Learning to speak potato

This week I decided to learn the language of the potato and will use this post to share what I learned.

1. I could have cut my potato into “seeds” by ensuring that at least one eye was on each cut piece (seed). These could be planted separately.
2. One seed potato can yield about 8 potatoes.
3. Potatoes like a full sun position, well draining soil, that is rich in organic matter and regular watering – don’t let them dry out.
4. Potatoes do not like mucky soil; make sure you container has good drainage (plenty holes to leak out excess water).
5. If you are living in a cold country, potatoes do not like frost; keep them above 50 degrees
6. Some sites recommend growing them in compost; I planted mine in regular top soil which was intended for my flowers, so we will see what happens.

Anyway, I am still learning; and this week’s potato ‘trees’ look like they are almost twice the size they were last week. I’ve also noticed a few new shoots which may mean I need to get a bigger pot. What do you think?

Planted potato at 3 weeks; view from above

Planted potato at 3 weeks; view from the side

Have you started growing anything new? Tell us about it.

Posh Farming is Back!!

Hi fellow Posh Farmers, I’m back!

Thank you all for your support. I’ve read your comments and I am overjoyed to see the many of you who were ‘rooting’ with me, which is great encouragement.

The Posh Farm produced zilch last year but the farming bug hasn’t left me, so I’m here again…I will press on.

After all, success is failure conquered!

This time, I’ve taken to farming on a smaller scale and the phase begins with a potato.

Last year October I noticed that one of the Irish potatoes I bought from the supermarket had these little eyes in them. Honestly, I didn’t know they were called eyes until I consulted farmer Google. I subsequently learned that potatoes grow from “eyes” known as seed potatoes. These ‘eyes’ sprout and form new potatoes underground.

I wanted to see what would happen, so I left the potato on the window in the kitchen. In December I returned to the potato and noticed it had began sprouting tiny green leaves. I got very excited because I wanted to see what would happen to it eventually, so I left it for another two months. In early February I returned to my potato and was happy to see it growing tiny potatoes all over its little body.

Potato after being left in the kitchen for 4 months

Close-up of the baby potatoes after 4 months

I must say I was surprised at what had happened. I had experienced the early reproductive stage of the potato and now I wanted to take the process further; so I decided to plant the potato.

I used some top soil I had in the garage and planted the potato in a pot so I could manage the process better. That was two weeks ago. I’ve left the pot under the heave of the house so that water droplets from the nightly dew can provide water for the potato, which is very important during my periods of absence.

At the end of the first week I noticed two patches of tiny leaves breaking through the soil. The sign of life gave me renewed hope. We are now at the end of week two and there are many more leaves and sprouts. I am now a proud parent of a potato, watching as my little ones come into their own….it’s a beautiful thing.

And so, my journey with the potato continues and you all have court side seats. Happy Posh Farming!

Potatoes freshly planted

Planted potato at one week

 

Planted potato at two weeks