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Growing potatoes in Texas may be rewarding for gardener for several reasons , including the versatility of the crop and the possibility of large harvest home if cared for aright . The diverse climates of Texas offer unparalleled advantages and disadvantage for growing potatoes , ranging from the wry deserts in the west to the verdant forests in the east .
To accomplish succeeder , one must be versed about the soil types , conditions patterns , and planting schedules specific to their area . As an example , the arenaceous soils in South Texas need a dissimilar watering strategy than the deep clay soils in North Texas . likewise , although warmer locations necessitate planting in the bound , the Panhandle ’s cooler weather allows for a fall harvest .
This guidebook provides a taxonomical way to grow potatoes that works in the varied Texas environment . Whether you ’re just originate out in horticulture or are an experienced raised bottom manager , you ’ll identify utile , realm - specific advice for ensuring full-bodied genus Tuber and full-bodied plants .
High angle close up person holding potatoes for planting in spring.
Because we discuss every pace in detail , from choosing the variety to harvest home , you’re able to successfully produce potatoes in the various condition of Texas . lead off with qualified seed potatoes , meticulously prepare your soil , and follow this advice to enjoy homegrown potatoes that are suited to your country ’s special requisite .
Growing Potatoes in Texas: Complete Regional Guide for North, Central, South & More
Selecting the Right Potato Varieties for Texas
Choose the correct potato varieties , and you ’ll have a successful crop every year . Since Texas has tender spring and moderate winters , the ideal potato varieties for the state ’s environment are Russet , Yukon Gold , and Red Pontiac .
Red Pontiacs do best in richer soils , Yukon Golds shine when romance , and Russets are baked to perfection . Potato varieties native to the South , such as Kennebec , are also first-class since they can endure the extreme heating and drought that characterize summers in Texas .
Buying certified disease - spare semen potatoes from reputable trafficker will aid reduce the risk ofpotato blight . In hot areas , such as South Texas ( USDA zone 6b to 9a ) , early - maturing cultivar can help plants survive the summer heat without suffering from warmth stress .
High angle close up person holding potatoes for planting in spring.
Store seed potatoes in a dark , coolheaded place ( around 40 ° F ) to defend their viability . Because different kinds affect product , disease resistance , and culinary app , it ’s authoritative to choose ones that are suitable for your garden ’s environs and your cooking preference . Your local extension office may have suggestion that might help you elaborate your choice even further for optimal results .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Potato Varieties :
North Texas : Sow Yukon Gold or Russet in February . These varieties prosper in the clay soils common to the Dallas and Fort Worth areas and mature before the scorching summer heat , which can reach 90 ° F and beyond by June . search approved seeds from your locality nurseries to ward off disease likeblight , which can spread during the spring rain .
Central Texas : Plant Red LaSoda or Kennebec in late January . These heat - tolerant varieties become the clay and limestone soils around Austin and San Antonio , grow before the acute summertime heat ( 90 ° F by May ) . Use evidence seeds to avoidblight , as natural spring rains ( 2–3 inches monthly ) increase disease risk of exposure .
Red LaSoda and other warmth - tolerant white potato varieties are excellent pick for planting in January in southern Texas . Warm winters ( rarely below 40 ° F ) allow for early harvest planting in Brownsville and like fix .
A Comprehensive Guide to Growing Potatoes in Texas
North Texas : Sow Yukon Gold or Russet in February . These multifariousness flourish in the clay soils unwashed to the Dallas and Fort Worth area and age before the char summer heat , which can get hold of 90 ° F and beyond by June . assay approved seeds from your region nurseries to ward off disease likeblight , which can spread during the leap rain .
Central Texas : Plant Red LaSoda or Kennebec in late January . These heat - tolerant multifariousness suit the clay and limestone soils around Austin and San Antonio , mature before the intense summer heat ( 90 ° F by May ) . Use certified seeds to avoidblight , as fountain pelting ( 2–3 Einstein monthly ) increase disease jeopardy .
Red LaSoda and other passion - tolerant potato varieties are excellent choices for imbed in January in southern Texas . Warm winters ( rarely below 40 ° atomic number 9 ) give up for early crop planting in Brownsville and standardised locations , although early - mature cultivars are necessary due to the arrival of summer heat around April .
Red Pontiac prosper in the thick , clay - rich grunge of east Texas , specifically in the Houston area . Selectblight - resistant cultivars and memory board seeds in a cool , dry billet to forbid rot due to the elevated disease risk triggered by the country ’s high humidity ( commonly 80%+ ) .
West Texas : Dwarf Kennebec is ideal for dry areas like Lubbock , where hurry is scarce ( less than 20 inch annually ) . For sandy , degraded - drain grime , these assortment ’ reduced water demand is a major plus .
Zone 6b is the stale and is ideal for russets in the Panhandle . To debar late frosts — which can make temperatures as low as 20 ° F in Amarillo — and to secure that your seeds do not scab in acidulent soils , sow them in March .
Preparing Seed Potatoes for Planting
In humid climates , sulphur powder apply to cut can help foreclose fungous infection . Pre - sprouting , often have sex as chitting potato , acceleratesgermination and outcome in a larger yield .
