Growing potato in Illinois can be rewarding and fun . Potatoes are a hardy craw that can live cold-blooded temperature and are comparatively easy to grow . Potatoes want a light , well - drained soil in a sunny location . If you are growing potatoes in Illinois , you will require to plant them in previous April or former May in an area that has been amended with compost or other organic affair .
Be certain to keep the soil equally moist and free of smoke . When the murphy are ready to harvest , typically in mid - August to late September , you may grasp them up and enjoy your yummy homegrown spud .
Illinois’s Hardiness Zones And Climate
Zone 5a is the cold of the three zones , covering the northernmost and westernmost areas of the State Department . It has red-hot summers and stale wintertime , with average temperatures in summer range from the mid-70s to the mid-80s . winter are insensate , with temperatures averaging in the low 20s . This zone get under one’s skin an average of 30 inch of haste per yr , including wanton snowfall in the wintertime .
Zone 6a covers central and southern Illinois , and has a milder clime than zone 5a . summertime are hot and humid , with temperatures range from the upper 70s to the upper 80s . winter are mild , with temperatures ranging from the mid - teens to the mid-30s . This zona receive an norm of 35 inches of precipitation per year , including moderate amount of snowfall in the winter .
Zone 7a covers the southernmost area of the state of matter , and has the mild climate of the three zone . summer are very red-hot and humid , with temperatures straddle from the upper eighty to the upper 90s . winter are balmy , with temperature range from the mid-30s to the humiliated 50s . This zone receives an average of 45 inch of downfall per year , admit moderate amount of snowfall in the winter .
Illinois ’ mature zones 5a through 7a provide a variety of climates suitable for a wide reach of plants . From the cold winter of geographical zone 5a to the live summers of geographical zone 7a , Illinois ’ farm zones render the perfect environs for any gardener ’s needs .
Different varieties of seed potatoes
When selecting seed potatoes for turn in Illinois , it is crucial to be aware of the smorgasbord ’s days to harvesting and the length of prison term you have before you want to harvest them .
other - season varietiessuch as ‘ Yukon Gold ’ and ‘ Red Norland ’ have fewer days to harvest and should be planted as shortly as possible for harvest in recent summertime .
Mid - season varietiessuch as ‘ Russet Burbank ’ and ‘ Kennebec ’ have more days to harvest and should be plant in late April or early May for harvesting in fall .
Late - season varietiessuch as ‘ Cara Russet ’ and ‘ All grim ’ have the most sidereal day to glean and should be planted in late April or former May for harvesting in former winter . Be sure to pick out varieties with the right number of days to glean for your intended harvest date . Some unspoilt potato varieties for Illinois admit :
When To Plant Potatoes In Illinois
In Illinois , potatoes should typically be planted in previous April to mid - May . This give up the potatoes to take advantage of the coolheaded temperature and moist outflow soils in the state . Planting later than this can conduce to reduced proceeds as the time of year progresses . The ideal planting dates for Solanum tuberosum in Illinois are :
How To Plant Potatoes In Illinois
set out the planting process for seed Solanum tuberosum by tilling the soil to a deepness of 8 column inch and incorporating organic compost . Once you have done this , find a gay location that receives at least 8 60 minutes of direct sun and target the seed potatoes .
implant the seed potatoes with the “ eye ” facing upward , provide a distance of 8 to 10 inch in between each . Cover the seeded player potatoes with a stratum of soil that is 3 - 4 inch thick , and check that to water them adequately . As the spud start up to pullulate , add more grime to the rows to keep them adequately inhume .
Water the potatoes on a regular basis and remove any weeds from the area . For those living in hot and dry climates , you may need to deal the grease around the tater with pale yellow , although this is not all important .
Caring For Potato Plants
Caring for spud plant is passably easygoing – they ’re fantastically sturdy and generally no - fuss . Solanum tuberosum plants need full sun and well - drain soil to thrive . They should be watered deep and on a regular basis , allowing the soil to dry out between waterings .
Fertilizing is also important for optimum growth . white potato vine plants need a balanced fertiliser with adequate section nitrogen , atomic number 15 , and K . This should be applied every four to six workweek , depending on the soil ’s nutrient content .
It is also important to keep the dirt equally moist , as potatoes do not tolerate dry or waterlogged conditions . mulch around the potato plants can help retain moisture and reduce weeds .
When To Harvest Potatoes In Illinois
There are two indisputable ways to get it on your potatoes are aboutready to harvest!The first is consider back from your current particular date to their planting date . Potato varieties have an approximate number of mean solar day to harvest , so consult the daytime to harvest for the exceptional variety of potatoes you ’ve implant . If you are n’t sure , assume it ’s around 100 day .
The appearance of your potato plants is another dead giveaway . You will know your potatoes are quick to reap when the foliage begins to turn yellow and die back . Your plants will go through an entire flowering cycle , which is nice because the flowers are really beautiful .
set aside the soil around the plants to dry before harvesting , but do n’t permit it to be dry for too long . Once harvested , inspect the white potato carefully- they should be firm and destitute of green or soft spot .
cautiously drudge up the white potato vine with a garden fork , taking care not to damage the potatoes in the summons . Once the potatoes have all been cut into up , brush off any excess soil and inspect them for any scathe . Discard any white potato that are damaged , as these are not suitable for long - term store .
Finally , gently place the potatoes in a nerveless , ironic , and sullen area for storage . It is important to only put in undamaged potatoes , as damaged potatoes can apace rot .
