Growing Potatoes part 4

Easy Gardening Series

Author: B. Dean McCraw, Extension Horticulturist

Insects

Name and Description		Control
	Adult: 3/8 inch long; black and yellow stripes; feeds on leaves. Larvae: up to 3/8 inch long; red, light orange, two rows of black dots on each side; softbodied; feeds on leaves	Sevin
	1/16 inch long; metallic bronze, black, blue or green; fast jumping beetle; eats small round holes in leaves	Sevin
	1/8 inch long; softbodied; green, pink, red or brown; usually on underside of leaves; sucks plant juice	Malathion
	green; wedge shaped; up to 1/8 long; crawls sidewise when disturbed; sucks juices form leaves; leaves curl upward and turn yellow to brown	Sevin
	1/2 to 1 1/2 inch long; yellow-white, dark head and tail; slender; feeds on tubers	Diazinon

Before applying any pesticide always read the label. Follow cautions, warnings and directions.

Diseases

Potatoes are troubled by several diseases. Treatment of seed pieces with a fungicide prior to planting can be helpful. Your county Extension agent can provide information on what to use.

A good rotation program is effective in controlling most potato diseases. If possible, do not plant potatoes in the same place more than once each 3 years. Do not follow or precede potatoes with eggplant, okra, pepper or tomato. Seed piece treatment is especially important if your garden is too small for adequate rotation.

Serving

Irish potatoes contain 2% protein and 18% starch. They are an inexpensive source of carbohydrates and provide a good quantity of vitamins and minerals when properly prepared. Green areas on potatoes should be peeled away before cooking. Your county Extension agent has suggestions on how to prepare and serve Irish potatoes.

Clean-up

After the potatoes are dug, place the tops in the compost pile. The spring potato crop often can be followed with a summer crop such as southern peas.

[this article is from The Agriculture Program of the Texas A&M University System - Extension Horticulture Information Resource --- used by permission]