Potato Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University			Click photo to enlarge in new window.
VARIETIES Russet= Russet Norkotah, Norgold M, Century Russet White= Atlantic, Gemchip, Chipeta, Kennebec Yellow Flesh= Yukon Gold Red= Red LaSoda, Viking, Dark Red Norland, Sangre
SOIL PREFERENCE Well drained, sandy loam, loamy sand, or sandy clay loam with pH 6.0 - 7.8.
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS Cool season crop: warm days (75 - 85oF), long days (16 - 18 hrs), cool nights (50 - 60oF), optimum mean 60 - 65oF.
ESTABLISHMENT METHODS Vegetatively with 2 oz tuber seed pieces. Optimum time= 2 weeks after last freeze date (soil temp > 50oF). Planting rate lbs/A= 1,600 - 2,200 lbs seed. Planting depth= 2 - 3" Seed piece spacing= 7 - 10" in-row on 34 - 40" raised beds.
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION Rates presented as actual lbs/A N2, P2O5 and K2O (base actual rates on soil test results). Generalized rate lbs/A: 175 - 80 - 80. N- 80 - 200, apply 80 lbs preplant + sidedress at bloom *(use soil and / or tissue analysis to monitor plant nutrition during season). P- 80 - 200, preplant applied in spilt bands 2" deep and 2" to side of seed pieces. K- 80 - 200, preplant applied with initial N application.
*NOTE-On light soils, fertigate based on periodic petiole tissue analysis. Fertilization requirements, especially N vary with varieties.
WATER/IRRIGATION 20-40"; after establishment, vining, bloom, tuber initiation, and tuber growth are critical demand periods.
PEST MANAGEMENT Major Diseases Control Seed piece decay Certified seed, dust immediately after cutting with captan, maneb, Maxim, Polyram Blackleg (bacteria) Certified seed Early blight Bravo, Endura, Gem, Headline, mancozeb, Polyram, Quadris, Rovral, Super Tin Late blight Acrobat, Bravo, Curzate, Gavel, mancozeb, Omega, Previcur Flex, Polyram Tuber rot Avoid poorly drained soils Nematode K-Pam, Mocap, Telone II, Telone C-17 Major Insects Control Leafhopper and Psyllid Actara/Platinum, Admire, Asana, Baythroid, dimethoate, Di-Syston, endosulfan, permethrin, Provado, Sevin, Thimet, Vydate Aphid Admire, diazinon, dimethoate, endosulfan, Fulfill, Monitor, Provado, Vydate European Corn Borer Avaunt, Asana, Baythroid, B.t.'s, Furadan, Lannate, Penncap-M, Spintor Colorado potato beetle Actara/Platinum, Admire, Agri-mek, Avaunt, endosulfan, Guthion, Imidan, Novodor, Provado, Spintor Mite Omite, Vydate Weeds Control Preplant incorporated Eptam Preemergence Dual Magnum, Lorox, pendimethalin, Sencor, Treflan Postemergence Dual Magnum, Matrix, Poast, Select, Sencor Vine killing endothall,diquat,Inferno, paraquat(24c) VINE KILLING CHEMICALS Harvest aids, Chemicals used to kill vines prior to harvest in order to stop growth and facilitate ease of harvest. Des-i-cate, Gramaxone Extra, Diquat, Sulfuric acid. Note- Vine mowers and beaters can also be used to kill vines.
*NOTE- The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some of the labels may bave been revoked since the publication of the guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
HARVEST Mechanical Days after planting= 100-120. Containers= Bulk, hopper bottom trucks for haul to shed. Grades= U.S. #1, U.S. #2, sized and unsized; 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12-oz tubers for count cartons. Packaging/Handling= Washed, graded to size; burlap bag (100 lbs) or box-waxed paper crtns (50 lbs). Anticipated yield/A= 250 - 350 cwt.
TRANSIT CONDITIONS 60 - 65oF at 90 - 95% RH
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS Temperature > 85oF reduces yield and tuber specific gravity (high specific gravity is essential for quality chipping and baking potatoes). Yield is decreased 4% by each 1oF above 65oF mean air temperature during the growing season. Short days (<11 hrs) and night temperature about 54oF is optimum for tuber development. Tuberization decreases at soil temperature > 68oF; no tuberization occurs above 85oF. Harvest and handle with care to avoid skinning (feathering) bruising and post harvest decay. Vine killing(chemically or mechanically) 10 - 14 days prior to harvest helps set skin and reduces feathering. Discontinue irrigation 7 - 10 days on clay loams, 4 - 7 days on sandy loams, and 2 - 3 days on loamy sands prior to anticipated harvest. Two to three hillings required to build bed and provide optimum soil environment for maximum tuber yield. Root pruning by deep cultivation or narrow hilling reduces tuber yield. Tuber enlargement continues until vines are killed; maximum enlargement, last 10 days prior to vine kill. Over-irrigating reduces quality (causes enlarged lenticels), slows skin set and increases tuber rots. Red varieties usually have higher sugar levels and do not chip well because of sugar caramelization during frying. Russet varieties are desired as quality baking potatoes. These varieties are more sensitive to environmental conditions and are not suited for production in South Texas. Three year crop rotation is suggested to reduce disease (nematode) and insect problems.
Texas Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series Revised November, 2003 http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/potato.html Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger