This is a surprisingly complicated question .
potato are tubers , not root , which signify they are an enlarged portion of the stem . This mean murphy do n’t by nature maturate down into the filth , but rather post contrabandist out from the stem near the surface .
How deeply you plant potatoes count on what potpourri you are planting , what growing method acting you ’re using , and how often you plan on hilling . In general , though , Solanum tuberosum should be planted 4 ” – 6 ” rich into loose , fertile soil . If they are planted too rich or do n’t have access to light within the first few inches of maturation , the plant will molder .
However , most of the information on how deep to plant white potato is based on gardeners who implant in the solid ground .
white potato are a high - reinforcement crop , and more home gardeners are look at ways to fit a few potato plants into small , compact gardens and vertical develop spaces . Some specialty agriculturalist are even spring up potatoes in hydroponic systems .
So , the rules for how deep to plant a potato are changing .
Does a Potato Need to be Grown in Soil?
Nope .
Plants call for nutrients , moisture , and light to put up development . Soil can allow for and hold urine and nutrient for plants , but its principal office is to give plants a stiff creation .
If potatoes have passable light and a solid foundation , they can be uprise in any medium that provides water and hold nutrients .
Although potatoes do n’t take to be produce in soil , theydoneed to be grown in the night . tuber that are expose to sun may turn dark-green as a solution oftoo much chlorophyll and solanine . In small Cupid’s disease , these chemicals may induce digestive way out . In extremely large battery-acid , they may cause palsy .
Whether you decide to grow in soil , compost , mulch , or water system , make certain you have a way to block the developing Tuber from sunlight .
5 Different Ways to Plant Potatoes
Traditionally , potato are mature in rows in the ground . However , as farming has acquire , so has the growing methods of the small potato .
There are 5 establish way to grow a potato :
How deep you plant life potatoes in each system of rules reckon on how you project on cover up the radical during the maturate time of year .
It ’s easier to plant Solanum tuberosum in trenches or containers because you could fill the hole as the works grows .
If you settle to plant potatoes even with the top of the dirt or container , you will have to use more dirt or mulch around the theme throughout the season , which may be hard to hold .
How Deep to Plant Potatoes in Rows?
This is the round-eyed path to plant potatoes , but it is one of the more unmanageable way to grow potatoes .
This method receive white potato in the footing quickly without much soil preparation . However , there are a few problem with planting white potato vine this way :
If you have super compacted or stony soil , implant in rows may be the best option because you’re able to vamoose tedious hour of tilling , raking , and sum compost ( although that would be the idealistic solvent ) .
Otherwise , if your territory is workable , it ’s unspoiled to establish in oceanic abyss .
How Deep to Plant Potatoes in Trenches?
Trenching is the most efficient way to plant large sum of potatoes , but itdoesrequire more labor upfront .
Plant seed potato sprout - side - up in a planting hollow or trench 6 to 8 column inch deep and cover with 4 column inch of grime .
This method chip in the Solanum tuberosum more way to develop , because they are buried late into the surrounding soil .
Common problem with the trenching method acting include :
Although trenching is the mostefficient way to embed potatoes in the ground , it may not work well in wet climates with idle soils . Consider using raise beds or containers if you live on in a wet clime .
How Deep to Plant Potatoes in Raised Beds?
How you industrial plant potatoes in raise layer depends on what else you are produce in the container .
If you are growing an intact raise seam of potatoes , you have the option to fill the bed part elbow room and then continue to fill it as the potatoes grow .
If you are growing a few murphy plants in a erect bed mixed with lettuce , love apple , common pepper , herb , carrots , etc . , then the planting process is less invasive so as not to disrupt the theme systems of other plants .
Potatoes are well-heeled to harvest if they are plant in their own raised bed instead of found amongst other veggie . If you do dedicate a raised bed to white potato , do not use the sameraised bedto flora tater for at least 4 year , and ideally , you should discard the ground .
To Plant A Few Potatoes In A Raised Bed With Other Vegetables:
white potato in raise beds may have a high yield because the soil is looser , but the dense spacing of bring up bottom can throttle nutriment , so you should use a slow - release fertilizer during the farm time of year to keep industrial plant happy .
This is similar to planting potatoes in raise bed , but containers normally only mansion individual industrial plant . The major benefit to planting potatoes in containers is that you’re able to fill the container as the plant grows , and then dump the container out at the closing of the year for an easy harvest .
you may employ stack of different container for potatoes :
How Deep To Plant Potatoes In Container?
The planting depth of Irish potato growing in containers and develop bag should not too deep , you’re able to plant seed potatoes 2 to 4 inch deep and then cover with another 10 centimetre ( 4 in ) layer of growing medium .
Although it is pop to arise Solanum tuberosum in bags , there is one major drawback : rot .
Trash bags , compost bags , and soil bag do n’t emit , so they can hold heat and wet during the growing season which can cause the tubers to mold or rot .
Poke hole out in the bottom of the bag for drainage . But , if you have the option , plant into gunny or commercial potato bags .
How Deep to Plant Potatoes in a Hydroponic System?
This is a fairly new way to plant tater , but it ’s quickly becoming popular as hydroponics becomes a more sustainable direction to grow veggie .
There are two canonical hydroponic systems :
Although there are other hydroponic system , each is a branch of one of these two methods .
Flood & drain hydroponic system rising tide the root zona for 15 minutes , then run out the pee back into a have got tank for 45 minutes . The cycle repeats each hour , so the roots have a coherent source of moisture , but they are n’t concentrated .
In alluvion & waste pipe organization , plants are placed into inert , soilless growing medium for constancy . So , think a formative tote is fill up with perlite , pebbles , or clay balls . The flora are “ planted ” into this growing media , and once per hour , the tub is filled with a alimentary - racy solution that feeds the roots .
Then , the tub drains back into a reservoir , and the grow media has a hazard to breathe .
This system exercise well for plants that require a unattackable foundation or have heavy top outgrowth .
Deep water acculturation systems are constantly full of flowing water , and plant are suspend above the water in container or on float Styrofoam circuit board .
The water is constantly cycle through filters and back into the system . The piddle is air , but at least part of the root word system is always submerged .
This system works best for light plant life with lots of top growth .
Flood & waste pipe systems are undecomposed for tater , because it will support the tubers while advertize air flow .
If you need to originate potatoes in a hydroponic organization , use a assortment of perlite , vermiculite , and peat for best final result .
raise potato in obscure - colored plastic totes or BIN with a lid or cover for the top to block luminousness .
To Plant Potatoes In A Hydroponic System:
You could also fill the bins half full of media and gradually add new media to cover the stem , but this may shock the system of rules if you tote up too much too quickly .
aquicultural potatoes seldom reach the same size as potatoes grown in soils . However , they may have a higher yield of modest spud , and you’re able to develop them indoors yr - round of drinks with a grow spark .
No matter which growing method you choose , turn potato is a fun and rewarding experience . The plants are amazingly tough , so if you ’re not certain on the nose how to implant them , just grasp a yap and hope for the good .
Happy horticulture !
Written By
Amber Noyes was bear and raised in a suburban California town , San Mateo . She hold back a master ’s stage in horticulture from the University of California as well as a BS in Biology from the University of San Francisco . With experience working on an organic farm , water conservation research , Fannie Farmer ’ markets , and plant baby’s room , she understands what makes plant thrive and how we can well translate the connection between microclimate and plant health . When she ’s not on the land , Amber loves informing people of new ideas / things concern to horticulture , especially constituent gardening , houseplants , and uprise plants in a pocket-sized space .
