Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Potatoes (
Solanum tuberosum
)
One of the most productive vegetables for a small farm space. Whereas cereal grains like wheat take
a lot of space to produce usable amounts, potatoes can produce 300 bushels or more on a single
acre. Even 75 feet of potatoes (planted in three, 25-foot-long rows at our house) will produce more
than 500 pounds of potatoes! You can expect that 1 pound of seed potatoes will produce anywhere
from 10 to 20 pounds of potatoes or more.
Potatoes create an abundant harvest in a small amount of space. This 5-gallon bucket is overflowing with
bounty from a single row.
Starting with certified, virus-free seed stock will help improve yields. When you save your own
potatoes to replant in following years you will decrease the amount produced. Potato seeds aren't
seeds at all, but rather small potatoes, or chunks of potatoes, that are planted in the ground.
Potatoes for planting should not be from the grocery store as they will have been treated with
anti-sprouting chemicals. Small potatoes with three eyes or less should be planted whole. Larger
potatoes over 2 ounces and more than four eyes can be cut into pieces with each piece having at
least two eyes and an ounce of flesh.
