HOMESTEAD: FAMILY SURVIVAL | EPISODE 3 - POTATOES

How to Grow Potatoes The Easy Way

By Alexandra Rexford

Potatoes are an Easy-to-Grow, calorie-dense food You Can Grow in Almost Any Space

If there is one thing Americans can agree on, it’s this simple fact: Regardless of what may be happening in your life, there is some form of a potato that can fix it. This delicious and versatile tuber is a nutrient powerhouse that is also surprisingly easy and inexpensive to grow at home. And, yes, we are including you apartment dwellers. You don’t need an acre of land or a raised bed to grow your own potatoes. All you need is a container, soil, potatoes, water, and sunshine.

WHEN to Plant

Depending on where you live, different climates call for different potato planting periods. The best rule of thumb is to avoid frost. Gardener’s Supply Company suggests that if you’re uncertain of when the last frost in your neck of the woods will be, contact “your local Cooperative Extension Service or Master Gardner’s Program.”

Bag Size

There are a variety of sizes available for grow bags. The main thing to remember is to not overcrowd. Potatoes will crowd each other out, fighting for nutrients, resulting in small potatoes. For 25 gallon bag, plant 3-4 potatoes. If you have a smaller or larger bag, adjust the number of potatoes you plant. Just don’t overcrowd your bag!

How

Step outside onto your back deck or apartment balcony. No one wants dirt all over their living room floor, right? But if you don’t have an outdoor space, you can easily start your grow bag on your kitchen counter, and move the bag to a sunny spot. It could be a bit heavy, depending on the size of your bag.

Take your grow bag and fold the sides down about halfway. This will make it easier to fill the bag with fertilizer, plant your potatoes, and keep an eye on the growth.
Next, fill the bottom with six inches of regular garden soil. You may find other resources using complex mixes of different types of soil or fertilizer, but we recommend keeping it simple! Potatoes themselves prefer simplicity and do not respond well to “improved” or fertilized soil.
“Potato eyes” are the funky-looking growths that sprout on the potato’s skin, like misshapen succulents. Don’t throw these away! This is how you plant and grow your own potatoes. Chances are, you have some buried in your pantry. If not, you can purchase seed potatoes from a grocery or farm supply store.

Tip #1: If you do purchase potatoes from the store, buy organic since regular potatoes are often sprayed with a sprout-producing inhibitor.

Tip #2: Don’t try this with sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are actually very different from the average potato and will simply rot in the bag. They require an entirely different method of preparing and planting in grow bags.
In your grow bag, place your potatoes on the soil. Ensure the eyes are pointing up towards the sunlight. Now what if your potato has more than one eye? Simply take the potato and slice it in half. If you do this, wait to place the halves in your grow bag. Instead, let them sit in a cool, dark area for a few days so that the exposed part of the potato will become tough, like a callous. This will make them less likely to rot when planted. Then plant them as normal.
Add another layer of soil, about 3-4 inches deep, on top of your potatoes and spread the soil around evenly.
Finally, water your potato grow bag, and you’re all done!

Nurture

As the potatoes begin to grow, shoots will appear. Once these leaves are poking out of the soil by at least two inches, take your bag of leftover soil and add more to your grow bag. The added soil should come up to the bottoms of the leaves, otherwise the plant will die. No need to pack the dirt in. Potatoes like loose soil to spread and grow in. Don’t forget to roll up the sides of your grow bag and add more water!

This process is called “hilling” and you will repeat it multiple times as the potatoes grow continuously throughout the grow bag’s root system.

As for watering, potatoes do best in rich, nutritious soil. They soak up water! A tip for figuring out if your soil is too dry is this: Stick your finger in the soil all the way up to your third knuckle. If it feels dry, you need more water. Potatoes like to be watered deeply and less frequently, rather than being regularly sprinkled (remember this is water, not salt, but we’re getting there!)

“Every single diet I ever fell off of was because of potatoes and gravy of some sort.”

— Dolly Parton

Harvest

Oddly enough, the sign that your potatoes are ready is the leaves and foliage die. Instead of fluffy and green, they will become brown and stiff. This is because, for six weeks, all the energy to grow the potatoes went underground. Of course, you’re eager to dig out your potatoes but leave them be until the leaves and foliage turn brown. Once this happens, it’s time to harvest! Don’t leave them too long, or potatoes begin to rot. You’ll thank us later when you’re a proud urban potato farmer.

To remove the potatoes, gently dump your grow bag and pull out the potatoes. (If you have neighbors below you, we recommend laying down a tarp to catch the dirt. Or offer to sweep their balcony for them!)

Rejoice in your attempt at homesteading, whether this be your first time or your fiftieth time! Brush off your potatoes and store them in a cool, dark area.

Now it is time to enjoy your homegrown potatoes!

The great thing about potatoes is they are a hearty tuber, so growing them in your backyard, on your balcony, or in a sunny spot in your apartment is fairly foolproof!

Additionally, they are an excellent survival food for human consumption. Potatoes are extremely calorie-dense, providing the energy your body needs when in survival mode. Plus, they store easily, last a long time, and as you just learned, it is simple and cost-effective to grow more!

We hope this information helps you feel confident in dipping your toes into the homesteading world. Growing your own food is a great way to challenge yourself with a new skill and learn more about where your food comes from.

Happy planting!

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