Determinate vs Indeterminate Potatoes: Which One Should You Plant?

Potatoes are classified as determinate or indeterminate based on their growth patterns. Determined crops typically refer to vegetation that is bushy in nature but constrained in some way, such as cropping or height (single crop of a specific size). On the other side, indeterminate is the opposite: larger plants and frequently longer production.

Each category includes several distinct potato cultivars, so there are many to pick from. Determinate and indeterminate cultivars can be chosen based on characteristics like yield, garden space, and labor input. Before we delve more into how they differentiate, let us first know about each type.

Determinate Potatoes:

Determined potatoes have tubers that develop in a single layer. The soil around the plants does not need to be piled high for this reason. They begin to generate within 70 to 90 days.

In loose soil, seed determinate potatoes at a depth of around 4 inches (10 cm.). Use mulch to suppress weed development and shield the potatoes' tubers from the sun, which will turn them green. Yukon Gold, Norland, Fingerling, and Superior potatoes are examples of determinate varieties.

Indeterminate Potatoes:

It's crucial to create a dirt mound around indeterminate potatoes since they develop at numerous levels. You'll get a better yield if you do this. At 110 to 135 days out, indeterminate potatoes produce late crops.

Start by covering the potatoes with 4 inches (10 cm) of loose soil to grow them. Add several inches (8 cm) of dirt, straw, or dead leaves when the plants have grown to a height of about 6 inches (15 cm) so that there are only 2 inches (5 cm) of the plant left protruding from the mound. As the plant develops, continue to add layers.

Indeterminate potatoes are well suited to potato boxes, towers, or even potato bags due to the numerous layers of tuber production that they produce. These work well in tiny areas since they let you grow while still producing a lot of potatoes. Potatoes like Snowden, Russet Burbank, and Bancock Russet are examples of ambiguous varieties.

Determinate vs Indeterminate Potatoes:

Depending on the types you wish to plant, you might choose one over the other. However, based on your desired yield and the available space, the potato growth characteristics may assist you to choose a variety. To grow more determinate varieties of potatoes, you need a larger garden area. Only if you have vertical room will you receive more potatoes from indeterminate potatoes.