1. Refesh your seed stock with new seed regularly. Soil and insect born viruses build up in potato populations over time and carry over from mother to daughter tubers. These are undectable to the eye but will drastically reduce yields.

2. Try and rotate the location of your potato patch. Insects and disease build up over time in the same spot, year after year.

3. Green sprouting or chitting your potatoes will make your potatoes get to ground crack faster. Green sprouting is the process by which your potatoes have little green sprouts growing out of the eyes.

To green sprout your potatoes, take them out of the package and put them in a container so there is one layer of potatoes. Put the potatoes in a warm area for a week or two.

A greenhouse is a good place or a wagon can be used to move the potatoes out into the sun and then returned to the garage or shed at night when it is cool. When the green sprouts have begun, plant your potatoes. The potatoes should come out the ground faster than just planting without the sprouts.

4. Potatoes can grow from tiny pieces to large, whole seed. Your potato size should be at least 5 cm ( 2 inches ) in diameter. Potatoes can be cut and put into the ground. Remember to put the eye facing the sky.

5. Plant your potatoes in warm soil. The soil and your seed piece should be near 10 degrees Celsius ( 50 F ).

6. As for fertilizers, any standard vegetable food available at garden centres will work, even a granular 20-20-20. You can mix it in to the soil before planting or water it in once the plants have emerged.

7. If you are watering, use small, regular waterings as opposed to the occasional big blast. Even amounts of water will ensure uniform tuber growth. A soaker hose works great!

8. Hill soil up around the potato plant as much as you can once the plant is about 6 inches ( 15 cm ) tall. This will prevent greening of the potatoes under the plant, ease digging and help retain moisture. Just take a hoe and and hill up the dirt, leaving about half the plant still showing.

9. If you intend to store the potatoes, cut the plant tops off 7 to 14 days prior to digging. This will ensure a the skin will not rub off easily.