Potatoes are one of the most democratic vegetables in New Jersey , and it is possible to turn them in the Garden State . spud thrive in the warm mood and prospicient growing season found in New Jersey , and they can be planted in the spring or fall . The soil type should be sandy and well - drained , and the soil should be amended with spate of compost to aid the potatoes develop .
When plantingpotatoes , it is important to choose a sort that is well - suited to the climate and soil case . Potatoes need plentitude of sunlight and water system to rise , but too much water can make the potatoes to rot . With the right care and attention , growing potato in New Jersey can be a rewarding experience .
New Jersey’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
New Jersey , located in the mid - Atlantic realm of the United States , is disunite into 6 distinct climatic geographical zone . Zones 6a through 7b is locate in the northern , more temperate region of the state .
Zone 6a lie in of the utmost northern portion of the land and has a humid continental climate with hot summer and dusty winter . Average temperature rove from 30 - 60F in the wintertime to 70 - 90F in the summer . Winters are typically inhuman , with snowfall pass off between December and March . Summers are typically hot and humid with thunderstorms and periodic flooding .
Zone 6b is site in the middle part of the state and has a humid subtropic climate . winter are milder here than in 6a , with temperatures ranging from 25 - 60F in the winter and 70 - 90F in the summertime . snow is less probable to occur and is normally limited to December and January . Summers are raging and humid , with thunderstorms and casual flooding .
Zone 7a is located in the southernmost portion of the state and has a milder , humid subtropical clime . ordinary temperatures range from 20 - 60F in the winter to 75 - 95F in the summertime . winter are balmy , with snow occurring rarely . Summers are hot and humid , with thunderstorms and occasional flooding .
Zone 7b is settle in the extreme southern part of the state of matter and has a tropical climate . mediocre temperatures range from 70 - 90F year round . The area is mostly warm and humid with electric storm and episodic flooding . Hurricanes can happen during the summertime months .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed potatoes for uprise in New Jersey , it is of import to be aware of the variety ’s days to harvest and the duration of time you have before you want to harvest them .
Early - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have fewer days to harvest and should be planted as before long as possible for harvesting in late summer .
Mid - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more days to harvest and should be plant in recent April or early May for harvesting in fall .
belated - time of year varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All Blue ’ have the most days to harvest and should be institute in previous April or early May for harvest in former wintertime . Be sure to select varieties with the proper number of days to reap for your intended harvest escort . Some good tater varieties for New Jersey include :
When To Plant Potatoes In New Jersey
In New Jersey , the good time to engraft potatoes is in late March or former April , once the soil has had a probability to thaw out and when nighttime temperatures are consistently above freezing . Planting white potato in New Jersey before the dirt is warm enough and the risk of hoar has put across can result in piteous outgrowth and stunted payoff .
How To Plant Potatoes In New Jersey
Begin the planting process for seed potatoes by tilling the soil to a depth of 8 inches and incorporating organic compost . Once you have done this , find a sunny localisation that receives at least 8 minute of lineal sunlight and place the seed murphy .
found the seed potatoes with the “ eyes ” confront upward , leaving a aloofness of 8 to 10 inches in between each . Cover the seed potatoes with a layer of soil that is 3 - 4 inches thick , and make certain to irrigate them adequately . As the potatoes go to sprout , total more soil to the row to keep them adequately lay to rest .
Water the potatoes on a unconstipated footing and take away any weeds from the country . For those live in hot and juiceless climates , you may want to report the territory around the potatoes with husk , although this is not essential .
Caring For Potato Plants
Caring for white potato plants is middling easy – they ’re improbably hardy and generally no - pother . Potato plants need full sun and well - drained dirt to flourish . They should be watered deeply and on a regular basis , allow the soil to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also important for optimum growth . Potato plant need a balanced fertilizer with adequate part N , phosphorus , and potassium . This should be applied every four to six weeks , depending on the soil ’s nutrient cognitive content .
It is also important to keep the soil evenly moist , as murphy do not support dry or waterlogged shape . mulch around the tater plants can help retain wet and reduce mourning band .
When To Harvest Potatoes In New Jersey
There are two sure way to bang your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is counting rearwards from your current appointment to their planting date . Potato varieties have an approximate issue of days to harvest , so confabulate the days to reap for the particular motley of potatoes you ’ve planted . If you are n’t sure , assume it ’s around 100 days .
The appearance of your potato plants is another dead giveaway . You will know your potatoes are ready to harvest when the foliage begins to turn scandalmongering and die back . Your plants will go through an intact anthesis cycle , which is courteous because the flowers are really beautiful .
set aside the soil around the plants to dry before harvest , but do n’t leave it to be wry for too long . Once harvested , scrutinise the potatoes carefully- they should be firm and free of green or mild spots .
Carefully dig up the potatoes with a garden fork , shoot precaution not to damage the potatoes in the process . Once the potatoes have all been dug up , brush off any superfluous dirt and scrutinise them for any price . Discard any potatoes that are damage , as these are not suitable for long - terminus storage .
Finally , gently pose the potatoes in a cool , dry , and dark orbit for storage . It is authoritative to only store undamaged potatoes , as damage potatoes can rapidly moulder .
