Growing potatoes in Maryland is a great means to enjoy fresh , nutritious potato all time of year long . Potatoes can be planted as early as May and can be glean in later August or early September . It is important to select a suitable variety for the climate . The soil should be loose and well - draining , and it should be rectify with compost to ensure equal nutrients .
Since white potato vine need a stack of water supply , mulching the plants with straw or credit card will help retain moisture . on a regular basis hill or mounding grunge around the plants will avail ensure good yields . Harvesting can be done when the potatoes are mature , with the tubers attain the desired size . With proper care and attention , grow potato in Maryland can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience .
Maryland’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
Maryland has a wide range of climates , depending on the growing zone . Zone 5a is settle in the northern and westerly parts of the state , and has cold winters , with temperature dropping to negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the wintertime . Summers are mild with temperatures turn over up to 85 level Fahrenheit .
geographical zone 6a is located in the north - central part of Maryland , and has dusty winters , with temperature swing to damaging 10 academic degree Fahrenheit in the wintertime . summer are mild with temperatures reaching up to 85 degree Fahrenheit .
Zone 7a is located in the central and southerly contribution of Maryland and has milder winters , with temperatures shed to between 0 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit in the wintertime . Summers are red-hot with temperature reaching up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit .
zona 8a is locate in the southern part of Maryland , and has modest wintertime , with temperature drop to between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter . Summers are hot with temperatures gain up to 95 point Fahrenheit .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed potatoes for growing in Maryland , it is significant to be mindful of the potpourri ’s day to harvest and the length of clip you have before you want to harvest them .
Early - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have few days to glean and should be plant as shortly as possible for harvesting in former summertime .
Mid - season varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more day to glean and should be plant in late April or other May for harvest in dip .
recent - season varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All patrician ’ have the most days to harvest and should be planted in late April or early May for harvesting in other winter . Be sure to pick out varieties with the right number of solar day to harvest for your intended crop date . Some salutary spud varieties for Maryland let in :
When To Plant Potatoes In Maryland
murphy can be embed in Maryland from mid - March to mid - May . The soil should be at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit before seeding potatoes . If the stain is too inhuman , thepotatoeswon’t grow decent . Planting too late in the season can result in an early frost , which can damage the crop . To maximize proceeds , potatoes should be planted as soon as the soil is workable in the spring .
How To Plant Potatoes In Maryland
Begin the planting unconscious process for ejaculate potatoes by tilling the soil to a depth of 8 inches and incorporating organic compost . Once you have done this , find a sunny emplacement that find at least 8 hours of direct sunlight and grade the seminal fluid tater .
Plant the cum potatoes with the “ oculus ” facing upwards , leave a distance of 8 to 10 column inch in between each . track the seed potatoes with a stratum of dirt that is 3 - 4 inches thickset , and verify to irrigate them adequately . As the potatoes start to sprout , add more soil to the rows to keep them adequately buried .
Water the potatoes on a steady basis and remove any weeds from the region . For those living in red-hot and dry climate , you may want to wrap up the soil around the potato with wheat , although this is not essential .
Caring For Potato Plants
deal for tater industrial plant is reasonably easy – they ’re incredibly sturdy and generally no - fuss . Potato plant need full sun and well - drain soil to prosper . They should be watered deeply and regularly , allowing the soil to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also crucial for optimum growth . Solanum tuberosum plants call for a balanced fertilizer with adequate parts N , phosphorus , and atomic number 19 . This should be enforce every four to six weeks , depend on the grunge ’s nutritive content .
It is also significant to keep the soil evenly moist , as potato do not put up teetotal or waterlogged conditions . Mulching around the potato plants can avail retain wet and subjugate weeds .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Maryland
There are two certain style to love your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is count backward from your current date to their planting engagement . Potato varieties have an near turn of sidereal day to harvest , so consult the days to harvest for the picky kind of potatoes you ’ve planted . If you are n’t certain , take for granted it ’s around 100 day .
The visual aspect of your potato flora is another dead giveaway . You will bed your potatoes are quick to harvest when the foliage begins to turn yellow and exit back . Your plants will go through an entire flowering cycle , which is courteous because the flowers are really beautiful .
permit the soil around the plants to dry before harvest home , but do n’t allow it to be ironic for too long . Once harvest , inspect the potatoes carefully- they should be fast and free of green or soft spots .
cautiously dig up the potatoes with a garden fork , take away care not to damage the potatoes in the physical process . Once the potatoes have all been labor up , brush off any redundant soil and inspect them for any harm . Discard any potatoes that are damaged , as these are not suitable for farseeing - term warehousing .
last , mildly place the murphy in a cool , dry , and dark region for storage . It is crucial to only store undamaged white potato , as damage white potato vine can quickly rot .
