Potatoes have always been one of my favorite crops as they are easy-peasy and take very little space. My preferred method of planting potatoes is in a grow bag or a pot (both need drainage holes), specifically designed for potatoes (the big online retailer has a pack of 4 for $9.99). There are lots of methods for planting potato seedlings (YouTube offers multiple videos), but here are the simple steps I’ve always followed:
~ Select small seedling potatoes (there is a wide variety at your nursery). If the potatoes are large (bigger than a tennis ball), cut them in pieces making certain each piece has at least 4 eyes. If your potatoes are cut they need to be dried before placing them in the soil, so place them eye-side up on parchment paper and leave them in the house for 3 days.
~ Fill your grow bag with about 8-10 inches of good, loose soil. Plant your seedlings about 3 inches apart and cover them with about 4” of soil and water them.
~ It’s weather dependent, but you should begin to see sprouts in about 5 days (it’s exciting!).
~ Every few days, tuck a bit of soil around the new shoots, leaving the leaves exposed. Continue doing this until the soil is 4-5 inches from the rim of the bag/pot.
~ Potatoes grow underground on the roots, so we are trying to build the most extensive root system possible. Under the right conditions, some plants – potatoes among them – will develop something called “adventitious” roots. These are roots that spring up along the stems whenever they come into contact with moist soil and darkness. The more roots our plants develop, the larger the crop of potatoes…a sincere “thank you” to Mother Nature!
~ Potatoes need regular watering and a bit of feeding in early June and July, but be judicious as too much nitrogen will create lots of foliage and fewer potatoes.
~ If you’re growing potatoes to get fingerlings, you can harvest them anytime after the plant starts to flower. If you have that great loose soil, you can just reach in, grab a root and shake loose the dirt. If you’re growing the seedlings for the larger potatoes, you can harvest after the plant starts looking yellow and stops blossoming (that’s generally about 9 to 10 weeks).
~ So you’ve grown a crop of delicious potatoes! Now all you need to do is spread them out in the sun and let them dry for 3-4 days. You can shake off that beautiful soil, or gently rub the potatoes with your glove, but don’t wash them with water as it leads to rot (remember, a good gardener isn’t afraid of a little dirt!).
A great recipe for small potatoes:
Make a bed of herbs (don’t be shy, throw in some of everything you’ve got) on a cookie tray, toss your potatoes in olive oil and a bit of salt and pepper, then lay the potatoes on top of the herbs and cook at 425°F for about 20 minutes. You can poke them with a fork to test for your desired level of texture.
Book your 30-minute free consultation now by calling Kathleen at Gardens by La Voy.
707.753.1445
