By Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension
Growing vegetables in containers can increase flexibility of location selection and help the gardener to overcome pests and poor soil conditions. One of my favorite vegetables to grow in a pot are Irish potatoes also known as “new potatoes” which should be planted by mid-February in Northwest Florida.
Potatoes need full sun, well-drained soil, and regular water and fertilizer to perform at their peak. Seed potatoes should be planted about 4-inches deep and 6-8 inches apart, and soil may need to be added if potatoes start to push to the surface. Consider all of these when selecting the container or raised bed. Ensure your container has adequate drainage holes, as potatoes are prone to rot in saturated soils. Recycling a nursery pot from a large shrub or tree is a great way to keep your cost low if you have any on hand. Be sure to clean any pots that have been used previously with a 10% bleach solution then rinse well before adding new potting soil. Commercial potting mixes are recommended to prevent introduction of weeds, pests, or disease.
For best results purchase seed potatoes from a reputable source. Varieties recommended for Florida include white-skinned LaChipper, Sebago, and Yukon Gold; red-skinned include Red LaSoda, LaRouge, and Red Pontiac. Once you receive your seed potatoes you will need to cut them into egg sized pieces containing at least one eye each. Allow the cut pieces to heal for a couple of days in a cool, dark location before planting to reduce the risk of rot.
The growth of the potato plant generally takes 80-115 days. During this process, the plant will get very bushy and just before the foliage starts to die it should bloom indicating maturation. If these steps do not occur naturally, you can kill the top portion of the plant by cutting it off at the soil line. Once the vegetative portion has died, the tubers will need to stay planted for 2-3 more weeks to bulk up. Cover any potatoes near the surface with a layer of soil.
Harvest potatoes by gently digging them up and store in a cool, dark place with good air flow for 10-14 days. This will give them time to heal over any wounds created when harvesting. If washed before storing allow them to dry thoroughly first. After this initial temporary storage, they can be refrigerated or moved to cooler storage to prevent sprouting.
An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Andra Johnson, Dean. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.
