28 October 2025Potato Farming with Seedpro Products: Getting Better Yields from Every Ridge
Potatoes are one of Kenya’s most important food and cash crops. From the slopes of Nyandarua to the cool highlands of Meru and the valleys of Kiambu, potatoes remain a major source of income for thousands of farmers. But to make potato farming truly rewarding, you need to give the crop what it demands proper soil preparation, balanced nutrition, and consistent care.
That’s where Seedpro products come in. Seedpro Kenya provides high-quality fertilizers, foliar feeds, and mineral-based soil nutrients designed to match local conditions. Their fertilizers, like DAP Plus, are enriched with extra nutrients that help crops like potatoes establish strong roots, maintain steady growth, and deliver a bigger harvest.
Let’s break down step-by-step how to achieve excellent potato yields using Seedpro fertilizers and foliar feeds.
1. Understanding Potatoes’ Nutrient Needs
Potatoes are heavy feeders. Each ton of harvested tubers removes a significant amount of nutrients from the soil especially nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Without replacing these nutrients, the next crop struggles.
That’s why Seedpro fertilizers are important for maintaining soil fertility and ensuring strong tuber development. While nitrogen drives leaf and stem growth, phosphorus supports root and tuber initiation, and potassium influences tuber size, quality, and disease resistance. Balanced nutrition helps avoid small or deformed tubers, which often reduce the farmer’s income.
2. Land Preparation and Soil Health
Good potato farming begins with good soil. Choose well-drained loam or sandy-loam soils with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Avoid planting potatoes in poorly drained or compacted soils, as they encourage tuber rot and pest infestation.
Before planting, plough and harrow the land to a fine tilth. Mix in well-decomposed manure to boost organic matter and improve soil structure. If possible, do a soil test before planting. It will guide you on the right fertilizer rates and help you choose the right Seedpro fertilizer for your farm’s needs.
3. Planting and Use of DAP Plus
At planting, phosphorus is crucial. It supports root formation and early tuber development. Applying DAP Plus one of Seedpro’s fertilizers provides an early nutrient foundation for strong, uniform growth.
Here’s how to apply:
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Make planting ridges or shallow trenches (about 25–30 cm deep).
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Place one tablespoon of DAP Plus in each hole before setting the seed tuber.
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Cover lightly with soil before placing the seed tuber to avoid direct contact, which can burn the sprout.
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Maintain spacing of 30 cm between plants and 75 cm between rows.
DAP Plus not only supplies phosphorus and nitrogen but also trace elements that support healthy early growth. Farmers who use DAP Plus often notice faster emergence, stronger stems, and healthier foliage all signs of a strong start leading to better potato yields.
4. Top Dressing and Crop Nutrition
After germination, potatoes need continuous nutrition, especially nitrogen and potassium. This is where a top dressing fertilizer comes in. Seedpro offers field-grade fertilizers that work well for top dressing, applied when plants are about 20–25 cm tall.
Apply the fertilizer along the ridges (not directly on the stems) just before earthing up. This ensures nutrients reach the developing root zone. The nitrogen supports canopy growth, while potassium strengthens tuber formation and improves size uniformity.
To maximize results:
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Apply top dressing after rainfall or irrigation.
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Avoid applying fertilizer when leaves are wet to prevent scorching.
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Combine with a Seedpro foliar feed for balanced leaf nutrition.
Repeated mention: Seedpro fertilizers used for top dressing help maintain vigorous plant growth and contribute directly to higher potato yields.
5. Foliar Feeding for Maximum Tuber Formation
Potatoes respond very well to foliar nutrition. Foliar feeding allows nutrients to be absorbed quickly through the leaves, especially during critical growth stages. Seedpro foliar feeds are ideal at the following times:
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During vegetative growth (2–3 weeks after emergence): Boost leaf development and root expansion.
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Before tuber initiation: Support energy transfer from leaves to tubers.
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During bulking stage: Maintain leaf activity and improve tuber size and skin finish.
Spray Seedpro foliar feeds early in the morning or late in the afternoon for best absorption. Foliar nutrition also helps correct deficiencies like magnesium (yellowing between veins) or boron (cracked or misshapen tubers). By combining soil and foliar nutrition, you strengthen both the plant’s structure and its ability to produce market-grade tubers.
6. Irrigation and Earthing Up
Water management is another major factor affecting potato yield. Potatoes need consistent moisture but not waterlogging. The most critical periods are during tuber initiation and bulking.
If irrigation is available, water evenly and avoid wetting the leaves excessively, as this can encourage blight. Earthing up (adding soil around the base of the plants) should be done twice once when plants are about 15 cm tall and again at 25–30 cm. This protects developing tubers from sunlight, reduces greening, and improves drainage.
Combine the second earthing up with your top dressing fertilizer for instance, Seedpro field-grade fertilizer to maximize uptake and reduce nutrient losses.
7. Pest and Disease Management
Strong plants are naturally more resistant to pests and diseases. That’s another benefit of good nutrition through Seedpro fertilizers and foliar feeds. A healthy crop resists blight, bacterial wilt, and early leaf drop much better than a nutrient-deficient one.
Keep a watch for:
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Late blight: grey or brown spots on leaves and stems.
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Aphids: small green insects that transmit viral diseases.
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Cutworms and tuber moths: damage to stems and underground tubers.
Early detection and balanced nutrition together keep the crop in good shape until harvest.
8. Harvesting and Post-Harvest Care
Harvest your potatoes when the vines start to yellow and die back naturally. Allow the tubers to cure (dry) in the soil for 10–14 days before digging. Handle carefully to avoid bruising, which shortens storage life.
Clean, sort, and store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Always rotate your potato field with other crops such as beans or maize to maintain soil fertility and break disease cycles.
9. Final Thoughts
Potato farming success depends on good planning and consistent care. By using Seedpro fertilizers like DAP Plus at planting, following with top dressing, and reinforcing with Seedpro foliar feeds during key growth stages, farmers can unlock the full potential of their crop.
Healthy leaves, large uniform tubers, and high yields don’t just happen they’re the result of timely nutrition and smart product choice. Seedpro products are built for Kenyan soils and conditions, making them a reliable partner for every potato farmer aiming for better potato yield.
