What is a Potatoe?
A potato is a vegetable, the Solanum tuberosum. It is a small plant with large leaves. The part of the potato that people eat is a tuber that grows under the ground.
A potato has a lot of starch and other carbohydrates. Potato usually has a light-brown or yellowish skin and is white or yellow inside.
How To Grow Potatoes in South Africa
Start with a soil test to understand how best to manage the land.
Prepare your field well in advance – this includes improving soil health and composting.
Space your furrows evenly, and fertilize them well.
Make sure that seeds are adequately covered after planting.
Scout for pests and diseases regularly.
When to plant seed potatoes in South Africa?
The best time to plant potatoes is dependent on the region and requirements.
- In frost-free areas, potatoes can be planted from August to early June the following year.
- In areas where frost is prevalent, planting is best contained from August to December into early January.
How to plant seed potatoes
| Propagation | Done by seed potatoes or tubers |
| Planting Method | By had or mechanical planter150mm deep Ridge to protect the plants once they reach 25 to 30 cm in height |
| Spacing | 20 to 30 cm apartRows 80 to 100 cm apart |
| Fertilisation | There are good organic fertilisers that do very well with potatoes |
| Irrigation | Moist (not wet) soil at plantingIrrigate twice weekly Between 30 and 40 mm of irrigation per week(increased in the case of high temperatures and sandy soils)Start to reduce irrigation when the plants start dying back nearing harvest |
| Harvesting | With a mechanical lifter or by hand Move tubers to a cool, dry area Wash and grade potatoes after harvesting according to market grading requirements Bag and label the potato pockets according to the size and cultivar |
What type of potatoes are grown in South Africa?
Here are some of the potato varieties commonly grown in South Africa:
- Up-to-date (also known as BP1): This is a popular potato variety in South Africa, known for its oval shape and white flesh.
- Sifra (also known as BP2): Sifra potatoes are oblong with smooth, light-buff skin and creamy-white flesh.