Potatoes are one of the most versatile crops out there, and this may be the reason for their ubiquity all over the globe. As a staple crop, people have employed secrets to growing potatoes, from knowing how to plant potato eyes to knowing how to grow potatoes in a box.
It might be different from region to region, but these methods are shared, curated, and employed. Here are just some of the techniques you can try out!
Growing potatoes in garden rows
This is a great way to plant if you have enough space to do so.
If you are looking to grow potatoes in your garden, spacing them out like this will take up most of your land and result in fewer spuds than other methods.
Grow potatoes in bags
You can actually cultivate potatoes inside grocery bags or special growing bags which can be purchased online.
To do this, all you have to do is fill the bags with nutrient-rich soil and then add your sprouted potatoes. Then add more soil as the potatoes grow.
Growing potatoes in buckets
The fun part about potatoes is that they can grow in basically anything. This includes a bucket or even a large trash bin. Ideally, you want a buck that holds about 5-10 gallons.
Fill it with soil, add your sprouts, and add additional soil as they grow.
You’ll know they are ready when the foliage changes color. Then stop watering them and wait a couple of weeks for the potato skins to toughen up.
Secrets to growing potatoes: Build a potato tower
You can save a lot of space in your garden by building a potato tower. This may be one of the best ways of growing potatoes indoors.
Instead of “growing out” you are “growing up” with this method. This will require some know-how on your part to build the structure, but once you do, simply plant your spuds and add soil as they grow.
Planting potatoes in straw
If you find yourself wanting to grow the root crop on land that cannot be dug up, you have the option of growing potatoes in straw.
Loosen up the soil as best you can and put seed potatoes on the ground before covering them up with the straw.
Once the potatoes start peeking out from the straw, cover them up with more. Do this for 2-3 cycles before harvesting.
Grow potatoes in tires
If you’ve ever thought to yourself that you’d like to eat food grown in an old worn-out automobile, then you might want to consider growing potatoes in a tire.
Growing potatoes in sacks
Potatoes and sacks have been partners for a long time now. In addition to being able to take part in potato sack races at picnics, you can also grow your own potatoes inside them.
Much like with buckets or bags, simply continue to fill the soil as the plants grow.
Takeaway
So how long do potatoes take to grow? It really depends on the variety and the conditions, but if you get them right, your crops should be ready in around 90 days or so. And luckily, the secrets to growing potatoes above can help you aim your first steps in the right direction.
Source: Natural Ways/GoodHouseKeeping