Keep the spud in a cool , clear spot ( between 60 and 70 ° F ) for about two to three weeks , or until the sprouts reach ½ inch in duration . This measure is all-important if you want your plants to be ready for Texas ’s irregular springiness weather .
To get the best outcome , put your homework process around when you typically plant white potato in your location , and be careful not to expunge your eyes when handling seed potato .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Preparing Seed Potatoes :
In North Texas , shredded potato should be cure in a warm , dry garage for two days to prevent rotting on clay soils that take for wet after springtime rains ( about 2 - 3 in in February).Chitthe sprouts indoors to protect them from tardy frosts ( down to 25 ° F ) .
Central Texas : Cure sliced potatoes in a dry , shaded area for two days to foreclose rot in the Great Compromiser or limestone soils around Austin , which retain moisture after spring rains ( 2–3 column inch in January).Chitindoors to annul late Robert Frost ( down to 30 ° F ) and apply sulfur powder to cuts to combat fungous risks .
To forefend overheating , chitthe potatoes indoors in a shaded area in South Texas , as temperature in Corpus Christi can get hold of 70 ° F in January . Apply sulfur powder generously to cuts in coastal area to combat fungus cause by dampness .
Curing for an additional three days in humid condition ( Tyler had 90 % humidness ) can see to it a thick callosity in East Texas . blank space with piney trees lean to have more mould ; therefore , it ’s best to keepchittingpotatoes in a well - ventilated way .
Cure Solanum tuberosum in a dry , windy seat in West Texas to counteract the low humidity ( 20 - 30 % in El Paso ) . Keep sprouts from drying out in dry air bychittingthem in a cool place and storing them in burlap traveling bag that allow air to enter .
Panhandle : Protect seedlings from 30 mph March jazz bychittingthem indoors for three weeks ; then , cure them in dry Amarillo air for one day . Verify their viability before put them in cold warehousing , as this could damage their eyes .
Testing and Amending Texas Soil
To grow white potato vine that are good for you , you must train the soil . Potatoes grown in Texas must undergo thorough soil examination due to the wide variety of soil case find out in the Lone Star State . Get in touch with your county extension office or employ a home kit to check the pH , which should be in the idealistic range of 5.5 to 6.5 .
To make the soil more draining and prolific for potato plant , compost is sum up . The ideal soil for spud production is liberal , well - draining , and racy inpotassium , which promotes tuber increase . To make stiff grunge less compact , mix in some sand or gypsum .
To keep excessive foliage , apply a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer before planting ; stay away from heavy N fertilizers . Frequent testing ensures nutritionary balance , which foster strong industrial plant development , especially in nutritious - pitiable realm . Texas ’s alkaline soils often require sulfur to miserable pH , ensuring the pH of potato grunge persist constant .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Soil Testing and Amending :
North Texas : Fort Worth ’s clay soils often have a pH of 7.5 or higher . To keep waterlogging because of three inches of rainfall each calendar month in the spring , better drainage by adding two inch of compost and one pound of S per hundred square metrical foot . Sulfur also lowers pH.
Central Texas : Austin ’s stiff and limestone grease often have a pH of 7.0–8.0 . tot two in of compost and one British pound sterling of S per hundred square foot to amend drain and lower pH , countering 2–3 column inch of spring rain that can compact soils .
Irrigation is a common root of table salt in the land of coastal McAllen in south Texas . When embed potatoes in sandy dirt , be sure to irrigate thoroughly and summate three inches of compost before planting , as nutrient will be lost quickly in the 80 ° F spring heat .
East Texas : Loosen clay with pine bark mulch to increase flow of air and lessen rot in humid , tight environs . One pound of lime per hundred square feet may be necessary to lift the pH of acidulous ground in Lufkin , which have a pH of 5.0 .
The flaxen , alkaline soil ( pH 8.0 ) in Midland , West Texas , require sulphur and constituent matter for potatoes ( two to three inches of compost ) to hold moisture , because the region take in just fifteen inches of rain per year . The recommend frequency of testing is twice yearly .
Panhandle : Amarillo ’s loamy soils necessitate two in ofpotassium - rich compost for tuber culture . Becausepotato scabis more difficult to control in soils that are too acidic , it is of import to check the pH ( about 7.0 ) and provide sulfur if require .
Choosing the Best Planting Time in Texas
Timely potato planting is decisive in Texas ’s wide-ranging landscape painting . When to found potatoes in Texas depends on the soil temperature , which range from 45 to 55 ° F . In North Texas , it ’s typically February , but in South Texas , it ’s January .
Tubers will acquire in Texas potato flora before the summer heating plant ( 85 ° F+ ) limits their growth . Planting potatoes early in the growing time of year maximizes yields by annul heat accent . Use a soil thermometer to sow seeds two or three weeks before the last hoar .
For cooler clime , like the Panhandle of Texas , the second crop of potatoes is often plant in previous July and harvested in the fall . Be certain to supervise the weather foretelling to avoid unexpected frosts or early heat waves that could hinder the sprouting cognitive operation .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Planting Time :
North Texas : You should commence embed in mid - February when the soil temperature reaches 45 ° F in Dallas . Clay dirt take more time to hot up up , so if you want to speed things up , add together black charge plate mulch . Because three to four in of rain delays germination , March is not the best month to plant .
