Understanding a potato’s inherent growth pattern is key to successful cultivation. Varieties are classified by how they produce tubers beneath the soil. This classification allows gardeners to tailor techniques for the best possible harvest, as different varieties demand different care.
Understanding Potato Growth Habits
Potatoes are categorized into two major types based on tuber formation: determinate and indeterminate. The distinction lies in where the stolons (underground stems that swell to become tubers) develop. This determines the shape of the underground root system and the harvest window.
Determinate varieties develop tubers in a single, concentrated layer just below the original seed potato. Tuber production typically stops once the plant flowers and the foliage begins to mature. These varieties are often referred to as early-season potatoes due to their rapid growth and short time to harvest.
Conversely, indeterminate potatoes form tubers along the entire length of the buried stem, producing multiple layers of potatoes as the plant grows upward. This growth habit means the plant has the potential for continuous tuber development throughout a longer growing season. Indeterminate varieties are generally categorized as mid- to late-season potatoes due to their extended production window.
Red Norland Specific Growth Classification
The Red Norland potato is classified as a determinate variety, meaning its tuber development is finite and concentrated. It matures quickly, typically ready for harvest 65 to 80 days after planting. This determinate nature ensures a predictable and rapid harvest, making it a popular choice for gardeners in regions with shorter summers.
The tubers set primarily near the original seed piece, forming a dense cluster in one horizontal plane. This concentrated growth pattern means the plant dedicates its energy to a single burst of tuber development before the foliage declines.
Cultivation Differences for Each Type
The growth habit dictates the appropriate cultivation method, particularly concerning hilling. Determinate varieties, like Red Norland, require only minimal hilling to protect developing tubers from sunlight. Hilling ensures that the shallow-setting potatoes do not turn green and inedible from sun exposure, a process known as solanization.
Aggressive hilling, where soil is repeatedly piled high around the stem, does not significantly increase the yield of a Red Norland potato because the plant produces tubers in only one layer. Determinate types are excellent for cultivation in smaller containers or shallow raised beds due to their compact growth pattern.
Indeterminate varieties thrive with frequent hilling because they form new tubers along the buried stem as the plant grows taller. Gardeners benefit from continuously adding soil or mulch to maximize the number of tuber layers and the final yield. This difference also affects harvest timing; determinate potatoes are harvested once the foliage begins to yellow, while indeterminate types are left in the ground longer until the foliage dies back, allowing for maximum vertical tuber development.