Growing spud in Florida can be a great path to get a tasty , healthy craw of potatoes . Potatoes turn best in flaxen loam soil with good drainage , and Florida has stack of that . They necessitate plenty of sun and water , both of which are profusely uncommitted in Florida .
Planting in raise bed or pitcher’s mound helps to meliorate drainage , and keeping the soil moist but not soggy helps to guarantee a sound crop of white potato . Fertilizers should be added to the soil to ensure the best payoff , and mulch can be used to help keep the stain temperature unchanging and moist . With the right condition , Florida gardeners can savour a plentiful harvesting of potatoes each twelvemonth .
Florida’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
In Zone 8 , temperatures range from an average of 10 ° degree Fahrenheit in winter to an norm of 90 ° F in summertime , with only mild icing in the wintertime . This zone is ideal for growing blossom , veggie , and trees that can hold the hot summer and mild winter .
Zone 9 relish a subtropical clime , with an average of 60 - 80 ° F in winter and 80 - 100 ° F in summer . This zona is suited for growing tropical fruits and vegetables , as well as dusty - brave plant .
zona 10 is consider the “ quick temperate geographical zone ” of Florida , with an median temperature of 50 - 70 ° F in wintertime and 80 - 100 ° F in summertime . This zone is excellent for develop vegetables , fruits , and flowers that need warm temperature but also some cold .
lastly , Zone 11 is the warm zone in Florida , with an mean temperature of 70 - 90 ° F in winter and 90 - 110 ° F in summer . This zone is great for grow citrus fruits and other tropical plants , as well as flowers .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed potatoes for growing in Florida , it is important to be mindful of the diverseness ’s solar day to harvest time and the duration of time you have before you want to harvest them .
Early - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have fewer days to harvest and should be institute as soon as possible for harvesting in late summertime .
Mid - season varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more days to glean and should be planted in belated April or early May for harvest home in fall .
Late - season varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All Blue ’ have the most days to glean and should be engraft in late April or early May for harvest in early wintertime . Be sure to select kind with the correct number of days to reap for your destine crop date . Some ripe potato multifariousness for Florida admit :
When To Plant Potatoes In Florida
In Florida , potatoes should be set during the late wintertime and early spring when the dirt temperature is between 45 - 50 ° atomic number 9 . tater should be institute no to begin with than belated January and no later than late April in most function of the state . It is crucial to wait until the soil has warmed up enough to insure successful germination .
Planting should take berth around these dates :
How To Plant Potatoes In Florida
Begin the planting process for seed potatoes by till the soil to a depth of 8 inch and incorporating constitutive compost . Once you have done this , find a gay location that receives at least 8 hours of direct sun and point the ejaculate white potato .
implant the seed potatoes with the “ heart ” facing upward , leaving a distance of 8 to 10 inches in between each . breed the seed potatoes with a layer of dirt that is 3 - 4 inch blockheaded , and verify to irrigate them adequately . As the murphy bulge to sprout , bestow more soil to the rows to keep them adequately bury .
Water the potatoes on a regular basis and transfer any pot from the area . For those live in spicy and dry climate , you may want to cover the soil around the Irish potato with shuck , although this is not crucial .
Caring For Potato Plants
like for potato plants is pretty soft – they ’re incredibly hardy and generally no - fuss . tater works need full sunshine and well - drained grease to flourish . They should be watered profoundly and on a regular basis , allowing the grease to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also of import for optimal growth . Potato flora need a balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen , phosphorus , and K . This should be applied every four to six weeks , depending on the soil ’s nutritive subject matter .
It is also significant to keep the soil evenly moist , as white potato do not tolerate dry or waterlogged condition . Mulching around the potato plant life can help hold back moisture and thin green goddess .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Florida
There are two certain way to know your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is weigh backward from your current particular date to their planting date . Potato varieties have an approximate number of twenty-four hour period to harvest , so consult the day to glean for the particular variety of potatoes you ’ve plant . If you are n’t sure , adopt it ’s around 100 days .
The visual aspect of your Irish potato plants is another dead game show . You will have it off your potatoes are quick to harvest when the foliage begins to plow scandalmongering and cash in one’s chips back . Your plants will go through an full inflorescence cycle , which is nice because the bloom are really beautiful .
reserve the soil around the plants to dry out before harvesting , but do n’t allow it to be ironic for too long . Once harvested , inspect the potatoes carefully- they should be unbendable and gratis of unripe or mild place .
cautiously dig up the Irish potato with a garden fork , taking care not to damage the white potato in the process . Once the white potato vine have all been excavate up , brush off any excess ground and inspect them for any harm . Discard any white potato that are damage , as these are not suited for long - term storage .
ultimately , softly put the potato in a cool , dry , and gloomy area for storage . It is important to only hive away undamaged potatoes , as damage spud can quick waste .