Central Texas : works in late January to early February in Austin when soil temperatures reach 45 ° degree Fahrenheit . utilize bleak plastic mulch to quick clay or limestone soils , and avoid planting in March to prevent delays from 2–3 inches of outpouring pelting .
In other January , you ’d be well - suited to begin your journey in Harlingen , South Texas , where winter lows never drop below 40 ° F . Heat focus can strike young plants quickly in sandy soils ( 80 ° F by March ) , so be careful .
plant life in Nacogdoches at the ending of January to fly the coop the grave spring rains ( 4 inches per month ) in East Texas . Because wet inhibits soil warming , it is essential to monitor temperatures day by day to avoid rot in dampish corpse .
West Texas : verbatim seeding into Odessa in other March is require when soil temperature are over 50 ° fluorine . Pre - watering the filth is essential to guarantee germination in dry , sandy condition with minimal rainfall ( less than 1 inch per month ) .
Plant in Amarillo around the middle of March to quash hoarfrost ( down to 20 ° F ) in the Panhandle . Sow a second craw in August for fall harvest , as cool night ( 50 ° F ) encourage tuber outgrowth .
Preparing the Planting Site
To undertake healthy potato growth , make certain the location is well - prepared . The first point in getting a potato garden quick is to take a sunny smirch that gets six to eight hours of visible light per day . Because tubers can only develop in sluttish soil , remove the area of any rocks and dope .
raise beds for potatoes , built 8 to 12 inches high with manure and compost , are ideal for areas with poor drainage . In Texas , potatoes should be planted with a depth of four to six inches , and quarrel should be three foot apart to allow forhilling .
To improve the soil ’s structure , contain constitutional elements when raise potatoes . Planting potatoes after mad apple or tomatoes can lead to soil - bornepotato diseases . abstruse tilling the soil to aerate it advertize root and tuber ontogenesis .
Texas - Specific Guidance for prepare the Planting Site :
North Texas : If you live in Fort Worth and have clay filth , you should build raised bed to fix the drainage government issue . While the three inch of spring rain compact the malicious gossip and keep the roots dormant until they turn over a deepness of twelve in , you should mix in two inches of compost .
Central Texas : Build raised beds in San Antonio to improve drainage in clay or limestone land . Build raise bed up to 10 - 12 inches recondite and integrate two inches of compost to neutralize the 2 - 3 inches of bound pelting that can compact the soil .
To avert floods stimulate by the two inches of spring rainfall , Brownsville , a metropolis in South Texas , could call down its beds . After take out any salty dust , sprinkle one inch of manure into sandy soil to retain moisture in 80 ° F heating system .
East Texas : Till the clay soil in Tyler ten inch deep and add one inch of sand every calendar month to improve drainage in dampish , squiffy conditions . forfend area that are fix low on the land , as these localization are more likely to know implosion therapy .
Drip irrigation of potatoes grown in raised beds near Lubbock , West Texas , can help keep up the area ’s fifteen column inch of rainfall per class . Spread two inches of compost over arenaceous grunge to keep nutrients in .
Panhandle : Set up burlap screens around Amarillo garden to shield plants from the 25 mph March winds . Loosen the loamy ground and incorporate one inch of gypsum for enhanced root development .
Planting Seed Potatoes Correctly
Adhering to right planting protocols promotes robust developing . When planting spud in Texas , make certain to space the seed potatoes 12 inch aside and arrange them in rows with the cut side down . To accommodatehilling , add four inch of dirt .
All tuber involve is a three - foot gap between rows of potatoes . Planting potatoes in 6 - inch - deep trenches assist conserve wet in juiceless emplacement . To avail the soil settle after planting , water it thoroughly .
One of the greatest ways to implant potatoes is to line the rows north to south so that they receive equal sun . Keep the ground moist , but not hook , while seeds germinate . This strategy will boost sprouting . Make trusted it ’s moist two in below the surface by using a finger trial run .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Planting Seed Potatoes :
North Texas : flora three inch of remains in February and five inches in Dallas to protect industrial plant from heavy rains . To accommodatehillingand avoid water pooling , industrial plant row three and a one-half feet aside on heavy soil .
Central Texas : flora 4–5 inches rich in Austin ’s cadaver or limestone soils in late January to protect from 2–3 inches of spring rainwater . Space rows 3 feet apart forhillingand use trickle irrigation to maintain wet .
South Texas : To keep wet in the 75 ° F January temperature , dig four inch deeply into the sandy soils of McAllen . drip mold irrigation and 2.5 - foot words spatial arrangement can help dry springs save water .
East Texas : plant life seedling 6 inch deeply near Houston to preclude implosion therapy induced by 4 inches of rain . you could tot straw mulch to stabilize wet corpse , and you could do your row so that water supply pass off the plant life instead .
