If you’re uncertain whether or not to plant potatoes in your Utah garden, we’re here to persuade you to go for it!
After all, if Solanum tuberosum is native to anywhere, it’s the Americas and you can even grow potatoes successfully in desert conditions.
Would you like to know how this is possible? Then keep reading for our grower’s guide for potatoes in Utah; what varieties to grow, how to grow them, and tips and tricks to successfully grow potatoes in your Utah potatoes.
Knowing the growing zones and conditions is key to growing potatoes in Utah
Utah faces some unique topography and climate which has both positive and negative impacts on the growing conditions for potatoes.
Utah has a semi-arid and mountainous profile, but it is home to a range of climates and planting zones, so keep this in mind when checking your local conditions.
The USDA plant hardiness zones in Utah range from:
- 4a: minimum average temperatures between −30 °F (−34.4 °C) and −25 °F (−31.7 °C) to
- 9a: minimum average temperatures between 20 °F (−6.7 °C) and 25 °F (−3.9 °C)
In the parts of eastern Utah, known as the rain shadow, there is limited rain, but Utah gets the majority of its rain from fronts coming in from the Pacific Ocean.
As expected during the winter months, we will receive snowfall, especially around the Great Salt Lake.
Because of Utah’s varied conditions, you can grow most potato varieties in Utah, based on availability.
The only criteria to grow potatoes in Utah is that the soil temperature should be above 50°F (10°C).
Regardless, there will always be hints and tips for growing potatoes in the desert that would be of value.
Which potatoes grow best in Utah?
Utah State University’s agricultural extension has tested its research on the best vegetable varieties for Utah conditions.
Select these varieties for the best outcomes in Utah soils.
You will love baking and boiling the potatoes because they have white mealy flesh.
Norgold Russett
Days to maturity from planting: 95-110
This potato became very popular because it matures very fast and is adapted for the midwest and western regions of the United States.
Norgold Russett potatoes are elongated in shape and have russett skin which resists scab.
Kennebec
Days to maturity from planting: 125
This variety of potato is American, having been bred by the USDA in Maine in the 1940’s.
It is another fast-growing variety with satisfying yields of white potatoes that are used in the process of making chips.
This variety has some great benefits for the Utah climate as it has various resistances including dry rot, tuber net necrosis, and late blight.
Red Pontiac / Dakota Chief
Days to maturity from planting: 125
For those who like red potatoes, the Red Pontiac has a traditional waxy texture that will hold up well in a potato salad.
This is a US-bred potato variety that became popular in the 1940s.
Red Norland
Days to maturity from planting: 125
This variety was developed at North Dakota Agricultural College during the 1950s, and it has persisted as a premier variety in the west.
It possesses early maturity, but its yields are moderate to low. Additionally, this variety has a much higher susceptibility to blight and viruses than other recommended varieties.
Russet Burbank
Days to maturity from planting:125
This potato is the most common potato is grown in North America and has skinny white flesh and is enjoyed as French fries or as mashed potatoes.
It is resistant to diseases and stores well for long periods of time.
How to grow potatoes in Utah
Cultivating potatoes in Utah doesn’t vary much from growing potatoes in the other 49 states.
Like most garden planting, the amount of effort you put in, tends to be a fairly proportional return on investment, provided you pick from the well-adapted varieties described earlier.
Here in a nutshell are the essential steps.
1. Prime your soil
Even if you are living in a desert-like environment, you can create a raised bed with good drainage and plenty of organic matter to nurture your potato crop.
You can utilize a sandy Utah soil that drains well.
You can amend your Utah soil with liquid fertilizers, or with a one-inch layer of rich compost.
2. Prep your potatoes
Cultivate full or cut potatoes in your yard.
To maximize crop health and quality, certified seed potatoes are recommended because they are very likely disease free.
If cutting a potato into pieces, ensure each piece has at least one eye.
3. Chit your potatoes
You can accelerate the growth of your potatoes using the process of chitting.
Chitting is the process of simply letting them out in a cool and dry location.
The light will trigger them to sprout, which can lead to early growth in varieties.
4. Plant out your potatoes
Now it’s time for your potatoes to be in productive soil.
Keep your rows of seed potatoes in the ground from 4 to 6 inches deep and no closer than 30 inches.
Try and plant 10 seed potatoes per 100 square feet of garden area.
5. Hill up the soil on your potato plants as they grow
Mounding soil around potato plants nourishes them, helps support them and allows room for developing tubers.
You should mound your soil about four weeks after you have planted them.
6. Consider mulching your potatoes
Mulching is a great way to keep weeds away and retain heat and moisture in the soil.
When growing earliers, black plastic can keep the heat in, or you can use straw or grass clippings as an excellent mulch.
7. Control your watering
In cooler weather, overwatering can be a concern.
Excess water increases the chance of blight and can result in waterlogged tuber (potatoes) which are prone to rot.
Once the hottest temperature of summer has passed, really cut back on watering for your potatoes.
It is best to err on the side of caution, and water your potatoes no more than 2 inches per week.
8. Harvesting your potatoes
Potato pests and diseases in Utah
Utah State University advises that these are the most common pests and diseases in the state:
Colorado potato beetle
These small beetles, which are black and yellow, can fairly easily strip your potatoes of their leaves. Hand-picking is the best control we have.
Flea beetle
These are small, shiny black beetles that feed on young potato plants, reducing the vigor and yield of the plants. They are responsive to insecticides.
Early blight
Even in arid regions, providing too much water and watering in the evening, can cause black spots and rot on the leaves.
Control this particular type of blight by taking the affected leaves off and water less.
Tips for growing potatoes in the desert
Growing potatoes in the Utah desert isn’t that much different than growing them in climates with less extremes.
You may even have some benefits as the climate is drier, making it less hospitable to blight.
Here are a few tips for planting potatoes in the desert.
Containers help you get conditions just right
Getting the right soil is possible when you grow your potatoes in containers, even if you live in a dry, lifeless place like a dust bowl.
The basic materials used to have a good crop of potatoes are hessian sacks, empty bins, or even an old paddling pool!
Mulch, mulch, mulch
Getting the full sun your potatoes require will not be an issue in the desert, but providing ample water for your potatoes may be.
A good layer of mulch will make a big difference when watering your potato plant in dry conditions because it preserves moisture through use of covered soil.
Try the hay method
You can grow potatoes in a hay bale – it may sound crazy but it works!
All you need to do is plant the potatoes deep in the hay and water.
The hay bale will give you a great crop of disease-free potatoes. The hay decomposing will keep your potatoes healthy and growing!
You may get a longer growing season
If you begin planting your potatoes early in Utah, you can likely achieve up to four plantings in the year, thanks to the warmer desert temperatures.
Therefore, began to plant your early potatoes, as early as the beginning of March depending on your last frost date.
Rounding up
As you can see, it does not need to be complicated to grow potatoes in Utah.
With potato varieties that are well adapted to the area, you can get growing quickly and enjoy your delicious harvest!