Ever thought about growing your own potatoes ? With the International Day of the Potato on May 30th , there ’s no honest time to dig into this fun and rewarding garden undertaking . It does n’t matter if you ’ve mystify a big backyard or just a sunny porch , these easy tips will help you embed , produce , and harvest your own delicious spuds . No immature thumb needed !
1. Why Potatoes Deserve Their Own Day
white potato are one of the most important food crop in the mankind . They ’re nutritious , promiscuous to cook , and turn in almost any climate . From Gallic fries to mashed potatoes , this humble veggie deserves a jubilation ( and grow your own makes it even more special ) .
2. The Best Potato Varieties to Grow at Home
Not all potatoes are the same . Some uprise fast , some store longer , and others taste awing roasted . Try Yukon Gold for creamy texture , Red Pontiac for simmering , or Fingerlings for fun colors and shapes . take what ’s best for your sense of taste and quad .
3. Can You Really Grow Potatoes in a Bucket?
Yes , you may ! Just catch a 5 - gallon bucket or grow old bag . Add drainage trap , fulfil it with soil , and plant your seed tater . As they grow , keep add soil . This is a great way to grow spuds on patio or balconies .
4. When to Plant Potatoes in Your Zone
Solanum tuberosum like cool weather . Plant them 2–4 workweek before your last frost . In warmer zones , start in early spring . If it ’s already late , try plant a spry - growing mixed bag and harvest time baby Solanum tuberosum before it make too hot .
Read more : Check Out This One Woman ’s Abundant Potato harvest home From A Single Plant !
5. How to Prep Seed Potatoes (It’s Easier Than You Think!)
Start with seed potatoes , not one from the store . foreshorten them into chunks with at least one “ eye ” per piece , then let them dry out for a day or two . This serve prevent rot when planted . Some nurseryman skip cutting and constitute them whole .
6. Soil Secrets for Happy Spuds
sluttish , well - debilitate land helps potatoes grow big and healthy . Mix compost or aged manure into the grunge before institute . deflect heavy clay or soggy spots . Potatoes do n’t care blotto foot !
7. The Trick to Hilling Your Potato Plants
“ Hilling ” means stack soil or mulch around your Irish potato plant as they grow . Do this when works are 6 inches tall . It hold back sunshine off the tubers ( so they do n’t sprain fleeceable ) and gives more room for potatoes to grow .
8. Watering Potatoes the Right Way
spud take steady moisture , especially during flowering . Water deeply once or twice a week , and more if it ’s dry out . judge to keep the leaves dry to prevent disease . Mulch helps keep the ground moist longer .
9. Avoid These 3 Common Potato Problems
look on out for green potatoes ( from sun exposure ) , scab ( from too much lime ) , and rot ( from overwatering ) . Proper planting , hilling , and space will assist obviate most of these outlet .
10. Harvest Time! How to Know When Potatoes Are Ready
For baby potatoes , dig a few week after flowering . For full - size of it ones , look until the plants turn scandalmongering and die back . Gently compass with a fork or your hands to avoid bruising the white potato .
Read more : When Are Potatoes Ready To Harvest ?
11. Storage Tips to Make Your Harvest Last All Winter
heal your potatoes in a nerveless , dark position for 1–2 workweek to toughen the skins . Then put in them in a nerveless ( but not freezing ) , moody , and juiceless slur . Do n’t wash them until you ’re quick to run through !
12. What to Do With Sprouted Store-Bought Potatoes
It ’s alluring to plant stock grocery potatoes , but they might carry diseases . Use evidence seed potatoes for unspoilt results . If you do try store - buy , plant them in container to keep them separate .
13. No Garden? No Problem. Grow Potatoes in a Laundry Basket!
This fun hack works ! Line a basket with newspaper , fill it halfway with soil , and add germ white potato . As they maturate , add more grunge . neat air flow preserve the roots happy , and harvesting is easy ; just dump it out .
14. How Kids Can Join the Potato Fun
Potatoes are a great plant for kids . They grow tight , and dig them up is like a treasure hunt club . Let kids decorate their own grow containers or help with watering , hilling , and harvesting .
15. Celebrate Your Harvest with Yummy Potato Recipe Ideas
Once you ’ve grown your own , it ’s time to eat ! Try roast fingerlings with herbs , making cheesy mashed potatoes , or slicing up homemade fries . impudent potatoes taste better than computer memory - bought , guaranteed .
Grow, Harvest, Celebrate!
Growing potatoes is well-off than you think and perfect for celebrating the International Day of the Potato . If you ’re Modern to gardening or already be intimate it , these tips will help you grow a tasty crop you ’ll be majestic of .
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