Potato Growing in Colorado 17 
In irrigating potatoes, it is much better to apply enough water 
to thoroly saturate the ground, rather than small amounts of water 
at frequent intervals, as frequent applications of water will puddle 
and harden the soil to a much greater extent. Also, a small stream 
running for a long period is better than a large stream for a short 
period. 
On the Eastern Slope, it is preferable to apply the water during 
cloudy days or at night time. When the potatoes have reached 
their full growth, which depends largely upon the season and local¬ 
ity, it is advisable to withhold the water so that the skin of the 
tubers may ripen and harden. Otherwise, the keeping quality of the 
potatoes will be impaired. 
There is a tendency in some potato growing sections to crowd 
the growth and development, or, as some express it, to make the 
crop “in the shortest possible time,” generally during the month of 
August and half of September—by the liberal use of water. This 
practice may be advantageous during favorable seasons, but such 
practice invariably results in a poorer quality of the crop produced 
and the tubers are watery and soggy, with poor keeping qualities. 
Further, seed potatoes grown in this way lack vigor. A normal 
growth development when the plant is not forced is preferable, so 
far as quality is concerned. It is also probable that unduly forcing 
the plants makes them more susceptible to disease attack. 
HARVESTING 
For the main crop, harvesting should not be done until the 
vines are dead and the skin of the tubers hardened or ripe, so as to 
stand the necessary handling before reaching the consumer. If the 
skin is not hard, it will peel and bruise, and wherever the bruises 
occur, there will be dark areas which have to be pared away before 
the potato can be consumed as food. The keeping qualities, too, are 
greatly impaired from' immaturity, as the bruised areas invite the 
attack of fungi, causing decay. 
If the vines are still alive and growing when frost occurs, the 
potatoes in the ground at this time are necessarily in the growing 
stage and are not fit for harvesting. They should be left in the 
ground as long as possible, so as to give the tubers a chance to ripen. 
The digging should be done when the weather conditions are most 
favorable and the soil is not water-logged. It is advisable to leave 
the potatoes on top of the ground fop two or three hours to permit 
them to dry off before they are sacked. Where the potatoes are 
placed in cellars, the importance of field curing cannot be over¬ 
emphasized. as a considerable portion of the losses occurring in 
storage is due to poor grading and to imnerfectlv dried potatoes 
when placed in storage. Whether sold directlv from the field or 
