All soils should be incorporated with organic matter. Potatoes do best in soil with a pH that ranges from 5.2-6.8. Alkaline soil will tend to make many varieties of the potato get scabs. Calcium also affects potatoes. The leaves, stems and roots decrease with the increase of the Ca level. Long and slender tuberous roots develop as a result of the calcium addition. With the increase in Ca, the level of calcium, sugar and starch increases but the potassium content will decrease. In soils that have higher than a 6.0 pH, one could use gypsum to supply calcium and not alter the pH. [2] Compost and Nutrition: Properly made compost that is distributed at 25-50 pounds per 100 square feet is generally sufficient in supplying the plant with adequate nutrients. If the compost is not potent enough one could supplement it with fertilizer. [2] Nitrogen and Potassium: When potatoes are given too much nitrogen they grow lots of leafy vines but yield little tubers. Too much potassium and your tubers may have less amounts of protein. [3] Leached byproducts: Potatoes are known to leach out Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Celenium, Magnesium and Calcium. Potatoes, like tomatoes, eggplants, tobacco and petunias, are members of the same family. One common characteristic of these plants is that they produce alkaloids, chemical compounds that are extremely toxic in some forms, benign or medicinal in other forms. For example, the nicotine in tobacco is a non-toxic but addictive alkaloid. The alkaloids are concentrated in various regions of the plant depending on species. In potatoes, the tubers are relatively free of the toxins except when they turn green in a response to light and begin to sprout. [3],[4]
All soils should be incorporated with organic matter. Potatoes do best in soil with a pH that ranges from 5.2-6.8. Alkaline soil will tend to make many varieties of the potato get scabs. Calcium also affects potatoes. The leaves, stems and roots decrease with the increase of the Ca level. Long and slender tuberous roots develop as a result of the calcium addition. With the increase in Ca, the level of calcium, sugar and starch increases but the potassium content will decrease. In soils that have higher than a 6.0 pH, one could use gypsum to supply calcium and not alter the pH. [2] Compost and Nutrition: Properly made compost that is distributed at 25-50 pounds per 100 square feet is generally sufficient in supplying the plant with adequate nutrients. If the compost is not potent enough one could supplement it with fertilizer. [2] Nitrogen and Potassium: When potatoes are given too much nitrogen they grow lots of leafy vines but yield little tubers. Too much potassium and your tubers may have less amounts of protein. [3] Leached byproducts: Potatoes are known to leach out Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Celenium, Magnesium and Calcium. Potatoes, like tomatoes, eggplants, tobacco and petunias, are members of the same family. One common characteristic of these plants is that they produce alkaloids, chemical compounds that are extremely toxic in some forms, benign or medicinal in other forms. For example, the nicotine in tobacco is a non-toxic but addictive alkaloid. The alkaloids are concentrated in various regions of the plant depending on species. In potatoes, the tubers are relatively free of the toxins except when they turn green in a response to light and begin to sprout. [3],[4]
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