Area gardeners are preparing soil for spring planting and in southern Iowa, horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, advise late March into April is the ideal time for planting many garden staples. Potatoes are one of those that should be planted in late March to early April. Small potato tubers may be planted whole, while large potatoes should be cut into sections or pieces with each having one or two buds. Place the tuber sections in a humid location for one or two days, doing so causes the cut surface to callus, which prevents rotting when planted. When planted the cut side should face down, about three to four inches deep and one-foot apart in the row. Rows should then be 2.5-3 feet apart.