Potato gardening is simple. You don't need many gardening accessories. The potatoes we eat are starchy tubers that grow underground very naturally, swelling and getting larger as the top half of the plant matures. Many claim to grow 100 pounds of potatoes in a small 4 square foot gardening area as they cover their emerging crop in layers of soil as it matures.
Garden seed potatoes aren't really seeds. They are full-size potatoes that are allowed to start producing shoots in the potato eyes. You've probably seen this happen when you've stored potatoes in the kitchen for too long. Planting potatoes from the grocery store is a gamble. Some individual potatoes are treated with a growth inhibitor to keep them from sprouting so you need to wash them. Buying bulk potatoes usually don't have growth inhibiters.
A week or two before you plant your potatoes you'll want to sprout your seedlings. Put them in a warm location with 60 to 70 degree heat and in the sunlight to accelerate the sprouting process.
The day before you plant you potato garden, cut the seed potatoes into about 2 inch cubes with each cube having at least 2 eyes. Store them overnight in an egg carton exposed to the air. This will hasten a callous that prevents the seed potato from rotting in the ground.
Potatoes like a loose soil that is well drained. If you have clay type soil, add some organic matter and you're gardening will flourish. Just make sure they get enough water.
Gardening accessories like a crib containers, used tires or just mounds allow for gardening to be done in a small space. Dig out a shallow circle 3 to 4 foot in diameter. Amend the soil with compost and peat moss as done in the trench method. Plant 6 to 8 seed potatoes evenly around the circle and cover with 4 inches of soil. Three weeks later cover the vines partially with soil or mulch; run mulch all the way to the leaves and allow it to actually touch the leaves . Continue until the vines bloom.
Potato sprouts will appear in about 2 weeks. When they get about 2 or more inches high (this will take about 3 weeks) add soil to partially cover the growing vines. Do this again 2 weeks later. This process is called "hilling". Add an inch or two of soil every week so there is enough soil above the developing potato garden to prevent them from sticking out above the soil line because the potatoes will turn green
Harvest carefully, by hand or with a shovel. Generally, you can harvest from 2 to 4 months after planting. Turn the soil over and search through for potatoes at the bottom of the mound. The tubers can branch out and gentle digging at the bottom layer of your container will yield a potato or two. You can harvest the entire crop when the tops die off. All the sprays and fertilizers to grow healthy potatoes: Gardening Accessories
Garden seed potatoes aren't really seeds. They are full-size potatoes that are allowed to start producing shoots in the potato eyes. You've probably seen this happen when you've stored potatoes in the kitchen for too long. Planting potatoes from the grocery store is a gamble. Some individual potatoes are treated with a growth inhibitor to keep them from sprouting so you need to wash them. Buying bulk potatoes usually don't have growth inhibiters.
A week or two before you plant your potatoes you'll want to sprout your seedlings. Put them in a warm location with 60 to 70 degree heat and in the sunlight to accelerate the sprouting process.
The day before you plant you potato garden, cut the seed potatoes into about 2 inch cubes with each cube having at least 2 eyes. Store them overnight in an egg carton exposed to the air. This will hasten a callous that prevents the seed potato from rotting in the ground.
Potatoes like a loose soil that is well drained. If you have clay type soil, add some organic matter and you're gardening will flourish. Just make sure they get enough water.
Gardening accessories like a crib containers, used tires or just mounds allow for gardening to be done in a small space. Dig out a shallow circle 3 to 4 foot in diameter. Amend the soil with compost and peat moss as done in the trench method. Plant 6 to 8 seed potatoes evenly around the circle and cover with 4 inches of soil. Three weeks later cover the vines partially with soil or mulch; run mulch all the way to the leaves and allow it to actually touch the leaves . Continue until the vines bloom.
Potato sprouts will appear in about 2 weeks. When they get about 2 or more inches high (this will take about 3 weeks) add soil to partially cover the growing vines. Do this again 2 weeks later. This process is called "hilling". Add an inch or two of soil every week so there is enough soil above the developing potato garden to prevent them from sticking out above the soil line because the potatoes will turn green
Harvest carefully, by hand or with a shovel. Generally, you can harvest from 2 to 4 months after planting. Turn the soil over and search through for potatoes at the bottom of the mound. The tubers can branch out and gentle digging at the bottom layer of your container will yield a potato or two. You can harvest the entire crop when the tops die off. All the sprays and fertilizers to grow healthy potatoes: Gardening Accessories
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Natural garden items involving both inorganic fertilizers and organic compost, confirmed natural organic seeds, heirloom seeds, lawn care using organic means, control of pests & garden disease control. Gardening Supply