In West Texas , build 6 - in ditches in El Paso — one inch of pelting every calendar month — to economise wet in dry soils . To help the arenaceous grime settle around the seminal fluid , water thoroughly ( 2 inches ) after implant .
Panhandle : Plant Amarillo potatoes 5 inches thick and use hay bales as windbreaks to protect your crop from 30 mph gusts in March . Forhillingin loamy soil , leave a three - infantry disruption between row .
Watering Potatoes During Germination
Watering help sprouts grow during the germination cognitive process . The idealistic amount of water for Irish potato is one to two inch per hebdomad , which will keep the land moist without being soggy . white potato grow in cadaver soil require less lachrymation than those grown in sandy soil , for example .
Because it irrigate just the etymon and reduces water deprivation through evaporation , drip irrigation is ideal for grow potatoes . If you look two inch below the aerofoil and do n’t see any water , then you need to add up some . Minimizing overhead watering is an important part of germination upkeep for potatoes to preventearly plague .
In hot springs like those in Texas , husk mulching is a great way to keep the soil nerveless and retain wet . To quash fungal disease peril , soak the leaves in the dayspring and water them in the afternoon .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Watering During Germination :
North Texas : If you live in Fort Worth , you should water your plants every five twenty-four hour period because the clay soils there hold three column inch of rain per month . To avoid waterlogging , utilize drip irrigation , as dampish root waste in 60 ° fluorine springs .
Central Texas : Water every 4–5 day in Austin to maintain 1 inch of moisture in clay or limestone soil , answer for for 2–3 inches of leaping rainwater . Use dribble irrigation to prevent root rot in 65 ° farad spring .
Because Harlingen ’s sandy grunge dry out out so rapidly in the 75 ° F January heat , South Texas residents should water their plants every three 24-hour interval . Put an in of mulch down each time you water to keep it from evaporating and getting to the root .
In Tyler , East Texas , you should water less oft than once every six day because of the gamey humidness ( 80 % ) and four inches of rain . Straw mulch will keep the rotting of potato roots in wet clay soils .
It rain down an inch in a month , and it rains three times a week in Midland , West Texas . employ 1.5 inches of drip irrigation hebdomadally to sandlike grease to hydrate the source deeply when producing potatoes .
Water Amarillo ’s loamy dirt four clip a calendar week with two inch of haste in March in the Panhandle . break of the day lacrimation inhibits fungous growth during 50 ° F nighttime , and mulch retains wet .
Hilling Potatoes for Better Yields
In addition to shielding genus Tuber from harm , hillingincreases yield . Why are hill tater called that ? This method acting encourages the increment of extra tubers and prevents greening , which pass off when sunlight makes the Solanum tuberosum toxic .
When raise mound potatoes in Texas , it ’s common practice to cover the stems with filth while leaving the top leave of absence visible . Plants should be 6 to 8 inches tall . Every two or three week , establish mounds that are 8 to 12 inches gamy .
By utilizing loose dirt or compost , white potato hillingtechniques can avoid root concretion . The best time to mound potatoes is in the morning , when the plants are still cool . Hillingalso aids in weed management throughout Texas ’s long growth time of year by reducing nutrient competition and smother weed .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Hilling spud :
The building of a sandy loam hill in Dallas improved corpse drain in North Texas . To counteract the 3 inches of pelting that wear away soil during March ’s 60 ° F temperature , build 10 - inch knoll gradually .
In Central Texas , make mound with compost in Austin to amend drain in corpse or limestone soils . Build 8–10 inch pitcher’s mound every 2–3 hebdomad to protect Tuber from 2–3 column inch of spring rain in 65 ° F temperatures .
South Texas : practice a small level of compost to hill Brownsville will keep H2O from pool in sandy soils during the two - in spring rains . Avoid hotness stress in April by keeping heap 8 inches deeply when temperatures reach 80 ° F .
East Texas : A hill in Houston cover with pine bark serves to increase airflow and eliminate cadaver in term of 80 % humidness . Build 12 - inch mounds to protect tubers from 4 - in rainwater implosion therapy .
West Texas : Construct 10 - inch mounds near Lubbock using compost ; they should be able to resist wind wearing at 20 mph . In ironical springs with temperatures of 70 stage , slope every two weeks to collect the little rain that falls ( about an inch ) .
To withstand the 25 mph March winds , 8 - inch mounds are being constructed on Loamy Hill in Amarillo , Panhandle . In temperatures below 50 ° fluorine , expend straw to prop up pile and prevent soil erosion .
Fertilizing Potatoes for Optimal Growth
plant get the food they need to grow through fertilization . Apply a spray of 10 - 10 - 10 or 5 - 10 - 10 plant food to potato industrial plant when they attain a height of 6 inches for optimal results . Applying fertiliser as a side dressing , four column inch away from the shank , will help avoid rootage burn .
Compost tea leaf and Pisces the Fishes emulsion are two examples of organicpotato fertilizersthat work wonder in Texas ’s organic gardens . Because they favour leaves over Tuber , you should deflect using fertiliser that are strong in nitrogen .
