Have you ever just wanted to grow potatoes but thought it was too time-consuming? You will be amazed at how simple it is to grow potatoes in your own backyard.
Planting anything (period!) as a new or beginner gardener is sometimes paired with procrastination and anxiety. You can actually get started quickly and easily. More than likely, you have most of the things you already need at home.
This post is all about how to grow potatoes in your gardening space.
Before you get started, let’s see if this is something you really want to do. Let’s cover some basic things that will make or break this effort.
1. Getting Mentally Prepared To Grow Potatoes
Let’s cover some of the basic information you need to know about growing potatoes. Potatoes are native to South America and there are 1000s of potato varieties to choose from.
- Prep Time: 2-5 days to grow a potato from a potato or you can buy seeds
- Planting Time: a minimum of 30 minutes if you are planting in a small area or container to additional hours as needed per planting space
- Harvest Time: a minimum of 30 minutes if you are planting in a small area or container to additional hours as needed per planting space
2. Gardening Tools You Need
- potato or potato seeds
- loose soil
- spade or hoe
3. Directions
Step 1: Check Soil Conditions
Always make sure the soil is loose and acidic with good drainage like loam soil. Potatoes thrive in these conditions.
Always do a soil test first to find out the current condition of the soil. This test will tell you if need to do amend it in any way. If the soil is too acidic, you can use soil amendments like sulfur or 6-12-12 fertilizer.
Step 2: Planting Instructions
You can plant a potato by using an existing potato with sprouts. Or, you can buy potato seeds.
If you choose to use an existing potato, cut 1/2 inch off the sprouted side of the potato and plant with the sprout side up.
Create a 6-inch deep trench for the sprouting potato or a 3-inch deep trench for the potato seeds. Remember to place the sprouted potato with the sprouted side faced up. Cover the trench with soil.
When you start to notice at least 6 inches of growth, Cover the 3-4 inches of the base of your plant with more dirt. Grow your potatoes from mid-March through April. It takes 100 days to harvest a crop which means you will have potatoes around June or July.
Step 3: Harvesting Instructions
Your potatoes are ready for harvest when you notice that the plants are turning brown or dying. Take a spading fork to start the process of digging up the potatoes. You don’t want to scrape the potatoes because it will cause them to rot during storage.
When pulling the potatoes from the ground, gently knock off some of the dirt. Do not wash the potatoes because it creates mold during the storage process.
Store potatoes in the garage or a dry area for 2 weeks. You can store them in anything that will provide ventilation like a crate. You want to create an environment that is conducive to drying out the potato. Now you have your own stash of potatoes!
