Growing Potatoes

Step 1. Germination (Chitting)

• Spread the seed potatoes out on a flat surface in a warm, sunny spot.

• Wait until green sprouts appear and grow to about 1 cm long.

• Large potatoes can be cut into pieces, as long as each piece has 2–3 sprouts (eyes). Plant each piece separately.

Step 2. Planting

• When to plant: About 2 weeks after the last spring frost (in Ontario, this is usually mid-May).

• Where to plant: Choose a sunny, well-drained garden bed with loose soil.

• How to plant:

  • Dig a shallow trench.

  • Place the tubers sprout side up, spacing them about 30 cm (1 ft) apart.

  • If using fertilizer, sprinkle a small amount about 5 cm (2 in) away from each tuber (never directly on the potato).

  • Cover with soil using a spade.

Step 3. Growing & Hilling

• When sprouts grow to about 15 cm (6 in) tall, cover the base of each plant with a ridge (hill) of loose soil about 15 cm high.

• Don’t worry if you completely cover the sprouts — they will grow back through the soil and produce more tubers underground.

• Repeat hilling once or twice during the season, building ridges up to 30 cm (1 ft) high.

Step 4. Harvest

• New (young) potatoes: Ready about 10 weeks after planting, once the plants finish blooming.

• Storage potatoes: Wait until the foliage has completely dried out before harvesting.

• After digging them up, leave the tubers in a shady, airy place for 2–3 days to dry and cure.

• Store in a cool (2–5°C), dark, well-ventilated cellar for long-term keeping.

✨ Tip: Proper hilling and curing are the keys to a healthy, abundant potato harvest.