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.
Before you plant your 'seed" potatoes, you'll want activate their spouting. By simply keeping them in a warm place in bright sunlight, you'll activate this process. Some use egg cartons or baskets as temporary holders.
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 need full sun and loose, well-drained soil. If your soil is full of clay make sure to add compost and lots of peat moss so the vines can grow easily. Make sure they get about an inch of water a week.
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
Days to Harvest: 2 - 4 Months. The entire crop is ready to harvest once the tops of the plants die off. You can leave the potatoes in the ground for a few weeks longer, as long as the ground is not wet. Store the perfect ones in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place. 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.
Before you plant your 'seed" potatoes, you'll want activate their spouting. By simply keeping them in a warm place in bright sunlight, you'll activate this process. Some use egg cartons or baskets as temporary holders.
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 need full sun and loose, well-drained soil. If your soil is full of clay make sure to add compost and lots of peat moss so the vines can grow easily. Make sure they get about an inch of water a week.
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
Days to Harvest: 2 - 4 Months. The entire crop is ready to harvest once the tops of the plants die off. You can leave the potatoes in the ground for a few weeks longer, as long as the ground is not wet. Store the perfect ones in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place. All the sprays and fertilizers to grow healthy potatoes: Gardening Accessories
About the Author:
Perennial plants, gardening design ideas, flowering trees, vines, ground covers and shrubs. Plants & Perennials at bargain costs, big online selection for fast shipping. Gardening Plants
No comments:
Post a Comment