Some of the Reasons For Growing Potatoes At Home
Are you tired of the high prices of groceries? Well, do something about it by growing potatoes in your vegetable garden. Growing potatoes is a very simple task and once you have tasted the fruit of your labor, you will definitely understand why it’s worth growing them.
First, potatoes are a stable food. They have an important place in our diet. They are a good source of vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin C, phosphorus, potassium and copper. Another reason why you should start growing potatoes on your own is that it can help you shed off pounds if you are dieting. Yes – they have carbohydrates but not as much as what you will get from white bread or rice. Baked potatoes, boiled potatoes, or mashed potatoes (just not overloaded with butter) can be filling but not fattening. If you will be growing potatoes for this purpose, your potatoes should have real taste since you will be eating them without butter or rich sauces.
What You Need To Know About Growing Potatoes
Before you start with this project, it is important to choose the right variety of potatoes for your needs. Do you know that there are more than 400 varieties of potatoes available for you to grow and some of them are much better than the first quality potatoes you can buy from the market? Also, new farmers growing potatoes need to know that good soil nutrition levels are needed to grow the crop well.
Steps For Growing Potatoes
Items You Will Need:
plot in your backyard which is as large as you would like the garden to be
hoe or rake, or preferably, a tiller
5 lb bag of potatoes that are old and have eyes sprouting
water hose which will reach your plot for growing the potatoes
Instructions:
1. You will need really old potatoes, some that have eyes or sprouts – they can even be a bit shriveled. The best thing about old potatoes that are shriveled is they are often on sale. Or you could talk to the store’s produce guy, he may give you the 5 lbs of old potatoes for a dime.
2. As soon as you get home with the old potatoes, use a small knife and slice the eyes/sprouts off. Simply cut off about a 1 inch ring having the eyes intact. Put them into a bowl/pan of water, just covering the eyes and simply wait for a few days for the roots to develop.
3. Next, get the plot ready. Use a hoe, or preferably a tiller, loosen up the dirt inside the area of your plot. Take out all of the weeds, etc., leaving only the loose, clean, dirt. Dig holes for the potato cuttings, just about 2-3 inches apart. Place one potato cutting into each hole with the eyes facing up. Put dirt over each plant cutting loosely and water well.
4. Don’t forget to put your plot close to the water source, and make sure to water the potatoes frequently. Miracle Grow spikes are ideal, as you simply leave the spikes into the ground right next to the potato plant. Don’t worry about your potatoes, just let them grow.
5. Harvest new potatoes once the plants’ vines begin to flower. Dig into the dirt and take out the tubers, leaving behind some for a later harvest.
6. Water really well after harvesting to prevent stressing the plants.
7. Harvest mature potatoes as soon as the tops die and prior to the first frost. Dig underneath the plants using a shovel or fork, being careful to not damage the tubers. Pick up the plant, and shake off the dirt, as well as, pull the potatoes from their vine.
8. Eat new potatoes right away. Eat the mature potatoes right away or store them in a dark, cool and damp place for about 3 to 6 months.
Tips and Warnings for Growing Potatoes
- Don’t forget to save some potatoes from your harvest and then let them get old, full of eyes and shriveled so you have some potatoes to plant the following year.
- The worst problem you will encounter in growing potatoes is blight; however, there are some farmers who argue that the slug problem is a bigger headache. If you can take good care of the potatoes you are growing, these shouldn’t be a problem!
You will find growing potatoes will be quite easy and they will taste better than store bought ones.