When you should plant midand late-season potatoes
I understand there are 3 types of potatoes: early, mid- and late-season. I believe that early season potatoes go into the ground March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day. When do I plant mid-season and late-season? I want to plant Irish cobbler early, red potatoes mid, and blue potatoes late. The red has an 80 day maturity, the Irish a 90 day maturity, and the blue a 110 day maturity. I have never planted potatoes before.
The terms “early,” “mid-,” and “late-season” refer to how long each variety takes to mature a crop after planting, rather than the planting time. If you wish to harvest new potatoes as early as possible, plant the red potato first since it will be the first ready, having the shortest maturity date. Otherwise, they can all be planted around the same time, since they will ripen (mature) at different times. Closely watch short-term and long-term weather forecasts, because potatoes planted too early (in cold soil) stagnate rather than grow and are much more prone to rot. Above-ground growth is also frost-sensitive, though easier to protect when needed. Though mid-March is a commonly used guideline to begin potato planting, it’s actually on the borderline of too-early and is riskier for cold damage. Depending on how quickly we warm up this spring — especially the soil temperature — you can easily delay planting into April. Search ‘potatoes’ on our website for complete growing information in our area.
I asked my neighbor about some bugs and he said they weren’t bugs, they were beetles. What’s the difference? Does it make any difference?
In everyday speech, the words “bug” and “beetle” get thrown around interchangeably, but, yes, the scientific difference does, well, make a difference. Both are insects with six legs, yet on different branches of a family tree. When using “bug” scientifically, people often refer to “true bugs” (so not to confuse it with a beetle or a Volkswagon.) Beetles have hardened forewings that cover their back, so they may look as if they have a straight line down their back. Beetles also have chewing mouthparts with mandibles ( jaws). True bugs, on the other hand, have forewings hardened at the base but membranous at the ends. This creates an easy-to-see triangular shape on their back. True bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts (a sort of elongated beak). So, whereas beetles will chomp their way through your plants, true bugs will suck out the life juices of plants — or other insects!
University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center offers free gardening and pest information at extension.umd.edu/hgic. Click “Ask Maryland’s Gardening Experts” to send questions and photos.