Three ways to prepare for a healthy harvest and grow your own potatoes
BIGGER some super savings by growing your own potatoes.
It's almost time to start sowing a homegrown crop.
So prepare for a healthy harvest with these top tips.
THE EYES HAVE IT: The first step is to 'chit' your tubers – encourage them to germinate before planting them in the ground.
You can buy seed potatoes at your local garden center, but to save money you can use your own leftover mashed potatoes.
Gardener Kendall Platt (adventureswithflowers.com) says to avoid moldy, smelly or soft plants.
She adds: “Take an empty egg carton of twelve and divide six potatoes into it, with most of the “eyes” facing up. Place them on the windowsill until the green shoots have grown to at least one and a half centimeters. That takes two to four weeks.”
Start the process in late February to give them time to nibble before planting them out after the last hard winter frost, towards the end of March.
TIME TO PLANTING: When the time comes, you can purchase special potato growing bags, or save money by using old bags, deep containers, or clean, empty trash cans.
Make sure whatever you choose has holes for drainage. If they are bags, Kendall says: “Fill your bag with about 4 inches of peat-free compost and carefully place three to five potatoes inside, taking care not to break the shoots.
“Add another 4 inches of compost on top. Then roll the edges of your bag down to just above soil level so sunlight can reach the plants. Place in a sunny spot and keep water.
“Every two weeks, as the shoots grow, add another 4 inches of compost and roll the bag out again to just above the compost line.”
TOP OF THE CROPS: It takes at least 12 weeks before you can harvest your crop.
You know it's time when the leaves turn yellow. Give them about another week before turning the bags over and taking out your spuds. Tip the contents into a wheelbarrow or tarp to avoid a mess.
- All prices on the page are correct at the time of going to press. Offers and offers subject to availability.
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