How to Plant and Harvest Potatoes in FS 22

In previous guides, we have already covered how to sow and harvest various types of crops in Farming Simulator 22. Today, we will look at how to plant potatoes, what equipment is needed for this work, and how to harvest this crop. 

What is required to work with this crop

First, let's discuss what equipment is needed to work with potatoes. A recommended list of equipment (with specific names) will be provided below, but for now, let's focus on the types of equipment.

• Subsoiler. First of all, don't forget to purchase a good subsoiler, which is necessary for soil preparation. You will need to plow the field every time because of the roots.
• Planter and potato seeds. Naturally, you will need a planter and seeds for sowing. There is a separate tab in the store with tools specifically for working with potatoes, where you will find specialized planters. Additionally, you need to buy a large bag of seeds that includes potato seeds. Keep in mind that after the first potato harvest, you can refill the planter with the harvested potatoes without buying seeds again.
• Fertilizer spreader. To significantly increase potato yields in FS22, you will need a fertilizer and lime spreader. Fertilizers and lime can be purchased in the big bag category. The field information menu shows whether lime is required. 
• Special potato harvester. You will need this harvester to collect the potato crop. A regular harvester will not work in this case. 
• Trailer. Of course, a trailer is needed at the end to transport the harvested crop. You can take the harvested potatoes to a selling point or to some production facility – the choice is yours.

Recommended equipment from the developers

Now let's look at the specific equipment recommended by the developers themselves. Remember, the equipment listed below is only a recommendation, so you can choose any suitable equipment depending on your preferences. 

• Tractor: Claas Axion 800
• Subsoiler: Kuhn DC 401
• Planter: Grimme GL 420
• Header: Grimme KS 75-4
• Harvesting equipment: Grimme EVO 290
• Special tool - hoe: Einböck CHOPSTAR 5-90 + ROW-GUARD
• Fertilizer spreader: BREDAL K105 
• Trailer: WELGER DK 115

How to plant and harvest potatoes in FS22

So, we have figured out the required equipment and tools. Now it's time to get to work. The process is not much different from other crops, but there are some specific features. If you are playing with seasonal settings enabled – remember that potatoes can be planted and harvested between March and April. If seasonal growth settings are disabled – you can do it at any time.

Step 1: soil preparation

First, pay attention to the window displaying information about your fields. It will indicate whether plowing is required. If potatoes were previously planted on this field, subsoiling/plowing is mandatory to remove the roots. In other cases, plowing might not be necessary. Simply attach the tool to your tractor, lower it, and start working. Usually, subsoilers work quite quickly, so this won't take much time.

Keep in mind that if there are beehives near your field, they will increase the potato yield.

Step 2: applying fertilizer and lime

Don't forget to apply fertilizer. This is a mandatory step if you want to maximize your profit, as fertilizers improve yield. Be sure to check if lime is required. If so, in addition to standard fertilizers, you will also need to lime the field. 

First, go to the store, navigate to the big bag category, and purchase solid fertilizers. Attach your manure spreader to the tractor, drive up to your big bags of solid fertilizer, and press the refill button. Then, simply drive to your field, turn on the manure spreader, and distribute the manure across the entire field to fertilize it. Check the fertilization percentage (exit the vehicle, approach your field, and look at the window in the lower right corner). If lime is required, repeat the same process, but spread lime instead of manure.

Note that you can fertilize the field one more time, preferably after planting the potatoes, which will further increase the yield. Aim for 100% fertilization. 

Step 3: planting potatoes

Attach your loaded planter to the tractor, go to the start of your field, lower the tool, and start planting potatoes. Be sure to go row by row, trying to do everything neatly and accurately until the entire field is covered.

Here is a very important point. If you have crop destruction settings enabled – use a tractor with narrow tires for the following steps to avoid destroying the entire crop.

Step 4: removing weeds

Weeds need to be removed as quickly as possible, or the yield will drop significantly. If you don't remove weeds early on using a hoe (developer recommendation: Einböck CHOPSTAR 5-90), you will later need more expensive equipment – a sprayer. Therefore, it's better to remove weeds immediately. Also, although sprayers can remove quite large weeds, you will still have to use chemicals, which negatively affect yield. 

Step 5: removing the foliage (leaves)

Now you have reached the stage where you need to remove the foliage. This can be done in several ways. If you use a special expensive potato harvester, you don't need to worry about this, as the harvester automatically removes the foliage. However, if you don't have enough money yet, you can use a foliage remover machine to remove the leaves.

Step 6: harvesting

As soon as the potatoes are ready for harvest, don't delay, as the crop can dry out by September. Harvest immediately using your harvesting machine.

Step 7: selling the harvest

If you use a cheap harvester, the tank will fill up quite quickly. Drive up to your trailer, extend the pipe, and start unloading into the trailer. Repeat this process until your trailer is full, then decide what to do next with the harvest.

Open the price screen and see where you can sell your potatoes for the best price. If the current prices don't suit you, you can store the harvest to sell later at a better price. If you want to sell, drive to the unloading point and sell the entire harvest. 

Keep in mind that potatoes cannot be stored in a bunker.