grow potatoes in Arizona is a great way to grow a nutritious and popular craw . The desert mood of Arizona provide modest temperature and plenty of sun , cause it idealistic for grow murphy . Potatoes need well - draining soil and great deal of water , so ensure to provide plenty of both when planting . Arizona ’s long growing season mean potatoes can be planted in spring and harvested as late as November . To maximize your Irish potato yield , believe planting multiple varieties and rotate your crops each season . With the veracious ground , water , and care , you could enjoy a plentiful harvest of potatoes in Arizona .
Arizona’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
Arizona is a state with various climates , rove from the cooler zone 4b through 7b to the tender zone 8b through 10b . zona 4b is located in the high EL , Zone 4b has cold winters with temperature reaching below 0 degrees Fahrenheit . summer are mild with temperatures averaging in the 70s . hurriedness is minimum , average out less than 10 inches annually .
produce Zone 5b : In this geographical zone , wintertime are cold , with temperature dropping as gloomy as -10 degrees Fahrenheit . summer are balmy , with temperatures usually averaging in the upper 70s . Total annual hurry is about 10 inches .
Growing Zone 6b : Winters in Zone 6b are similar to Zone 5b , with temperature dropping as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit . summertime are modest , with temperatures usually average in the upper LXX . Total annual hastiness is about 10 column inch .
Growing Zone 7b : In Zone 7b , temperatures drop to 0 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter and reach the downcast fourscore in the summer . Annual precipitation is still low , with less than 10 inches yearly .
Arizona’s Hardiness Zones 8 Through 10
grow Zone 8b : Zone 8b has mild winters with temperatures rarely shed below 20 degrees Fahrenheit . Summers are hot , with temperatures reaching into the 90s and higher . rain aggregate are gamy than in the other zones , with an norm of 15 inches annually .
arise Zone 9b : Zone 9b experience soft winter , with temperature rarely put down below freezing . Summers are hot and dry , with temperatures hit into the upper 90 and low 100s . Rainfall is low , with an average of 10 inches annually .
Growing Zone 10b : Zone 10b is the hottest grow zone in Arizona . Winters rarely drop below 40 academic degree Fahrenheit , and summers are extremely hot , with temperature get through as high as 115 level Fahrenheit . rain totals are low , averaging 8 inches annually .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed potatoes for produce in Arizona , it is of import to be aware of the variety ’s days to harvest time and the length of time you have before you desire to harvest them .
Early - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have fewer 24-hour interval to harvest and should be planted as soon as possible for harvest home in late summertime .
Mid - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more days to harvest and should be planted in recent April or early May for harvesting in fall .
previous - season varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All Blue ’ have the most day to harvest and should be planted in late April or former May for harvest home in early winter . Be sure to pick out varieties with the correct number of sidereal day to harvest for your intended harvest date . Some good potato varieties for Arizona include :
When To Plant Potatoes In Arizona
In Arizona , potatoes should be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring , commonly late March or early April . Planting can continue until recent May or other June .
How To Plant Potatoes In Arizona
Begin the planting process for source spud by tilling the soil to a depth of 8 inch and integrate constitutional compost . Once you have done this , find a gay localization that receive at least 8 hours of lineal sun and place the seed potatoes .
imbed the seeded player murphy with the “ eyes ” facing upward , leaving a space of 8 to 10 in in between each . Cover the seminal fluid potatoes with a layer of grunge that is 3 - 4 inches thick , and make certain to irrigate them adequately . As the potatoes start to stock , add more soil to the rows to keep them adequately buried .
Water the potatoes on a steady basis and take any Mary Jane from the arena . For those experience in hot and juiceless climates , you may want to cover the dirt around the potatoes with chaff , although this is not essential .
Caring For Potato Plants
care for potato plant life is middling soft – they ’re incredibly hardy and generally no - fuss . Potato plant need full Lord’s Day and well - drained soil to thrive . They should be watered deeply and regularly , allowing the filth to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also of import for optimum growth . Potato plant need a balanced fertilizer with equal component nitrogen , phosphorus , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six weeks , depend on the soil ’s nutrient content .
It is also important to keep the territory equally moist , as tater do not tolerate dry or waterlogged stipulation . Mulching around the potato plants can aid retain moisture and lose weight sens .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Arizona
There are two sure ways to know your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is count back from your current appointment to their planting date . Potato varieties have an close together number of day to reap , so consult the day to reap for the particular variety of Irish potato you ’ve engraft . If you are n’t sure , assume it ’s around 100 days .
The appearance of your potato plants is another dead giveaway . You will lie with your white potato vine are ready to reap when the foliage begins to turn yellow and die back . Your plants will go through an entire unfolding cycle per second , which is nice because the flowers are really beautiful .
Allow the soil around the plants to dry out before harvesting , but do n’t take into account it to be dry for too long . Once harvest , inspect the potatoes carefully- they should be unfluctuating and complimentary of green or soft spots .
Carefully turn over up the potatoes with a garden fork , train care not to damage the Solanum tuberosum in the process . Once the Irish potato have all been dug up , coppice off any spare grime and scrutinise them for any price . Discard any potatoes that are damaged , as these are not suitable for long - full term storage .
Finally , softly set the potatoes in a cool , teetotal , and morose region for storage . It is crucial to only store undamaged potato , as damaged white potato vine can quickly rot .
