Potatoes are an easy, low maintenance vegetable that you can grow in your home garden. I have shown my process many times on my Instagram account, but here is a nice, concise version you can easily access whenever you need to.
Containers
I grow those taters in containers. I currently use synthetic wool bags as well as insulated bags from ordering curbside groceries. I just poked some holes in those for drainage and they work great. I have seen folks use 5-gallon buckets as well as just generic large plastic pots.
Potatoes
I have used seed potatoes but usually just use old, shriveled potatoes that I missed out on cooking. A grocery store potato works well. I have purchased potatoes to turn into seed potatoes. Works great. I suggest using whatever kinds of potatoes you like eating.
Preparation
Chit your potatoes. Start by letting them develop eyes and tendrils. Then, four to five days before planting them, cut into sections and let dry in your home on a plate or tray. This will encourage more plants to grow from the same amount of potatoes.
Mix soil with coconut coir for improved drainage. I also add potato food, a couple tablespoons when you add the potatoes and then a couple more when the sprouts emerge above the dirt. I will probably start with homegrown compost next year, adding new coconut coir. My last batch of taters had almost no fiber left in the soil and I want to ensure good drainage.
Process
Add a small amount of your soil mix to the bottom of your container. Add 5-7 pieces of your chitted potatoes, with the tendrils facing upward. Cover with a few inches of soil and water. If you are using a bag as a container, fold the edges over so that the plants are more likely to receive sun. When the sprouts begin to emerge, add some more potato food. When the plants begin developing significantly, add more soil. As you add more soil, bring the edges of the bag up as well. Add soil with every 3 inches or so of new growth until the bag is almost full.
Water regularly in dry and hot weather. Pinch the flowers off as they develop to encourage larger potatoes. As the greenery dies off, expect to harvest your taters! If you have bags specific to growing spuds, you can peek inside the flap to check on the size of your potatoes before digging them up!
It will take 3-4 months to develop good sized spuds. As an urban gardener, I don’t expect to live off of my harvests. However, homegrown potatoes are some of the freshest, creamiest, tastiest potatoes you will ever eat.
Conclusion
If you experience issues with pests, I recommend using “soapy water.” Add 1 tablespoon of liquid soap to a 32 oz spray bottle. Don’t shake, but tilt and swirl to combine. Apply generously! This works well with most bugs, such as aphids and caterpillars. If you would like to have fresh spuds all summer, I suggest starting a bag or two in March, April, and May. I have started new batches in hot months, but they don’t perform the best. I have also started potatoes in late summer and popped them in my greenhouse, however those potatoes were crisp even after cooking. Not something I suggest.
Comments
Post a Comment