Planting Potatoes

Potatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil. They reform root systems if you cover them up. Being tubers, covering them up adds roots which adds potatoes.

I’ve heard (and will try this year) using straw to cover them confuses the Colorado Potato beetle.

So basically, you plant them (sets or whole). When they start coming up, you cover them with more loose soil. When they come up more, cover them more. I figure maybe 2 or 3 times.

Harvest them early for early ‘taters, or let them start to die back and get large ‘taters.

BT worked for me last year re: potato bugs. Although, depending on the infestation the beetles don’t necessarily harm the plant/harvest (the good stuff is underground and as long as the plant doesn’t die it gets along fairly well.)

Also, planting should be done to harvest before/or after the beetles will show up. You have to note when they arrive. Next year you can plant around them. Maybe harvest early before. Replant later after they’ve ended their cycle.

So basically stick them in the ground. Cover them up a couple of times. Then eat them.

I got a 50 lb. bag of yukon golds this year….mmMMMmmm!

-- arborial reconfiguration specialist......Zone out....(USA 5)

Catspaw, the friend of mine told me this method works very well. I should try it sometimes.

-- http://www.homegardenseedsorganic.com

I’m trying a Smartpot this year. We’ll see how it works. I was late getting them in so I may have wated my pot.

-- Father of two boys. Both Eagle Scouts.

They will grow in anything. Many yeaqrs ago when I was a 4H leader I had them come to my house and we did lilttle things like make jam and plant things. Well I got an idea to plant potatoes, each child brought a potatoe with eyes and we cut them to get the best eye. I gave them good potting soil and we planted them in large styrofoam coffee cups, with a hole poked in the bottom.
I sent them home telling them to watch for the greens that will grow. That was that, or I thought.
Well sometime later one girl came to me upset that her cup was cracking and wanted a new one.
I almost roared, it was growing potatoes! There were there little potatoes growing in the coffee cup cracking it open because it ran out of space, I told her to cook them : she said they were delicious.
So I wouldn’t worry on the type or size container for potatoes.:)

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

that’s amazing! Who would have thought there’d be little potatoes.
I want to try that lol

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan