Small potatoes (no pun intended)

sic transit gloria · December 31, 2009

I started a new garden patch this year and I had the soil tested. It is low in phosphorus and nitrogen, but has plenty of potassium. I did not amend the potato patch at all and ended up with some pretty uneven results. The Purple Vikings and Carolas were out in good number, but were all very small. This is probably due to lack of nitrogen.

Yet, I've heard that potatoes can develop scab with too much nitrogen. What is the suggested soil amendment for potatoes? Thanks.

**Tom Wagner** · December 31, 2009

If your potash is high enough an application of blood meal for nitrogen and bone meal for phosphorus will balance the soil nutrition quite a bit for potatoes. I usually used a large variety of amendments so that I don't overdo things and the complex mix I apply seems to have synergistic actions.

I am including this link below to explain what happens when potatoes don't have enough nitrogen.

Quote:

Crops such as potatoes, corn, and cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale) use large amounts of nitrogen and need supplemental applications during the growing season (referred to as side dressing). For example, home garden potatoes often show nitrogen deficiency from August into fall. Symptoms start as a yellowing of lower leaves and progress into a general browning and dieback of the vine. When nitrogen stress hits, potatoes become more susceptible to diseases, including early blight and verticillium wilt.

Tom Wagner

beeman · December 31, 2009

I discovered something I can share.
Our potatoes have been getting smaller each year, and I've always had a ready excuse, Too wet, too dry, planted at the wrong time, or wrong variety.
This year I did a professional soil test and found a shortage of Magnesium. Seemingly this would prevent the proper growth in the root area, leading to smaller spuds. Just goes to show how easy it is to be off on the wrong track.
Just my 2 cents worth.

December 31, 2009	#1
sic transit gloria Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: KS 5b/6a Posts: 249	Small potatoes (no pun intended) I started a new garden patch this year and I had the soil tested. It is low in phosphorus and nitrogen, but has plenty of potassium. I did not amend the potato patch at all and ended up with some pretty uneven results. The Purple Vikings and Carolas were out in good number, but were all very small. This is probably due to lack of nitrogen. Yet, I've heard that potatoes can develop scab with too much nitrogen. What is the suggested soil amendment for potatoes? Thanks.

December 31, 2009	#3
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	I discovered something I can share. Our potatoes have been getting smaller each year, and I've always had a ready excuse, Too wet, too dry, planted at the wrong time, or wrong variety. This year I did a professional soil test and found a shortage of Magnesium. Seemingly this would prevent the proper growth in the root area, leading to smaller spuds. Just goes to show how easy it is to be off on the wrong track. Just my 2 cents worth.