"VERO'S VERBIAGE & VISUALS"

I see lots of posts from people wanting to plant potatoes and asking questions about the process, and when the best time for planting is, so I decided to share my preferences that are based on 50+ years of successful growing.
One frequently mentioned time for planting is “Good Friday.” (The Friday before Easter).
Since the date for Easter Sunday can vary as much as a month, this is not a reliable planting date.

My parents and all of our neighbors when I was growing up on the farm always grew all their own potatoes. In spring, leftover potatoes were used as seed potatoes for a new crop.

My Daddy and his friends planted on April 10, (widely known as “Tater Day”.) This may not be the ideal time for everyone but a good rule to follow is to plant them roughly a month before your last frost date. Potatoes take two weeks to sprout and another two weeks or so before the plants are any size at all. A light frost will nip them but won’t hurt the overall crop.

No need for all the “chitting” and prepping of the seed starts, just cut the potatoes into pieces that have at least two eyes in each piece and plant two pieces to a hill. Plant the hills about 14 inches apart.
Plant deeply, 8 to 10 inches is ideal if your soil is loose and pliable.

When all the hills have sprouted and have started growing, hoe the patch and mound up dirt around each hill. Potatoes stop producing when the soil gets too warm so the excess dirt and deep planting, keeps them cooler longer. Try to work in at least two hoeings per season to keep the weeds at bay.