Potatoes – how to grow your own
The potato is perhaps the most well-known root vegetable we have, and it is also considered one of the most important food crops in Europe. But the potato is not only known in Europe. It is considered a staple food in many parts of the world – and it has saved many hungry bellies throughout history.
Scientific name (Latin): Solanum tuberosum
Family: Nightshade family (Solanaceae)
Many choose to grow their own potatoes, both on a larger and smaller scale. The fact that the potato is relatively undemanding in terms of soil and care makes it an easy-to-grow and popular plant.
Advice for those who grow potatoes at home
You can grow potatoes both in the garden and in a bucket, in boxes, or in soil bags, which makes it possible for almost everyone to grow their own potatoes, regardless of living conditions and space. Many also grow potatoes in plant boxes.
This is how you do it
- Pre-sprouting
Start by pre-sprouting the potatoes to save time and enable earlier harvesting. Egg cartons are excellent for pre-sprouting. Another option is to use a shallow, wide box, covering the bottom with some sand or peat soil. Place the potatoes in the box and let them pre-sprout for about 4–5 weeks so they can develop sprouts and roots. Make sure the sand stays lightly moist, for example, by using a spray bottle. - Planting
When the soil temperature is around +8°C, it's time for planting. Choose an open and sunny spot with poor, well-drained soil (water should not collect in puddles on the soil). Plant the potatoes about 10 cm deep, with row spacing of approximately 50–80 cm. If you plant the potatoes too closely together, there’s a risk of aphids. Leave about 20–30 cm between each tuber, or slightly more space if you're planting late varieties. Water immediately after planting the potatoes and fertilize with some well-rotted natural manure. - Hilling the potatoes
When the shoots have grown about 10 cm, you can help by hilling the potatoes, covering the plant with some soil. This will protect the stem, and the roots will spread, allowing you to grow more potatoes over time. - Watering
Water as needed. It's important not to let the crop dry out, so be attentive and ensure it stays appropriately moist.
When can you harvest potatoes?
If you have pre-sprouted the potatoes, you can expect to harvest approximately 8 weeks after planting if they are new potatoes. If you planted summer potatoes, you can harvest after about 10-12 weeks, and it takes a bit longer for late-season potato varieties.
When talking about potatoes, they are usually divided into two main categories based on their intended use: table potatoes or industrial potatoes. Under table potatoes, there is also a categorization into four levels: early potatoes, new potatoes, summer potatoes, and winter potatoes. This categorization primarily refers to how and when the potatoes are grown and harvested.
Areas of use
- Table Potatoes
Table potatoes are the type of potatoes we most commonly encounter. Even this type can be divided into smaller groups, such as early potatoes, new potatoes, summer potatoes, and winter potatoes. The difference between the varieties is simply how they are grown and when they are harvested. For most of the year, it is primarily fall and winter potatoes that we use as table potatoes in Norway. - Industrial Potatoes
Industrial potatoes are the ones used to produce starch and alcohol.
Different potato varieties
When talking about cultivated potatoes, there are several similar varieties. Some examples include King Edward, mandel potatoes, Bintje, Asterix, Inova, Blue Congo, and Amandine. When it comes to industrial potatoes, other types of species are grown for a specific purpose. Potatoes are usually divided into four different definitions:
- Early Potatoes – Pre-sprouted and grown under plastic or fleece. Harvested with green tops and immature skin.
- New Potatoes – Harvested before they are fully ripe and sold directly after being dug up. The skin is easy to peel off. They must be harvested and sold by September 30 at the latest to be called new potatoes, or in some cases, also early potatoes.
- Summer Potatoes – Harvested when the skin is mature or nearly mature, and sold directly after harvesting.
- Winter Potatoes – Mature potatoes with firm skin that are stored for a while before being sold.
Seed potatoes – which variety should I choose?
- Evolution (Early)
A red early variety with a "potato flavor," providing a good yield and strong resistance to late blight. It has a short dormancy period, even tuber distribution, smooth skin, and is hardy against damage and diseases. Fertilize moderately and harvest early to prevent the potatoes from growing too large. - Solist (Early)
A yellow early variety with good skin color. It produces evenly sized tubers and a good yield. Excellent as early new potatoes. Requires consistent and good moisture, fertilize gently, and should be pre-sprouted. Has good storage properties. - Colomba (Early)
Colomba is a variety with evenly sized, round tubers with smooth skin. It doesn't boil over, but due to its loose texture, it is ideal for mashing. Colomba combines the properties of waxy potatoes and all-purpose potatoes. - Hassel (Early)
The earliest yellow variety, Hassel is a waxy potato with great flavor whether boiled, fried, or baked. Try it in potato salad or gratin in the oven. - Asterix (Mid-season)
A yellow early variety with good skin color. Produces evenly sized tubers and a good yield. Excellent as early new potatoes. Requires consistent and good moisture, fertilize gently, and should be pre-sprouted. Has good storage properties. - Beate (Late)
A well-known Norwegian variety with large tubers and good flavor. It has red skin with light, almost white flesh. Good storage properties. - Mandel (Late)
A starchy specialty potato with great flavor, weak against some potato diseases, but has excellent storage properties. - Kerrs Pink (Late)
An old, well-known Scottish variety with good flavor. It is starchy and has red skin with light, almost white flesh. Immature tubers stay well on the plant, and the variety grows easily in storage. - Pimpernel (Late)
A late, starchy table potato that produces a large yield and stores well. It is a strong plant.
The potato – a beloved tuber with many names
The potato originally comes from South America, where it now occurs both wild and cultivated. However, its name is likely derived from the English word "potato" in combination with the Spanish word "patata."
In Norway alone, it is known by several different names. In the early days, it was called "jordeple" (earth apple), and it is still referred to as that in Telemark and Setesdal. In southern Sweden, it is sometimes called "jordpäror" or "jordpærer," likely because the variety most popular in the area resembles a pear in shape. In France, the tuber is also compared to the shape of an apple – hence the term "pomme de terre," which directly translates to "earth apple." Even in certain parts of Värmland and Germany, the potato is called "jordeple."
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