How do you know if your soil is ideal for growing potatoes?

To know if soil is ideal for potato growth, pick it up and test for a powdery texture and pour water on it to see if it drains well after being tilled or hoed. Soil that is hard and clay-like is not suited to growing potatoes.

If soil is too heavy and clay-like for growing potatoes, sand and organic matter can be worked into the soil to lighten it, notes the Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Center. While a 2-inch layer of organic matter and sand can temporarily improve soil quality, it can take several years of annually adding new matter to the soil for the newly worked soil to be acceptable.