How to Grow Potatoes in a Raised Bed:

Potatoes are high in potassium, high in fiber, low in calories and are the only commonly available source of natural B3 and iodine. In addition to their health benefits, potatoes are just delicious.  Growing your own potatoes is easy, economical and allows you to delve into the vast varieties of potatoes available including the novelty potatoes such as Viking Purple, All Blue and Island Sunshine.

• The soil temperature will be 5 degrees warmer in the spring that the temperature of the ground; a bonus for Northern gardeners.
• Raised beds making regular weeding easier.
• Crop rotation is more efficient with raised beds. If you have a series of divided raised beds, season 1 plant your potatoes in the first bed. The next year move to the second raised bed and plant a crop such as peas in the area that formally grew the potatoes.

1. Prepare the raised bed with humus-rich soil that is slightly acidic.
   
2. Plant seed potatoes when your soil temperature is 55 degrees or above, or at least 2 weeks have passed since the last frost.
   
3. Start by planting the seed potatoes 5 inches deep and 14 inches apart in the raised bed. Cover lightly with soil and water well.

1. About two weeks after planting, sprouts will emerge. Monitor watering so that the soil is well-drained, but not dry.
2. When the young plants reach 6-8" tall, gently mound soil around the plants by pulling soil from both sides of the row until 3-4"of the plant is left exposed. Repeat the process again every two weeks for a month. Potatoes will grow from the covered stem above the seed potato, so the more stem you hill around, the higher your yield.

1. Every two weeks fertilize by side-dressing with an all purpose organic fertilizer such as Down to Earth All Purpose Fertilizer. DO NOT use high-nitrogen liquid fertilizers like Miracle-Gro or Scotts, which will produce green plants, but sub-standard potatoes.