How to Grow German Butterball Potatoes

Introduction
This is my first year for growing potatoes at home. I decided to plant 3 different varieties to see what would do best. One of those varieties is the German Butterball . They are a light brown skinned potato that has a very buttery tasting interior. I purchased some at the store before, but they aren’t easy to find. Which is a reason I wanted to grow these. It’s easy to find potatoes like Russets.

When to Plant
You can plant these once the danger of heavy frost is over. You don’t want the ground to freeze up again after planting. But potatoes can handle a light frost. Plus you want to plant them as early as you can because as the season goes on the chance of disease increases.

Early, Mid, or Late Variety?
Potatoes are categorized as either early, mid, or late season types. This indicates how long they take to grow and when in the season they will be ready. I choose one of each variety. German Butterball potatoes are a late season variety, so they will be the last potatoes I harvest.

Starting Seed Potatoes
I bought my German Butterball potatoes from a local garden store. Never use potatoes you buy from the grocery store. They have not be tested for diseases and often they have been sprayed to slow growth of eyes. Look for potatoes that are around the size of a chicken egg. Bigger ones can be cut in half. Store the potatoes in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant.

Expected Harvest
I planted my potatoes in early May. I got a delayed start because we got a lot of rain this spring and I need to expand my garden to make room for them. I expect the harvest to come in about 3 months, so sometime in August.