When To Plant Sweet Potatoes In Idaho

Knowing when to plant sweet potatoes in Idaho is extremely important. If you’re a newbie gardener who’s dreaming about an abundant harvest of potatoes, know that the best time to plant this fiber-rich vegetable is in the first few weeks of April until mid-May.

Gardeners in Idaho usually plant potatoes in the last two weeks of April and the first few weeks of May. Your potatoes will be ready to harvest in as early as September until October.

When To Plant Sweet Potatoes In Idaho

Idaho’s climate is perfect for growing sweet potatoes because the days are warm and the nights are cool. The healthy, volcanic soil and the natural irrigation give the potatoes a rich texture and taste unique to Idaho.

How To Grow Sweet Potatoes In Idaho And When

Since they are rooting plants, you’ll produce the best sweet potatoes if they’re planted in light, loose, and drained soil with a PH of five to seven. Potatoes also grow best under broad daylight.

However, you don’t need to stress too much because, thankfully, these root vegetables are versatile. Most of the time, they will produce great crops even if the growing season and the type of soil are less than ideal.

Keep your potatoes free from weeds and don’t grow them in the same spot. Instead, rotate them within your garden. This helps prevent nutrient depletion in the soil and lower the risk of pests and diseases.

As mentioned, it’s best to plant potatoes from April to mid-May. Knowing when to plant potatoes in Idaho is crucial to

 

Planting Your Sweet Potatoes In Your Backyard

To plant potatoes directly in your garden bed, create rows to properly space them from one another. Dig six to eight inches deep into the soil and plant your potatoes cut side down. Each potato from the same row should be 12 to 15 inches apart and the rows should be three feet away from each other.

If you have limited space or if you’d rather grow baby potatoes, you can plant them closer to one another. You can place four inches of loose soil in the trench. Continue to fill the trench and mound the soil as your potatoes continue to grow.

For best results, cultivate the soil before you plant. This loosens the soil and removes weeds, allowing your potatoes to grow and germinate quicker.

 

Watering your potatoes

To grow the best potatoes, make sure to properly water them throughout the summer. It’s especially important to keep them well-watered during and after the flowering stage.

During this stage, your potatoes are making their tubers, and keeping a steady supply of water is important to produce a good crop. Make sure to give them one to two inches of water every week. Stop watering once the foliage turns yellow and starts to die. This helps prepare the potatoes for harvest.

 

Harvesting your sweet potatoes

For baby potatoes, you can harvest them after two to three weeks of planting. Carefully dig around your potato and gently remove them. You can harvest the bigger ones and leave the smaller potatoes so they can continue to grow. You can immediately consume them after harvesting.

If you plan to store the potatoes, you should only dig them two to three weeks after the foliage dies. Slowly dig around your potatoes and lay them unwashed in your garden for two to three days before storing.

 

The Reason Why Sweet Potatoes Grow Well In Idaho

Idaho’s nutrient-rich soil, clean air, and the cool climate are what you need to grow and harvest flavorful potatoes. The warm, sunny days and the cool nights are an ideal climate for the growth and production of this starchy vegetable.

Additionally, Idaho has rich volcanic soil, and potatoes usually grow better in light soil. The volcanic ash contains minerals that are necessary to produce good potato crop.

Idaho also boasts of a natural, mountain-fed irrigation system. During winter, mountains in Idaho accumulate snow and when spring comes, the snow melts and becomes a large reservoir. People can use the water in the reservoir to irrigate their plants, including potatoes.

Since Idaho is famous for its potatoes, farmers have years of experience and knowledge in growing the best potatoes. They have carefully researched the best soil conditions, climate, and other factors that affect the growth of your vegetable.

 

Why Grow Your Potatoes In A Mini Greenhouse?

If you live in eastern Idaho, you’ll need all the help you could get to reap a successful crop of vegetables and plants. One of the ways you can extend your growing season and protect your plants is to plant them in a mini greenhouse.

Mini greenhouses are a great alternative for gardeners who are not ready to spend a fortune on large, more elaborate greenhouses. This type of greenhouse is simple and cost-effective.

Whether you’re planning on growing potatoes or exotic plants, greenhouses can extend your growing season and create a microclimate. This allows you to grow plants that normally would not survive in Idaho’s climate.

Here are some of the reasons why you should invest in a mini greenhouse:

 

Control the temperature

If your plants are exposed, they may be subjected to extreme weather conditions. The extreme heat and cold can negatively affect the growth of your sweet potatoes. Mini greenhouses offer a temperature-controlled enclosure that protects your plants from the elements.

You can even add heating systems and air ventilation for specific plants and vegetables. The timers connected to your heating system enables you to adjust the temperature depending on the weather. If you familiarize yourself with the potatoes’ temperature preferences, you’ll eventually reap the best crop.

 

Prevent pests and diseases

Since you’re keeping your plants in an enclosure, you can prevent harmful insects from destroying your plants. Additionally, you’ll also prevent diseases from developing by carefully choosing the soil.

If you place your plants in a greenhouse, they won’t be subjected to stressful environments. Your potatoes and other plants can concentrate on growing, rather than repairing.

 

Final Thoughts

Did you know that there are different types of greenhouses? From floor to ceiling windows to small mounted structures, you can be sure that there’s a greenhouse suitable for your needs and preferences.

Even though outdoor gardens allow you to make the most out of the sun, many gardeners prefer the controlled indoor climate. In this way, you’ll remain productive regardless of the weather.

Now that you know when to plant sweet potatoes in Idaho, the next step is to find the perfect greenhouse. If you’re looking for cost-effective and high-quality mini-greenhouses, check out Krostrade. We offer a wide variety of greenhouses that fit every type of property.

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