Prepare the soil in the potato bed

At the beginning of April, the first potatoes can be planted: first the early varieties that may have been pre-sprouted in March. The soil temperature should be at least 7 °C for pre-sprouted and 10 °C for non-pre-sprouted tubers; the first harvest can then take place as early as July.

When the potato weed comes out of the ground, you can start mounding. The purpose of this work is to promote the formation of tubers, loosen the soil and prevent weed growth. It also prevents new daughter tubers from growing out of the soil and then turning green and inedible due to exposure to light. Alternatively, the potato bed can be mulched.

The right time to harvest potatoes depends on many factors (variety, ripening group, soil, weather and plant health), but in turn has a great influence on the taste and storability of the potatoes - and not least, of course, on the yield. As a rule of thumb, harvest the potatoes about 14 days after the above-ground haulm has died.