How to Grow Potato at Home: How to grow potatoes on rooftop, balcony and grow bags? Know 10 best potato varieties including Kufri Jyoti, Badshah, right soil, fertilizer, irrigation and easy methods of storage.
There is hardly any day in an Indian kitchen when potatoes are not prepared. It is enjoyed with everything from roti to rice. The good thing is that it does not require a large land to grow it. Potatoes can be grown on the balcony, terrace or even in a small grow bag. All that is needed is the right variety, good soil and a little care. If you too are thinking of planting potatoes at home for the first time, then this article can make your work easier.
Which varieties of potatoes to grow at home?
If you want good yield, it is very important to choose the right variety. Many potatoes of the Kufri series can be grown at home without any hassle in India.
1. Kufri Jyoti
- India’s most popular potato variety
- Excellent yield even in different seasons
- tolerance to diseases
2. Kufri Topaz
- gets ready quickly
- Famous for high production
- gives large sized potatoes
3. Kufri Bahar
- Best for the plains of North India
- resistant to diseases and pests
- Choose for long term storage
4. Kufri Badshah
- Number one in taste and big in size
- Bumper yield in cold weather
- Great for home use
5. Kufri Surya
- Good yield in hot weather
- early variety
- Best for South and West India
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6. Kufri Sindhuri
- Famous for its red peel
- Good yield even in cold
- suitable for long term storage
7. Kufri Ashoka
- Quick-cooking variety
- Best for first time gardening
8. Kufri Evergreen
- First choice of plain areas including Uttar Pradesh
- high production capacity
9. Kufri Neelkanth
- dark purple skinned variety
- Rich in antioxidants and nutrients
10. Kufri Ratan
- Famous for its red peel
- Does not spoil for a long time even after harvesting
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11. Kufri Tejas
- new heat tolerant variety
- good yield and quality
What kind of soil is needed to grow potatoes?
Potatoes do not like very hard soil. Its yield is high in light, friable and water drainage soil. In such a situation, prepare soil with the help of 10% rate, 60% cocopeat and 30% vermicompost. If you wish, add Neem cake, this will provide nutrition to the plants and will also keep the risk of pests away.
How to grow potatoes in pots-grow bags?
- Choose a 20 Inch Grow Bag
- Fill with 10 cm soil
- Place pieces of seed potatoes (make sure there should be 2-3 sprouts in it)
- Add 5 cm fertilizer on top
- Add soil as the plant grows
- Keep repeating this process until the bag is full
When and how much to water potatoes?
- Potatoes grow quickly in moisture
- always keep the soil moist
- water the plant in the morning
- Do not water the leaves at all
- Stop watering 7-10 days before harvesting
Which fertilizer should be applied in potato crop?
Potato is a fast growing crop, hence nutrition is also important.
- vermicompost
- rotten cow dung manure
- wooden rack
- neem cake
- liquid manure
- Seaweed excrete every 6-8 weeks
- Neem cake solution once in 15 days
Major pests and prevention of potatoes
- Aediff- twists leaves, spray neem oil to avoid, put yellow sticky traps
- Late Blight- Brown spots appear on leaves, keep distance between plants, do not water from above
How to store potatoes?
- Do not make the mistake of washing potatoes after harvesting. Instead of this-
- Clean the soil on potatoes gently
- Keep in a dark and ventilated place for 10-15 days.
- Store in wooden baskets
- do not expose to sunlight