farm potatoes in Massachusetts can be a bully fashion to put up fresh , luscious spud for your family . Massachusetts is a great home to grow spud due to its temperate climate and rich soil . white potato vine can be planted in the early outpouring and glean in former summer or early fall . When set potatoes in Massachusetts , it is best to choose a variety that is know for growing well in the area , such as Yukon Gold , Red Norland , or Kennebec .
It is also authoritative to choose a location with full sun and well - drained grease . To see to it a successful harvest , it is important to repair the soil with compost and mulch to help keep back wet and regulate soil temperature . With a fiddling minute of tutelage and care , you could grow a cracking harvest of potato in Massachusetts .
Massachusetts’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
Zone 5a of Massachusetts has a humid continental clime , characterized by spicy , humid summers and cold , snow-clad wintertime . medium temperature range from lows of -20 ° F in the winter to highs of 85 ° F in the summer . The modal snowfall during the wintertime months is around 40 inches .
Zone 6a of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate , characterized by spicy , humid summers and dusty , snow-covered winter . modal temperatures roam from lows of -15 ° F in the wintertime to high of 85 ° F in the summertime . The average snow during the winter month is around 35 inches .
Zone 6b of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate , characterized by hot , humid summer and cold , snowy wintertime . mediocre temperature range from lows of -10 ° F in the wintertime to senior high school of 85 ° F in the summer . The average snow during the winter months is around 30 column inch .
Zone 7a of Massachusetts has a humid continental clime , characterized by hot , humid summer and dusty , snowy wintertime . Average temperature range from Low of -5 ° F in the wintertime to highs of 85 ° F in the summertime . The average snow during the winter months is around 25 inches .
Zone 7b of Massachusetts has a humid subtropical climate , characterized by red-hot , humid summer and cold , wet winters . Average temperature roam from low of 0 ° F in the winter to highs of 85 ° F in the summertime . The fair snowfall during the wintertime months is around 20 inches .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed Solanum tuberosum for develop in Massachusetts , it is important to be mindful of the variety ’s day to harvest and the length of time you have before you want to harvest them .
Early - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have few days to harvest and should be planted 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 late April or other May for harvesting in fall .
Late - season varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All grim ’ have the most days to harvest and should be plant in late April or early May for harvest home in early winter . Be sure to select variety with the right identification number of days to reap for your intended harvest escort . Some good murphy change for Massachusetts include :
When To Plant Potatoes In Massachusetts
Potatoes should be planted in Massachusetts in late March or former April when the stain temperature reaches 45 ° F ( 7 ° degree Celsius ) . The white potato can be planted earlier if they are take off indoors . Planting in late April or early May is also possible , but the potato may not have enough time to ripen before the first hoar in the fall .
How To Plant Potatoes In Massachusetts
Begin the planting outgrowth for seeded player potatoes by tilling the soil to a depth of 8 inches and incorporating organic compost . Once you have done this , discover a sunny location that receives at least 8 hr of direct sunlight and place the seed potatoes .
Plant the germ potatoes with the “ eyes ” facing upward , leaving a length of 8 to 10 column inch in between each . Cover the seeded player potatoes with a layer of land that is 3 - 4 column inch wooden-headed , and verify to irrigate them adequately . As the potatoes start to spud , add more soil to the rows to keep them adequately bury .
Water the potatoes on a steady ground and remove any locoweed from the area . For those living in hot and teetotal climates , you may want to enshroud the dirt around the potatoes with straw , although this is not essential .
Caring For Potato Plants
Caring for Solanum tuberosum plants is pretty easy – they ’re incredibly audacious and in general no - fuss . Potato plants need full sun and well - drained soil to prosper . They should be water deep and regularly , allowing the soil to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also crucial for optimum growth . Potato plants involve a balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six hebdomad , depend on the grunge ’s nutrient content .
It is also crucial to keep the soil evenly moist , as potatoes do not stomach dry or waterlogged conditions . Mulching around the potato plant can help retain wet and slim down Mary Jane .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Massachusetts
There are two sure ways to know your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is counting backwards from your current date to their planting appointment . Potato variety have an approximative number of days to harvest , so consult the day to harvest for the picky mixture of potatoes you ’ve implant . If you are n’t trusted , assume it ’s around 100 Day .
The appearance of your potato plant is another dead giveaway . You will screw your potatoes are ready to harvest when the leafage begins to grow yellow and die back . Your plant will go through an full flowering bicycle , which is nice because the flowers are really beautiful .
give up the soil around the plants to dry before harvesting , but do n’t appropriate it to be ironical for too long . Once harvested , inspect the potatoes carefully- they should be fast and free of green or diffuse spots .
Carefully dig up the potatoes with a garden fork , taking care not to damage the potatoes in the cognitive process . Once the Irish potato have all been dug up , coppice off any excess soil and inspect them for any damage . Discard any white potato vine that are damage , as these are not suitable for recollective - condition storage .
Finally , gently place the potatoes in a coolheaded , dry , and dour area for storage . It is important to only stack away undamaged potatoes , as damaged potato can quickly molder .
