I’ve tried to grow my own potatoes for a few years now and it’s been quite a bit of a learning curve.
I didn’t grow any last year, I can’t remember why but no new potatoes for us in 2023.
I’ve never grown them directly into the ground, and the reason for this is because, even since my first year, I’ve never had an area in my garden where I could do that. I’ve always grown them in either a container or in plastic bags – also known as grow bags. I personally found this much easier because I know a bit about good drainage and helps me manage any kind of pest control.
Once I’m a lot more confident, I’m hoping to grow them in a raised bed in the garden, there’s a good place and, I think, has ideal conditions for my own plants to do their thing, and has a good deal of sun (not full sun). I haven’t looked at soil temperature yet but a good idea would be to check the type of soil to ensure the whole process works the way I hope it will.
Alright, let’s talk potatoes!
One of the first things I needed to learn is how do you know when it’s harvest time?
You know they’re ready to be harvested when the leaves and stems at the base of the plants have died off. That’s your first clue. Today, I’m going to show you how easy it is to harvest them – and trust me, it’s a bit like hunting for treasure!
How did I get on with my potato harvest?
I planted these in February, just at the start of growing season. They’re Maris Piper potato seeds. There are plenty of varieties to choose from; green potatoes, white potatoes, I’ve even seen a red potato seed.
So, in this sack, I planted four potato seeds a while back, and now, it’s time to see what’s inside.
I think the easiest way to get them out is to just tip the sack over. Let’s see what we’ve got and whether there are any potatoes peeking through the top
As I dig around, it feels like a treasure hunt – I’m finding all these little potatoes hidden in the soil. It’s quite exciting and so much fun, really, not knowing how many you’ll uncover. Some are small, but that’s alright; they’ll still make a lovely meal.
Now, funny thing – I’ve just found a peanut in the soil!
Must have been a squirrel hiding it away. No idea how it got there, but it’s always a bit amusing when nature throws you a little surprise like that.
Back to the potatoes – the soil has given me a good crop for just four seeds, and as I keep digging, I’m finding more. It’s like being a kid again, uncovering buried treasure.
I’ve got a good few delicious potatoes now, and they’re looking nice and healthy.
So, with all the potatoes I’ve gathered, I reckon I’ll be able to use them within a week. They’ll need a good scrub, of course, but I’m really pleased with how it’s gone.
One more thing – if you’re planning to reuse the soil next year, remember that it’ll need a bit of a nutrient boost. Growing potatoes takes a lot out of the soil, so you’ll want to replenish it before planting again. Maybe add some compost or fertiliser to bring those nutrients back.
All in all, I think I’ve done quite well with these four potato seeds. It’s been a fun little adventure, and I’ll definitely be enjoying these homegrown spuds in the days to come!
I harvested this late summer – ish, around the end of August time. I’m really happy with what I have, I will certainly be doing the same next year but I’m quite intrigued about the different kinds of crops; early crops, main crops, etc. I think the idea is so you can stagger the harvest, which would make a lot of sense.
Normally, I tend to harvest them as I need them but if you need to harvest quite a few potatoes, I was alway told you shouldn’t wash them straight away. Due to their delicate skins, they need to harden a bit so store them in a breathable bag (I use a cotton bag) and place them in a dry, dark place. Make sure it’s a cool place because moisture will ruin them.