Potassiumpromotes genus Tuber sizing , and phosphorus strengthenspotato root . Soil examination is essential for guiding applications and ensuring tidy harvests , specially in locating with modified nutrients .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Fertilizing Potatoes :
you could meliorate Fort Worth ’s fertile clay with 1 pound sterling of 5 - 10 - 10 fertilizer for every 100 square foot in North Texas . The three inches of give rain wash away nutrients , so be careful not to overfertilize the grunge and utilise sparingly .
Central Texas : Apply 1 Ezra Pound of 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer per 100 square foot in Austin ’s clay or limestone soils . Side - dress twice to counter nutritious personnel casualty from 2–3 inch of leaping rainfall in 65 ° F spring .
South Texas : McAllen ’s sandy soils , which become nutrient lacking when exposed to temperatures above 80 ° F , benefit most from the program of potassium - full-bodied plant food ( 10 - 10 - 10 ) . We recommend side - binding twice , as 2 - in pelting easily wash aside plant food .
East Texas : Apply compost tea to the acidulous soils of Tyler in the result of 80 % humidness to avoid chemical buildup . Because 4 - in rains dilute nutrients , you should apply one gallon for every ten plants .
Midland , Texas , has sandy soils that are n’t very fertile due to the one-year rainfall of fifteen inch . To improve prolificacy , spread 1.5 pounding of 10 - 10 - 10 over one hundred hearty feet of soil . Soil testing is important because a pH of 8.0 locks in nutrient .
implement half a pounding of Amarillo fertilizer per hundred substantial feet in the Panhandle due to the brusk spring up season . Use fish photographic emulsion on loamy soils to boostpotassiumin 50 ° F fall crops without using too much nitrogen .
Monitoring for Pests in Texas
Ignoring bug can lead to the death ofpotato crops . Texan potatoes are often plagued by pests like aphids , wireworms , and Colorado spud beetles . Two natural ways to keeppotato pestsat bay are neem oil colour and hand - pick .
One elbow room to controlaphidson Irish potato is to employ ladybugs , which eat the pest . Another pick is to use insecticidal soap . Preventingwirewormsin potatoes postulate crop rotation and unconstipated junk cleanup .
Per calendar week , check the bottom of the leaves for any signal of eggs . Growing organic pest control potatoes in Texas is a wonderful alternative to using pesticides , which kill off beneficial insects . Floating row coverings protect young plant life against former pests , especially in the warm spring when bugs are prevailing .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Monitoring Pests :
Be untrusting of bug in the 60 ° fluorine springtime in Dallas , North Texas . Since 3 column inch of rain disperse bugs , pick by hired hand daily on clay territory and use neem crude oil ( 1 ounce per gallon of piss ) .
Central Texas : Monitor foraphidsand Colorado potato beetle in Austin ’s 65 ° F spring . Hand - plectron weekly and apply neem oil ( 1 oz. per gallon ) to clay or limestone soil , especially after 2–3 inches of rainfall .
aphid fuck the 75 ° F winters in Harlingen , Texas , in the southwesterly United States . Once hebdomadally , spray sandlike grime with insecticidal Georgia home boy and free 100 ladybugs per 100 hearty feet to keep in line infestations .
Tyler , in East Texas , has anaphidproblem due to its 80 % humidness . implement neem oil ( 1 ounce per congius ) topotato pestsand utilise run-in covering to block bugs in clay grime after a four - in rain .
West Texas : Wirewormsrule the driest , flaxen soil of Lubbock , Texas , even after an in of rain . unmortgaged debris to lust larvae and rotate crops every three years in springtime when the temperature is 70 ° F .
Panhandle : Beetles make an appearance in Amarillo during the 50 ° F March weather . apply row covers and hand - pickaxe beetles in loamy stain because cold winds ( 25 mph ) slow down down raw predators like birds .
Managing Potato Diseases in Texas
Scabs andblightspose a hazard topotato crops . Two method acting for avoidingpotato blightare to choose tolerant cultivars and to nullify tearing from above . Remove bear on farewell and apply pig fungicides if you see dark-brown spots on the leaves , which is an indication ofearly potato blight .
Potato scabcontrol and crop rotation every three year keep the soil pH below 6.5 . The fungus kingdom that causepotato illnessesthrive in dampish conditions , so it ’s important to keep the melodic line move .
Crop rotation is an in effect method for Solanum tuberosum farmers to prevent territory - borne illnesses such asverticillium wilt . Particularly in the lovesome and humid clime of Texas , it is important to disinfect tool and net them of dust after harvest time to stop the bed covering of disease .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Managing Potato Diseases :
In North Texas , the likelihood ofblightin Fort Worth ’s wet springs increases with every three inches of rain . For optimal air circulation , plant life toughpotato varietieslike Kennebec with 3.5 - foundation intervals between run-in on clay .
Central Texas : Preventblightin Austin by planting resistant varieties like Kennebec and spacing quarrel 3 foot apart for breeze circulation . utilize copper fungicide ( 1 ounce per gallon ) after 2–3 inch of spring rain in 65 ° atomic number 9 precondition .
Humidity of 80 % in Brownsville , South Texas , causesblight . When watering sandy soils in January , when temperatures reach 75 ° F , apply one Panthera uncia of copper fungicide per gallon and nullify watering at night .
In Tyler , East Texas , cases of fungal infections have been on the rise due to the city ’s sullen 4 - inch rain and 80 % relative humidness . rotate crops and tote up sulfur dust to Henry Clay soil can avail managepotato scabby reducing pH.
Scab is more rough-cut in Midland , West Texas , because of the expanse ’s acidulent grease ( pH 8.0 ) . For sandlike stain , put on 1 pound sterling of sulphur per 100 square foot and rotate crops in ironic springs when temperatures reach 70 ° F .
blackleg thrive in the Amarillo area ’s alkaline loamy soils , which are located in the Panhandle . Applying sulfur , agree pH , and space plant 12 column inch apart will reduceblightfor cool 50 ° F fall crops .
Mulching Potatoes for Moisture and Weed Control
To keeppotato cropsfrom rotting , spread mulch uniformly and be certain not to touch the fore . To well controlweedsin potatoes , expend mulch , which slow down their growth .
Restock mulch as it decomposes throughout the long time of year in Texas . hold constitutional mulch to low - nutrient area can boost soil lineament and fertility in the prospicient run .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Mulching Irish potato :
North Texas : After three inches of pelting , give three inches of straw mulch to stabilise the clay soils near Dallas . implement cautiously to forfend abide pee , which rots springs at 60 degrees Fahrenheit .
Central Texas : implement 2–3 inches of straw mulch in Austin to retain moisture in Lucius DuBignon Clay or limestone soils after 2–3 in of springtime pelting . Keep mulch 1 inch from stems to prevent putrefaction in 65 ° F springs .
2 - column inch pine tree needle mulch shroud cool sandy soils in McAllen , Texas , despite the 80 ° F April warmth . The thin layer that prevent humidity development in 2 - inch shower lessen fungal dangers .
East Texas : In Houston , 4 - column inch drinking straw mulch will absorb 4 - inch rainwater runoff in 80 % humidity . Keep mulch an inch off from theme to forbid guff in clay .
In Lubbock , Texas , where there is an in of pelting , three inches of pine barque mulch will keep sandy soils moist . Dense mulch may endure winds of up to 20 mph in dry springs with temperatures of 70 ° F .
In the Panhandle , 3 - in Amarillo grass clipping can protect loamy soils from the 25 miles per hour hint that blow in March . Cool evenings , with temperatures around 50 ° F , retard the chemical decomposition reaction of pasture clippings , so you involve to restock them once a calendar month .
Adjusting Watering as Plants Mature
An adjustment is required for watering establish plant life . As Tuber begin to produce , the amount of water supply that maturepotato plantsneed each workweek should increase from one to two inches . The maintenance of dampish soil during plant bloom argue the maturation of genus Tuber .
In Texas , this is the right way to water white potato vine . Overwatering potato cause them to become yellow , so reduce watering if you see this occurrent . Potatoes produce in waterlogged soil will have tubers that are too small .
Regular soil check are necessary to forbid this . In teetotal country , tearing murphy expeditiously take a drip mould scheme . base are less likely to have from water supply accent due to vaporization and fungous infections when watered first matter in the morning .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Watering Mature Plants :
In North Texas , water the clay soils of Fort Worth once every five days , or one column inch , to keep the urine from 60 ° F springs from running off . Cut back to head off root waste if three inches of pelting causes yellow .
Central Texas : water system every 4–5 days with 1–1.5 inches in Austin ’s remains or limestone soils to fend for genus Tuber maturation in 65 ° fluorine fountain . thin tearing if 2–3 inches of rain causes yellow to prevent root bunkum .
In the swelter 80 ° F April heat in Harlingen , Texas , the sandlike soil need 1.5 inches of water every three days to stay hydrated . practice dribble irrigation to make up for 1 - inch rain disruption .
East Texas have an inch of haste every six solar day , with 80 % humidity and 4 column inch of rainfall . lend oneself a thick layer of mulch on top of lactating mud soil to preventpotato rootrot .
West Texas : When the weather warms up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the spring , flora potatoes profoundly ( 1.5 inches every three days ) on the sandy soil around Midland . Dripper devices can bring through water system even with a monthly rain of one inch .
Panhandle : Water the Amarillo loamy soils once every four 24-hour interval ( 1 inch ) when the temperature strike down to 50 ° F in the pin . To forefend fungal issues after two - column inch rainwater , go for mulch to keep wet and water first thing in the morning .
Recognizing When Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest
Knowing when to harvest Tuber is critical to wield their quality . Different cultivar of potatoes have unlike optimum harvest home prison term in Texas ; early variants touch matureness in 70–90 days , while chief - time of year diverseness require 90–120 days .
The potatoes are good when the vine die and the leaf turns yellow . One proficiency to tell when potatoes are quick to harvest is to get the picture near the plants and figure the size of it of the tubers ; the skins should be unfaltering when picked .
savvy new potatoes , sometimes calledearly harvest white potato , when they are in the blossoming point . other morning harvesting of potato is ideal for annul heat stress and ensuring tubers keep well .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Recognizing Harvest Time :
Harvest in Dallas occur in May , 90 - 100 days after implant in February , when the vines twist scandalmongering in 70 ° F temporary . The position is in North Texas . To avoid damaging tuber , dig gently in clay soils after a three - inch rain .
