The Yukon Gold potato is a highly popular, all-purpose variety celebrated for its distinctive flavor and texture. This Canadian-bred cultivar features thin, golden-tan skin and richly colored yellow flesh, which often imparts a creamy, buttery taste. Their medium-starch content allows them to hold their shape well in soups and salads while still achieving a fluffy texture when mashed, making them exceptionally versatile. Successfully growing these mid-season potatoes requires attention to planting preparation, proper spacing, and specific ongoing care.
Preparing the Seed and Soil for Planting
Begin by selecting certified seed potatoes to ensure the stock is disease-free and vigorous. If the seed potatoes are large, cut them into two-ounce pieces, ensuring each piece contains at least two “eyes.” After cutting, allow the pieces to sit at room temperature for a day or two until a protective, calloused layer forms over the cut surface; this prevents rotting once planted.
The process of “chitting,” or pre-sprouting, involves placing the seed pieces in a well-lit area around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit a few weeks before planting. This encourages short, thick sprouts and ensures quicker emergence once planted. Potatoes thrive in well-drained, loose, loamy soil rich in organic matter.
The soil temperature should reach at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit before planting, which usually occurs in early spring, two to four weeks before the average last frost date. The soil’s pH is important for potato health, ideally maintained between 5.5 and 6.0 to limit the risk of common scab disease. Avoid adding fresh manure or lime, as these can raise the pH. Loosen the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches, mixing in aged compost to improve fertility and drainage before digging the planting trenches.
Planting Depth and Spacing Requirements
Prepare the planting area by digging trenches four to six inches deep. Place the prepared seed pieces cut-side down, with the sprouts pointing upward, along the bottom of the trench. Correct spacing is necessary for a healthy yield and adequate air circulation, which helps prevent disease.
Maintain a distance of 10 to 12 inches between individual potato pieces within the trench. Separate multiple rows by 24 to 36 inches to allow space for growth and the later hilling process. Immediately cover the seed potatoes with only two to three inches of loosened soil, leaving the trench partially unfilled.
Essential Care During the Growing Season
Once the initial shoots emerge, continuous care is required, with hilling being the most time-intensive task. Hilling involves progressively mounding soil up around the stems of the growing potato plant to protect the developing tubers. This process is necessary because any tuber exposed to sunlight will turn green and produce solanine, making it toxic.
The first hilling should occur when the plants reach six to eight inches in height. Pull soil from the sides of the row and pile it around the base of the stems until only the top few inches of foliage are visible. Repeat this mounding process two to three times as the plant grows, adding three to four inches of soil each time, until a broad mound is created. Although Yukon Golds are a determinate variety, hilling is still required to protect the crop from light exposure.
Potatoes have high water needs, especially during the flowering and tuber development stages. Aim for about one to two inches of water per week, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist but never saturated. Waterlogged conditions can lead to root rot or misshapen tubers. Monitor the foliage for common threats like the Colorado potato beetle, manually removing any eggs or larvae found on the undersides of the leaves. Preventative organic measures, such as applying neem oil or a copper-based spray, can help control fungal issues like late blight.
Timing the Harvest and Curing the Crop
The Yukon Gold variety typically matures in a mid-season window, ready for harvest approximately 75 to 90 days after planting. If you desire “new potatoes,” which are small and thin-skinned, you can carefully harvest a few tubers after the plants have finished flowering. For the main crop intended for long-term storage, wait until the plant’s foliage has completely died back.
Once the vines turn yellow and collapse, stop watering the plants and allow them to remain in the ground for an additional two weeks. This waiting period allows the potato skins to thicken and set, which significantly improves their storage life. When harvesting, use a garden fork to carefully loosen the soil about 18 inches away from the center of the plant to avoid puncturing the tubers.
After lifting the potatoes, they must be “cured” before storage to heal any minor skin damage and further toughen the skin. Spread the newly harvested potatoes in a dark, well-ventilated area with moderate humidity for one to two weeks. Following curing, store the mature Yukon Golds in a dark, cool, and relatively humid location, such as a root cellar, where they can maintain quality for several months.