Buy and Treat Seed Potatoes Now for March Planting in Zone 7
Potatoes are thought to originally be from Peru because pictures of them are on ancient pottery from the area. They were prepared for storage by stomping on them and drying them for future use. Potatoes came to North America from Europe in the 16th Century. Today, each American eats 65 pounds of potatoes every year. In our area, potatoes are a cool season crop grown in spring and harvested in summer. Since well-drained soil is important to prevent rotting, small crops can be grown above ground in containers layered with straw, compost and soil. Buy seed potatoes in February, so you have time to prepare them for planting. Planting time is between Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day, depending on the weather. One expert recommends waiting until it is warm enough for dandelions; another says plant when it is 50-degrees. John Harrison of Harrison Fruit Stand said that potatoes can rot in a heavy spring rain. "I don't plant mine until March," Harrison said. ...