How to Grow Potatoes Guide 🥔

Growing Non-GMO Organic Lamoka Potatoes

Lamoka Organic Seed Potatoes are best planted in early spring once the soil has warmed to about 50 F and the risk of frost has passed. They don’t perform well in high heat, so planting is done in the spring. Start by cutting seed potatoes into 2-inch chunks, ensuring each piece has at least one or two “eyes” (sprouts). Allow the cut pieces to dry and scab for 1 to 2 days before planting, which helps reduce the risk of rot. Before planting, it’s beneficial to amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to enrich its nutrient content. The recommended sowing depth for potatoes is 3-4 inches deep. Space each seed piece 12-15 inches apart in rows, with 30 to 36 inches between rows.

As the potato plants grow, it’s important to “hill” them by mounding soil around the base of the plants. This keeps the developing tubers covered and prevents exposure to sunlight, which can cause greening and make the potatoes inedible due to solanine toxicity. Ensure the plants receive at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily, and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Uneven watering can cause tubers to crack or result in smaller yields, so using drip irrigation or soaker hoses is a good method for providing consistent moisture. Be mindful of overwatering, as soggy soil can lead to rot or fungal diseases.

Side-dressing with compost or organic fertilizer once the plants are around 6 inches tall will promote strong growth and tuber production. For companion planting, potatoes grow well with crops like beans, corn, and cabbage. Potatoes should not be planted near tomatoes, eggplants, or peppers. Additionally, rotating potatoes with other crops each year is crucial to reduce the risk of disease buildup in the soil.

Organic Lamoka Potatoes in the Vegetable Garden

Gardeners often choose Lamoka for its low sugar content and high dry matter, which results in light-colored, crispy potato chips that maintain quality even after long periods of storage. In the vegetable garden, this variety offers a reliable crop that performs well in different climates.

Harvesting Organic Lamoka Potatoes

The best time to harvest is when the plant's foliage has started to die back and turn yellow, which usually happens after the flowering phase. This indicates that the tubers have reached maturity and are ready for storage.

To harvest, begin by gently loosening the soil around the base of the plant using a garden fork or spade. Be careful not to stab or damage the tubers as you work. Once the soil is loosened, gently pull up the plants by their stems, shaking off the soil to reveal the potatoes.

Once harvested, allow the potatoes to sit on the soil surface for a few hours to dry and cure in the sun. After harvest, allow the potatoes to further cure in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space for about two weeks to extend their storage life. This helps toughen the skin, improving its storage life.

About Organic Lamoka Potatoes

Lamoka is known for its exceptional chip-making qualities due to its low sugar content and high dry matter. It produces a very light-colored, crispy potato chip, even when stored for extended periods, making it popular in commercial processing.

The Lamoka potato was developed by Cornell University during the late 90s in an effort to produce a more disease-resistant potato that could be used for commercial applications. They intended it to replace the very popular Snowden variety, and it performs better in the kitchen than Snowden when coming straight from cold storage. They were released to the public in 2011.

While potatoes themselves are non-toxic when properly prepared, it’s important to note that green potatoes (those exposed to sunlight and containing chlorophyll) can produce solanine, a toxic compound that can cause gastrointestinal distress if consumed in large amounts. Gardeners should take care to hill soil around the potato plants to prevent the tubers from being exposed to light, which causes greening.

One cup of cooked potato (about 150 grams) contains roughly 110 calories and provides important nutrients such as vitamin B6 and antioxidants, which help with immune support and overall health.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Trying different potato varieties is one of the most fun perks of having a home garden. The potatoes at the store are typically there because they are easy to produce, store, and transport in large quantities. When growing food at home, you don’t have a lot of those limitations and can try all sorts of interesting potatoes with unique qualities."

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

Organic Lamoka Seed Potatoes Per Package:

• 2 lb - Wholesale
• 5 lb - Wholesale
• 10 lb - Bulk

Non-GMO Organic Lamoka Seed Potatoes are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.