Austrian crescent potatoes are native to the tropical mountains and are known for their waxy texture and low starch. This makes them ideal for use in dishes where you want the potato to hold its shape.
These potatoes are also relatively disease-resistant, making them a good choice for gardeners who are new to growing potatoes.
Contents
What Is Austrian Crescent Potato?
Austrian Crescent potatoes is a variety of fingerling potatoes characterized by their crescent-shaped appearance. The potatoes are usually white or a very yellow color, and have a smooth texture. They are typically medium to large in size and have a slightly nutty flavor.
Austrian Crescent Potatoes Care
When it comes to caring for these potato plants, there are a few basic things you need to do to ensure a healthy crop:
– Water Requirements
When watering your potatoes, the key is to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Water them deeply every once a week, and make sure that the soil has a chance to dry out somewhat in between waterings. If the soil is too wet, the potatoes may rot. Remember that the potatoes will be smaller and less flavorful if it’s too dry.
– Light Requirements
These potatoes need full sun to partial shade. You must plant them where there are at least six hours of sun per day. However, they will tolerate some shade, especially in hot summer climates.
When it comes to light requirements, these potatoes are not too picky. They will be happy if they get some direct sunlight each day. If you are going to plant them in an area that is known for its hot climate, it is best to give them some afternoon shade to prevent the leaves from burning.
– Soil Requirements
When it comes to growing these potatoes, soil requirements are not too different from other types of potatoes. They prefer well-drained, sandy loam soils that are high in organic matter.
The soil should be slightly acidic, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. If you are unsure about the pH of your soil, you can have it tested by your local cooperative extension office.
– Temperature Requirements
Crescent fingerling needs a temperature range of 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit to grow them correctly. If the temperature gets too cold, the potatoes will not develop properly and may even die. Likewise hot, the potatoes will not be as flavorful if the temperature gets too hot.
– Humidity Requirements
This potato is well-suited for growing in areas with high humidity. This potato variety is tolerant to heat and cold and can be grown in various climates. When growing these fingerling potatoes, it is essential to ensure that the plants have enough moisture.
– Fertilizing Requirements
When it comes to fertilizing these potatoes, you will want to use a high phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Potatoes are heavy feeders, which means they need plenty of nutrients to grow properly. You can either apply a granular fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer to the soil around the potato plants.
Harvesting
These are versatile and delicious potatoes you can harvest in late summer or early fall and have prolific yields. Here’s how you do it:
– How to Harvest
To harvest these potatoes, you may dig around the plants with a shovel or spading fork to loosen the soil, then gently lift the plants out of the ground. Each plant should yield about 10 to 20 small to medium-sized potatoes. It’s that easy to harvest them.
– How to Store
Once you’ve harvested your potatoes, it’s essential to store them properly to ensure they stay fresh and delicious. You must keep potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place. A basement or root cellar is ideal, but a closet or pantry will also work.
Ensure the potatoes are not exposed to any light, which will cause them to turn green and bitter. Simply place the potatoes in a box or basket, and put them in a cool, dark place. Seed potatoes can be stored too.
Common Problems
If you’re growing these potatoes, you may be familiar with some of the most common problems. These include early blight, late blight, Septoria leaf spot, whiteflies, and spider mites. Below we elaborate at each of these problems so you can be better prepared to deal with them:
– Early Blight
Early blight is a common fungal disease which would affect the leaves and fruit of your potato plants. The early blight fungus infects the plant through wounds in the leaves, causing them to turn brown and die. If left unchecked, early blight can spread quickly and kill your entire potato crop.
– Late Blight
Late blight is another fungal disease that can affect the leaves and fruit of your potato plants. Unlike early blight, late blight typically only affects the plant’s leaves. The late blight fungus infects the plant through wounds in the leaves, causing them to turn brown and die. Late blight can spread quickly and kill your entire potato crop if left unchecked.
– Septoria Leaf Spot
Septoria leaf spot is a fungal disease affecting your potato plants’ leaves. The Septoria leaf spot fungus infects the plant through wounds in the leaves, causing them to turn brown and die. If left unchecked, Septoria leaf spots can spread quickly and kill your entire potato crop.
– Whiteflies
Whiteflies are small insects which would feed on the sap of your potato plants. Whiteflies can cause the leaves of your plants to turn yellow and die. Whiteflies can spread quickly and kill your entire potato crop if left unchecked.
– Spider Mites
Spider mites are tiny insects that feed on the sap of your potato plants. Spider mites can cause the leaves of your plants to turn yellow and die. If left unchecked, spider mites can spread quickly and kill your entire potato crop.
Conclusion
Australian crescent potatoes one of the loved potatoes amongst gardeners and here is the quick summary of what we have got today:
- This potato is named for its crescent-shaped tubers, which can range in color from white to light yellow.
- They are low-maintenance plants and require low to moderate temperatures to thrive.
- You can grow it from organic Austrian crescent fingerling seed potatoes.
- This fingerling potato variety is available from late summer through early fall.
Plant these potatoes today and get the benefit all season long.
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