Production of small potatoes for whole pack canning

Summary

Potatoes were grown at spacings of 3, 6 and 9 inches, at rates of 800 and 1600 pounds per acre of 5-10-15 fertilizer, with and without irrigation, and at early and late plantings. The purpose was to increase the yield of small, new potatoes for canning whole.

Planting at the 3-and 6-inch spacings outyielded the 9-inch planting in yield of potatoes of the 1 1/4 to 1 7/8 inch range. Spacing did not affect either the yield of No. 1 potatoes (over 17/8 inch) or the total solids content.

The double rate of fertilizer substantially reduced the yield of both small potatoes and No. 1 potatoes but did not affect the level of dry matter.

Irrigation tripled the yield of small potatoes, doubled the yield of No. 1 potatoes but had no influence on the total solids content.

Closer planting required a quantity of seed that was greater than the canning crop produced hence the production of small, new potatoes solely for canning whole is not an economically sound practice.