Growing potatoes scare many people off, but I find them rather easy. How many vegetables do you know that are as easy as potatoes? Not many.
Potatoes were known for taking up lots of space in your veggie patch, but over the time people have created new systems for growing potatoes. Below you will see a few of these growing systems.
I do this system but in a rectangle.Potatoes don't need a great deal of love, no pruning or much maintance is needed. Mainly keep soil moist to keep growth steady & as new green leaves appear on the garden bed cover with dirt & hay or straw. Keep doing this right up to 15 weeks, then leave the new leaves growing. When the crop is ready the vine leaves turn a yellow & start to wither. 'Time for HARVEST'.
For varieties I have put a chart with just a few you can choose from below. I usually go for Dutch cream. If you have brought potatoes from the store & they have start to send roots out of the spud you can plant them too.
Potatoes are something people should try to grow not only are they a great food staple , but they do wonders with the soil. They are known to break up the ground & clean the beds up of weeds for future cultivation.
COMPANION PLANTING GUIDE:
Plant near - peas, beans, cabbages.
Do not plant near - pumpkins, apple & cherry trees, cucumber, sunflower & tomatoes.
If you plant near these your potatoes a susceptible to BLIGHT.
One more thing, potatoes hate frost so if you wish to grow them in winter plant under a tree or cover for protection, I believe in Western Australia we can grow potatoes all year round. So pop into your local gardening store & pick up your potato seeds TODAY!!
Keep checking in this week for more potato blogs.
