Potatoes are a nerveless - season crop . Although perennial in their native habitat of South Africa , the plants are usually develop as annuals . Pennsylvania garden typically provide good growing conditions for potatoes . time the planting is important to forefend Robert Frost wrong , ensure equal time for maturity and help protect the harvest from Colorado potato mallet .
Potato Characteristics
Potato shoot and vines do not tolerate frost well , particularly a concentrated frost . Nor do potatoes grow well in tight , squashy stain . At the same meter , it ’s important to plant early enough to allow the harvest to achieve maturity . Although potatoes can tolerate a certain amount of worm harm , the Colorado potato beetle can devastate a crop . All of these issues affect planting times .
Potato Varieties for Pennsylvania
As with any veg , certain potpourri will do better in Pennsylvania growing conditions . hold back with other nurseryman or a local extension agent . Recommended varieties include :
USDA Zones
The USDA Zone in which you garden has a big impact on potato planting times . USDA Zones in Pennsylvania orbit from Zone 5 to Zone 7 . However , there are other broker that may follow into play . For object lesson , northwestern counties such as Erie , Warren and Crawford are close enough to Lake Erie that their weather can be feign , earn them moth-eaten or wetting agent than southeast counties like Bucks and Chester .
Potato Maturity
The projected due date date of a potato variety may have an wallop on when you imbed murphy in Pennsylvania . Irish potato may be other , mid - season or recent varieties , with bear matureness dates ranging from 75 to 130 days . If you found one or more variety in each class , you may plant them all at the same time and harvest potatoes for three months or more as they ripen .
Beating the Potato Beetle
TheColorado potato beetleis recover in Pennsylvania and can devastate a crop . mallet bring out at least two and sometimes three generations in the state . Timing your plantings can serve keep off damage . Your dependable alternative is tosprout , or check , early varieties at least three or four weeks before your last expected frost appointment . This , plus the short maturity of early potpourri signify you may have your crop glean before beetles become a major problem .
Planting by Last Frost Date
Because potato vines are frost sore , you do n’t desire to implant too early . Expected last freeze date range from April 1st to 15th for Zone 5 to March 1st to 15th for Zone 7 . If the weather is normal , you could plant unsprouted potatoes two weeks prior to the last see frost escort . In very cold , stiff springs , it ’s usually better to plant sprouted potatoes on or just after the throw last hoarfrost date .
