Potato Culture in Colorado 
5 
While most agricultural crops, like the cereals, are grown 
principally for the grain (seed), the potato is grown for its tubers 
or underground stem. The tubers are essentially a vegetative part 
of the plant which have become modified into a storage for food 
material by which the plant is able to pass through a period of 
rest and to start another season’s growth. The potato being a 
modified underground stem, it is capable of functioning as a stem 
and developing chlorophyll or green coloring matter, stems and 
leafbuds. When we speak of potato seed, we do not really mean 
seed, but a stem or a vegetative cutting, the same as a cutting 
of a Geranium or Coleus. From this one can readily see that 
for the best development of this cutting, certain soil and climatic 
conditions are necessary. The ability, of the plant to produce 
tubers is in direct ratio to the soil .conditions, fertility, 
and climatic conditions with which we surround the plant. To 
make a success of potato growing, the growers should know the 
nature and requirements of the plant. These requirements will 
be discussed under dififerent headings. 
SOIL 
While potatoes may be grown on most types of soil, a sandy 
Knarly and rough potatoes are the result of poorly prepared land and 
improper irrigation 
