MAIN CROP OF POTATOES 265 



also here and there on the hillsides of the interior, favor the growth 

 of the potato all through the winter, if the soil be light and kept 

 warm by free escape of surplus water and abundant winter sun- 

 shine. 



The third run of new potatoes is secured by the planting of 

 the early varieties as soon as possible after the heaviest frosts of 

 the locality are over, and the soil becomes warm enough to push 

 growth. This is the main potato planting season of California, and 

 covers a wide range of dates, beginning with January on light, well T 

 drained soils at the south to get the earliest new potatoes for east- 

 ern shipment in May; proceeding in February, not only in the 

 south, but on warm uplands all through the central portion of the 

 state, and continuing with planting all through, March, April and 

 May, as spring conditions come successively to the upper coast 

 valleys and the mountain regions, or as the river lowlands are 

 drained of their surplus water. In fact on interior river lands 

 planting is done as late as June and July and the crop comes on 

 rapidly with ample heat and moisture. Thus it appears that potato 

 planting covers the entire year, and that while some parts of the 

 state are digging their main crop, other parts are making their first 

 planting. To bring the matter nearer to a point it may be said 

 that a man in the central coast region may be eating new potatoes 

 from his hillside while he is planting his main crop on his lowlands. 

 And yet one is frequently asked to answer categorically the ques- 

 tion: "When do you plant potatoes in California?" Obviously it 

 is a local question, to be learned by experience, observation and in- 

 quiry, in accordance with the general conditions outlined in the 

 chapter on the planting season in California. In connection, how- 

 ever, with this wide liberty in planting, taking the state as a whole, 

 it must be borne in mind that local requirements are sometimes 

 very sharp and that planting on the interior plains or in other parts 

 of the state where there is high heat and drought, or the soil be- 

 comes dry even with moderate heat, planting must be undertaken 

 early enough to allow a large part of the development of the plant 

 before such stress comes. Local failures with potatoes may, there- 

 fore, be often attributed to neglect of planting as soon as moisture 

 and temperature conditions favor growth in each locality. 



Soils. Light, rich loams are best for potatoes as they favor 

 root extension and expansion of tubers and they are retentive 

 enough to hold the moderate amount of moisture which ministers 



