Growing Irish potato in geographical zone 8 can be a rewarding experience – in this case , your reward is potatoes . This mild climate is double-dyed for pretty much every mixture of Solanum tuberosum . With a little bit of science , research , and patience , you ’ll be harvest a huge craw of potato this fall . Let ’s talk about when you should plant spud in zone 8 .
USDA Hardiness Zone 8 Climate
zona 8 of the USDA Hardiness Zone Map features a temperate clime with mild winters and hot summertime . ordinary temperatures range from lows of 20 ° atomic number 9 in winter to highs of 90 ° F in summertime .
The first freeze typically get in in mid - November and the last frost typically arrives on March 28th . On ordinary , the produce time of year in zone 8 lasts from late March to early November . Zone 8 is idealistic for growing a variety of plants , including warm - season vegetable , tree diagram , shrub , flowers , and of row , potatoes ! gardener in this zone should be mindful of their local mood , as temperatures and precipitation can depart widely within the geographical zone .
The Best Seed Potatoes For Zone 8
When select seed white potato for growing in zone 8 , it is important to be mindful of the form ’s daylight to harvest and the length of time you have before you want to glean them .
other - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have few day to harvest and should be planted as soon as possible for harvesting in late summer .
Mid - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to harvest and should be planted in belated April or other May for harvesting in dip .
tardy - season varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All Blue ’ have the most twenty-four hour period to harvest and should be plant in late April or early May for harvesting in other wintertime . Be sure to pick out diverseness with the right bit of day to glean for your intended harvest date . Some practiced murphy varieties for geographical zone 8 include :
When To Plant Potatoes In Zone 8
In Zone 8 , murphy should be planted two week before the mean final frost date , which is March 28th . This intend potatoes should ideally be planted on March 14th . Planting potatoes too early can result in the potatoes sprouting and being damaged by the frost , so it is of import to hold back until no more than 2 week before your net frost day of the month . Be aware of your weather prognosis . If it seems like freezing temperatures are persisting subsequently than usual , you may want to detain planting your germ potatoes by a few more days .
How To Plant Potatoes In Zone 8
To plant seed potatoes , begin by preparing the soil for planting . This can be done by tilling the soil to a astuteness of close to 8 inches and add organic compost to the soil . Once the soil is quick , place the seed potatoes in a sunny position that obtain at least 8 hr of lineal sunlight .
The seed murphy should be planted with the “ eyes ” face up and should be spaced roughly 8 to 10 column inch asunder . wrap up the seeded player potatoes with 3 - 4 inches of soil , and water them well . Once the potatoes begin to sprout , add more soil to the words to ensure that the potato are well covered .
Water the white potato vine regularly and keep the area free of weeds .
Caring For Potato Plants
care for potato plants is moderately easy – they ’re improbably hardy and broadly speaking no - fuss . white potato industrial plant take full Sunday and well - drained stain to thrive . They should be irrigate deeply and on a regular basis , let the soil to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also important for optimum growth . Potato plant need a balanced fertilizer with adequate parts N , phosphorus , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six weeks , depending on the filth ’s nourishing depicted object .
It is also important to keep the soil equally moist , as tater do not endure dry or waterlogged circumstance . Mulching around the potato plants can facilitate retain wet and dilute weed .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Zone 8
There are two certain fashion to hump your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is counting back from your current appointment to their planting escort . Potato varieties have an approximative bit of days to harvest , so look up the days to reap for the special variety of potatoes you ’ve planted . If you are n’t sure , take over it ’s around 100 days .
The show of your potato plants is another beat giveaway . You will know your murphy are ready to harvest when the foliage begins to flex yellow and die back . appropriate the soil around the plant to dry before harvesting , but do n’t permit it to be dry for too long . Once harvested , inspect the potatoes carefully- they should be stiff and destitute of greenish or flaccid smear .
