Growing potatoes

There are numerous ways of growing potatoes crop. The planting and harvesting of potatoes planted in straw or mulch is a simple matter. Additionally the straw holds the moisture, so less water is neded.   You need container which can be as large as you want. Also make sure the container has drainage holes.
To grow potatoes in straw, you need to be sure the seed pieces and rows are spaced the same way they would be if you were to cultivate your potatoes the conventional way.

Seed potatoes to grow in straw

Avoid the temptation to buy potatoes for planting from the supermarket. These potatoes may be treated with sprout inhibitors or may carry disease organisms to contaminate your garden soil.
Start by choosing an early maturing variety such as Norgold Russet or Superior (a white potato) at your local garden center.

Growing potatoes in straw technique

When potatoes are planted in straw, there are very few weeds.
Growing potatoes in straw you will see the sprouts quickly. Once they have grown four to six inches, you need to cover them with more straw until only an inch of the new growth shows through. Then the plants grow another four to six inches. Keep repeating this procedure for two or three more cycles. The potatoes will set out new roots in the straw and in turn will produce more potatoes..
If there isn’t much rain, be sure to water them. Keep your container from mice. The hay attracted mice looking for seeds and you can lose of the crop.

Harvesting potatoes grown in straw

New potatoes can be harvested easily even before the potato vines mature completely. When the potatoes are ready to harvest, one can simply pull back the straw and remove by hand as many potatoes as needed, then replace the straw properly in order to keep the light off any remaining potatoes. You may harvest this way a number of times. The plant will produce more and more potatoes until the vine dies.

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1. Growing Potatoes in Containers

Posted on July 1st, 2009 under Growing potatoes ways. Tags: container, Growing potatoes, harvesting potatoes, in straw. RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback.