady Christl, Lady Felicia • Mid-early potato varieties: Growing season 120 to 140 days, Harvest: August–September Examples: Gourmandine, Bintje, Blaue St. Galler, Victoria, Ditta, La Ratte, Nicola, Urgenta, Pamela, Naturella, Désirée, Agria, Eden, Allians • Mid-early to late-maturing potato varieties: Growing season 140 to 160 days, Harvest: September–October Examples: Ackersegen, Atlanta, Lady Jo, Lady Claire, Innovator, Lady Rosetta, Marlen, Fontane, Hermes, Eba, Markies, Panda Intended Use Potatoes for culinary use: ◦ Waxy table potatoes Shape: elongated to oval Texture: firm, fine-grained, moist Cooking characteristics: do not split open Flavor: mild to pleasantly robust Varieties: Annabelle, Agata, Amandine, Anais, Belana, Charlotte, Cilena, Ditta, Filea, Hansa, Kipfler, La Ratte, Linda, Marabel, Nicola, Primura,  Princess, Renate, Selma, Sieglinde, Spunta, Stella, Vitelotte ◦ Predominantly waxy table potatoes Shape: irregular Texture: fine-grained, moderately moist Cooking characteristics: minimal splitting Flavor: mild to pleasantly robust Varieties: Agria, Arkula, Astilla, Atica, Bamberger Hörnchen, Bolero, Christa, Colette, Désirée, Finka, Gala, Gloria, Grandifolia, Granola, Hela, Jelly, Laura, Leyla, Maja, Quarta, Rosara, Saskia, Saturna, Secura, Solara, Satina, Tizia, Ukama ◦ Floury table potatoes Shape: irregular Texture: coarse-grained, dry Cooking characteristics: frequently splits open Flavor: pleasantly robust Varieties: Ackersegen, Adretta, Afra, Arkula, Aula, Bintje, Blauer Schwede, Freya, Gunda, Karat, Karlena, Koretta, Libana, Likaria, Lipsi, Mariella, Melina, Naturella, Schwarzblaue aus dem Frankenwald Varieties for further processing: ◦ Potatoes for processing French fries: Agria, Eba, Fontane, Innovator, Markies, Felsina Potato chips: Erntestolz, Fontane, Hermes, Lady Claire, Lady Rosetta Potato flakes: Eba, Saturna ◦ Commercial potatoes Industrial use, high starch content: Amflora ◦ Feed potatoes ◦ Seed potatoes

Growing tips

🌱 Pre-germination • Place in a bright, cool location 3–4 weeks before planting • Pre-germination: 10–15 °C (optimal) • Do not let it get too warm, or the sprouts will become long and spindly • Bright, but not sunny location • Promotes strong sprouts and results in an earlier harvest • Sprout length: 1–2 cm, compact and greenish 🌍 Location & Soil • Loose, humus-rich, deep soil is ideal • Sandy-loam soils • pH: slightly acidic to neutral (approx. 5.5–7) • Potatoes do not like waterlogged soil • Potatoes love full sun • At least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day; more is better. • Partial shade is acceptable, but the yield will be noticeably lower • A location with good air circulation helps prevent late blight. • Do not plant too close to walls or hedges. 🌾 Planting • Planting time: April through May, depending on the weather • Planting depth: about 8–10 cm • Spacing: 30–40 cm within the row, 60–70 cm between rows 🪴 Hilling • When plants are 15–20 cm tall, hill up the soil • Protects against light (green tubers!) and increases yield • Repeat 2–3 times 💧 Watering • Potatoes are relatively hardy, but: ◦ During tuber formation (flowering period), they need sufficient water ◦ It’s better to water infrequently but thoroughly 🥔 Fertilization • Plenty of potassium, moderate nitrogen, some phosphorus • Organic: mature compost or well-rotted manure. • No fresh manure • Potassium-rich fertilizer (e.g., Kalimagnesia) enhances flavor and storage life • Apply base fertilizer at planting; apply additional fertilizer only if the soil is very poor • Mulching (grass, straw) helps retain moisture and nutrients 🧺 Harvest • Early potatoes: as soon as the plants flower • Late varieties: when the foliage has died back • Allow to dry thoroughly before storing, then store in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place 🌿 Good Companion Plants • Beans (bush beans), peas • Kohlrabi, spinach • Corn, ornamental grasses • Marigold, tagetes, thyme, sage, borage, chamomile, parsley, dill • Garlic, onions, chives • Lavender, delphinium, nasturtium, cosmos, lupine, coneflower • Currants, gooseberries, raspberries • Forsythia, weigela 🚫 Bad neighbors • Tomatoes, bell peppers & chili peppers, eggplants, okra • Cabbage family, turnips, canola • Squash & zucchini, cucumbers, melons • Sunflowers, asters, ferns, hostas, dahlias, ivy, Waldsteinia • Beets, Swiss chard • Mint, basil, rosemary, comfrey • Blueberries, cranberries, lingonberries, allacker berries • Elderberry, lilac, blackberries 🔄 Crop rotation • Potatoes should only be grown on the same plot every 3–4 years • Good preceding crops: beans, peas, grains, kohlrabi • Poor preceding crops: tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplants (same plant family → higher risk of disease) 🦠 Common Diseases • Late blight • Blackleg, black rot • Wire rot, Rhizoctonia • Powdery mildew • Viral diseases (mosaic) • Dry spot disease • Fusarium wilt • Potato cancer • Powdery scab / silver scab • Leaf roll disease 🐛 Common pests • Colorado potato beetle • Wireworms • Aphids • Nematodes • Snails • Grubs • Cutworms • Woodlice • Mice • Wild boars

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Plant distance

35 cm

Row spacing

65 cm

Seeding depth

9 cm