The 4 Methods of Planting Potatoes
Published by cheappay on Monday, March 15, 2010 - 13:17:01 - Filed under Growing Potatoes
Potatoes are your average northerner…they hate hot weather. If you live somewhere with high summer temps, be sure to choose an early variety so that you can harvest before the extreme heat strikes. When it comes time to plant, you are looking for a sunny spot with well drained, slightly acidic soil (some compost in the mix is good because potatoes require a lot of nutrients). Plant the rows running from north to south with about 2 feet in between the two rows. In the individual row, you want to keep the tubers about 1 foot apart. Decide which method of planting is best for you:
1. The Classic Method
Dig 4 inch deep trenches, put the potatoes in them with the broad tips of the tubers pointing downwards, and fill the trenches with a soil/compost mix.
2. The Transparent Foil Mulching Method
A slight twist on the Classic but with a better harvest. After you plant, cover the bed with a sheet of transparent foil making sure to secure the edges with bricks or stones. When the plants sprout and are pushing against the foil, make a small cut above each plant to let the shoots out. This will discourage the weeds!
3. The Black Foil Mulching Method
Cover the bed with black foil and secure it as described above (before you plant). Then make the cuts in the foil (watch your distances) and plant the tubers there. This keeps the weeds out for sure, but you take the risk of some of the potatoes not sprouting due to lack of light. Check up on the shoots after germination as a few of them might need your help to get above the foil.
4. The Straw Mulching Method
A very different method: Cut every potato in a few pieces, spread them on the ground, and cover them with a loose layer of straw mulch. That’s it! This method works best with rich soil so it’s a good idea to enhance it with compost or fertilizer. Note: the other methods will produce a better harvest.
Which method is right for you?
The classic or black foil method are best for indoor planting, transparent foil is best for outdoor, and the straw mulch method is the fast and easy way.