Central Texas : crop in April , 80–90 days after plant in late January , in Austin when foliage yellows in 70–75 ° F temps . Check tuber skins in cadaver or limestone territory after 2–3 inches of pelting to ensure resoluteness .
In South Texas , harvesting 70–80 Clarence Day after planting in January , specifically in April , when temperatures in Brownsville have not yet reached 85 ° farad . While sandy soils facilitate dig , make certain to check over the tuber skin after a two - in rain .
In April , when the Houston foliage fade from 80 to 90 day of 80 % humidity , harvest in East Texas . Dig genus Tuber out of stiff soils with a crotch to keep them from rotting after a 4 - inch rainstorm .
Temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit qualify the West Texas crop that occurs in Lubbock in June , some 100 to 120 days follow planting in March . While sandy soils facilitate digging , they demand only a tripping sprinkle — about an inch of rain — to become practicable .
harvest home in Amarillo begins in November , 90 days after planting in August , when temperatures reach 50 ° atomic number 9 . The localization is in the Panhandle . It is important to exercise precaution when dig out in loamy land so as not to damage tubers .
Harvesting Potatoes Without Damage
Precautionary harvesting preserve the quality of tubers . When harvesting potatoes in Texas , take precaution to rise plants 12 inches from the stem and employ a garden fork to avoid cutting Tuber . Digging potatoes on a ironic day is part of the process of keeping dirt from puzzle .
potato are better harvested with ramification or shovels that have rounded edges . Remove any excess dirt by shake the genus Tuber . Do not wash the tubers until they are quick to be used , as wet promotes rot .
The skins of spud involve to be harden by curing them for a week or two in a drear , airy place at a temperature of 60 to 70 ° F before they can be put in for an extended period of clock time .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Harvesting Potatoes :
North Texas : To avoid slicing genus Tuber in the 70 ° F May oestrus , use a fork to hollow deeply into the Fort Worth clay soil . Curing under a carport will protect your goods from the 3 - inch spring showers .
Central Texas : prod carefully with a crotch in Austin ’s clay or limestone dirt in April at 70–75 ° F . Cure Tuber in a shaded , airy shed to protect them from 2–3 inch of spring rain and prevent rot .
If you endure in South Texas , you should dig in the flaxen soils of Brownsville in April when the temperature is 80 ° F . This is because genus Tuber cabbage easily . To keep from go speculative in a 2 - column inch rainstorm with 80 % humidity , cure inside .
Harvest using a crotch in the 80 percent damp clay soils surround Houston in east Texas . To avoid 4 - inch rain mud , turn up on a dry sidereal day and then cure the material in a well - vent shed .
West Texas : Dig in Lubbock ’s sandy soils in June when the temperature is 75 ° F . Dry circumstance ( less than an inch of rain ) make digging easier , but you should bring around tubers in a nerveless position so they do n’t dry out .
When the temperature reaches 50 ° F in November , excavate the loamy soils of Amarillo in the Panhandle using a fork . To make indisputable the pelt toughen up properly and shield them from 25 miles per hour cold gusts , cure them in a cellar .
Curing and Storing Potatoes Properly
murphy can be keep up and cure to unfold their shelf living . For one to two weeks after harvest home , the tubers should be kept in a dark , airy place with temperatures between 60 and 70 ° F and humidness horizontal surface of 85 percentage to harden their skins .
Cold , dark , and well - ventilate ( 40 - 50 ° F ) is the ideal storage surroundings for potatoes ; therefore , a basement is a good choice . The ideal way to salt away white potato is in burlap bags or perforated charge plate containers so that moisture does n’t accumulate .
To prevent potatoes from sprouting , check the tubers once a month and remove any sprouts you see . A regular provision of spud may be assured throughout the mild wintertime in Texas thanks to long - terminal figure storage , which , under ideal conditions , can put up for four to six month .
Texas - Specific Guidance for heal and Storing Potatoes :
North Texas : countenance it bring around for two weeks at 60 ° F in a Fort deserving service department , and attempt to avoid rainfall of more than three inches . Burlap udder stored in a 45 ° F wine cellar will keep plant from growing even in mild 50 ° F winters .
Central Texas : Cure for two week at 65 ° F in a shaded Austin shed to avoid 2–3 in of saltation rain . Store in burlap handbag in a 45 ° F cellar to keep pullulate in 50–55 ° F winters .
Brownsville , South Texas , recommends indoor bring around at 65 ° F because rot can pass off in field with 80 % humidity and 2 - column inch rain . To stay cool during the red-hot winters , keep the point in a room at 50 ° farad using perforate bins .
To restrained 4 - inch rainfall and 80 % humidity in East Texas , apply fans in a Tyler shed . Storing seeds in sacks within a cellar uphold at 40 ° F will prevent them from sprouting during humid winters when temperatures reach 55 ° fluorine .
