We just dug 1 of our 5 rows of red skin potatoes. What should an average yield per healthy potato plant be? We got 3 and 4 per plant and the 1 row yielded 17 lbs. of potatoes. Good/bad? Thanks.
How Many Red Potatoes Per Plant?
In the south, a yield of 10 lbs for each lb planted is considered acceptable, 14 lbs per lb is good. Yield are usually better in the North.
Farmerdill posted as I was writing. I just add my 2 cents:
Unlike when you buy potatoes in the supermarket which have been graded and selected, you will see all sizes and various yields per plant in the garden. Yield depends on variety, spacing, and growing conditions. (We keep the tiny potatoes as seeds for next year, so I consider our "yield" to just be the eating-size spuds.) I also wondered if it depends on the number of eyes on your seed potatoes. Anyway...
How long long was your row? What variety did you plant?
Late potatoes yield a bit higher than early.
So, it's hard to say what's average - but I am reading in several sources and our own experience in general is about 2 lbs. per foot of row, more or less.
Thanks for the replies. I don't remember the variety of reds we planted - go it somewhere. We dug the red potatoes a little early. Started digging to see if there were any critters down in the trenches and just keep on digging :) . None thank goodness. We have 25 ft. rows (6 of them) including 1 row of Yukon Golds. We will compare this dig to the next one which will be later. We live in OH and have had lots of rain. The red potato plants have all but died back. Some of the Yukons are still a nice green color and look strong. Right now I have the potatoes (and 7 qts. of bush beans) uncooked and in vacuum sealed bags in the garage fridge. We will be cooking most of this to take to our church's "Feed the Sheep" (free food program) on Thursday.
So, one of your 25 foot rows should produce 37-1/2 to 50 lbs. I guess the reds were less at least partly because you dug early. Yukon Gold yields are pretty good - we have grown them. Goodness, you could get up to 250 more pounds of potatoes!
Having said all I did, Farmerdill's idea of comparing lbs. planted to lbs. harvested is the most logical way to think about yields from potato seed. A great idea!
Well, bless your heart for cooking for the food program. Mmmmm, makes me hungry just thinkin' about green beans and potatoes!
Don't forget to put a bit of bacon in the pan, and a sliced onion! YUMMY!
Or a little ham! Pass the butter, salt, and pepper!