Raising a Potato: From Seed to Harvest

In our backyard we have a small garden in which we try to grow things in the summer time. Usually what we grow are vegetables and sometimes flowers. This year we are going to plant our usual lettuce, green peppers and tomatoes but we are also going to try something new which is onions and potatoes. My mom and I didn’t have this planned out until we went to the grocery store and saw that they were selling onion and potato seeds. We have planted potato seeds before because my grandparents grew them but we have never done it ourselves. So we did some research on how to plant them and this is what I came up with according to wiki how:

1.       Pick out a potato seed or seeds.

2.       Prepare the soil. You can plant them in the ground or put them in a planter (preferably large pots). Make sure that your soil is weed-free as much as possible. To make the dirt more nutrient rich add compost or manure to it. 

3.       Plant the potato. Time you’re planting so that if falls a week or two before the last frost of the season. My mom said her grandpa always planted them during holy week. The cold nights will kill the potential pest and your potatoes will need more sunshine as the days get longer. Put your seed potatoes about an inch into the soil, and then put a small mound of dirt over them. Potatoes should be far enough apart that if they grow to normal size they will not run into each other. As the stems grow add soil to your mound because if your potatoes are exposed to the sun while still growing they will turn green and somewhat toxic.

4.       Care for your potatoes.  Water your potatoes regularly because it is necessary for their growth. Once a week is fine during the summer as long as it is thorough. If the leaves on the stem are wilting then it needs to be water more often but be careful not to over water it because you will end up with a black potato. If you see holes or yellowing of your potato’s leaves than you might have pest. Use pesticides or ask a local garden shop on how to remove them. 

5.       Harvest your potato. When it is near the first frost you can harvest your potatoes and eat them. For smaller potatoes you can pull up in about seven to eight weeks after they are planted. You will know that they are ready to harvest when the leaves turn yellow and wilt. 

Hopefully growing potatoes isn’t too hard. It may seem like a lot of work but compared to other plants it’s about the same. With a bit of luck I think anybody can grow potatoes and now that you know how nothing is stopping you.

(484)