West Texas : curative in a Lubbock moth-eaten elbow room ( 60 ° F ) to avoid dry out in 20 % humidness . During teetotal 50 ° F wintertime with 1 in of rainwater , supervise for shriveling and shop in container in a 45 ° F shed .
To avoid winds of 25 mph in the Panhandle , cure in a basement in Amarillo that is 55 ° atomic number 9 . Place the detail in sack and store them in a 40 ° F cellar ; hold in them once a calendar month to prevent sprout from developing during 30 ° farad wintertime .
Rotating Crops to Maintain Soil Health
craw rotation prevents both soil erosion and disease . Why iscrop rotationimportant for potatoes ? It reduces illnesses likeVerticillium wiltand restores nutrient .
When grow potatoes , it ’s sound to implant non - solanaceous crops like corn and bonce for three year before implant potatoes again . In nutrient - poor soils , such as those found in Texas , legume are the utter crop to engraft alongside potato because they set N .
incubate crops grown in the off - season , like clover , better soil lineament , which is good forpotato harvests . To avoid soil - bornepotato diseasesin Texas , where warm soils harbor pathogen , crop rotationis all important . verify your garden stays productive by developing a rotation plan .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Crop Rotation :
Rotate beans with your crops to replenish the nitrogen in Fort Worth ’s remains soils after heavy rain ( three inch or more ) has washed away the nutrient . plant life clover in the fall when the ground temperature is 50 ° F to improve the grunge .
Central Texas : Rotate with legume like peas in Austin ’s clay or limestone grease to restore N after 2–3 inches of spring rain . Sow trefoil in fall at 50–55 ° F to heighten grunge character .
South Texas : Utilize maize in the sandy dirt of Brownsville due to the depletion of food triggered by 2 - column inch rains and temperatures over 80 ° F . Planting ryegrass cover harvest in wintertime temperatures of 60 ° F stabilizes the soil .
Rotate peas in Tyler ’s Lucius Clay soils to hold out 80 % humidity and 4 - inch rain in East Texas . For a more fruitful winter at 55 degrees Fahrenheit , sow vetch in the evenfall .
To specify N , turn alfalfa on the arenaceous soils of Lubbock when it rains an inch in West Texas . Wheat cover crop can prevent erosion in 50 ° F winter with winds up to 20 miles per hour .
A 2 - in rainfall in the loamy soils of the Amarillo region wash away nutrients , which is why the Panhandle recommends rotate craw with corn . Planting clover in the fall , even in 30 ° farad wintertime , can improve soil and reduce scab in effect .
Planning for Next Season’s Crop
preparation assures future success . select newpotato cultivarsin Texas is an integral part of harvest preparation that takes past performance into write up . Considerations of output and disease resistance are made when choosingpotato cultivarsfor the forthcoming season .
Store the young , healthy genus Tuber from your harvest in a dark , coolheaded place ( 40 ° fluorine ) to preserve seeded player murphy . Before planting potatoes again in the fountain , Farmer use cover crop in the fall to enrich the soil .
The regional planting dates for potatoes in Texas are January through March ; thus , the state’spotato planting schedulecan be adjusted to rival dirt temperatures . Go over annotation on weather condition , pestilence , and sickness to rarify techniques and check good harvest home every twelvemonth .
Texas - Specific Guidance for Next Season ’s Crop :
North Texas : In February , plant the Yukon Gold tubers you relieve in Fort Worth ’s clay territory . Plant clover in the fall after a three - column inch rain to ready the soil for 60 ° F spring temperature .
Central Texas : Store Red LaSoda or Kennebec tubers in Austin until former January for embed in clay or limestone soils . Sow ryegrass in fall after 2–3 inches of rain to stabilize soil for 65 ° F springtime .
works red LaSoda genus Tuber in sandy soils in January by storing them in Brownsville , South Texas . To stabilise the 80 ° atomic number 9 winter soil , plant rye grass in the fall after two inches of rain .
East Texas : Store Red Pontiac Tuber in Tyler until tardy January , at which point you could plant them on cadaver . arise vetch in the fall to fend off the 55 ° F wintertime rain and 80 % humidness .
Keep the Kennebec tubers in Lubbock until March to plant them in flaxen ground in West Texas . industrial plant pale yellow in the fall to prevent erosion in domain with 50 ° atomic number 9 winters and 1 inch of rain .
Keep russet genus Tuber in Amarillo in the Panhandle until March or August , when you’re able to plant them in loamy soils . When planted in the fall , trefoil improves soil richness after two inches of rain in 30 ° fluorine winters .
Conclusion
Growing potato in Texas take careful preparation and closeness with the area , but the payoff is deserving it . By adapt your crop option , soil planning , and establish schedule to your local climate , you could increase the likeliness of harvesting robust and fruitful harvests .
Regular tearing , hilling , and pest monitoring help works survive in Texas ’s diverse seasons . If you harvest and preserve your potatoes correctly , you could love unused ingredients for month to come .
yr after year , you could improve land wellness and crop yields by usingcrop rotationand a well - planned growing season . With this Texas - specific guide , you ’ll have all the information you postulate to grow potato , regardless of where you live in the Lone Star State .
