Growing potatoes is a rewarding winter gardening activity. Potatoes are incredibly versatile and can be grown in a range of set-ups, making them suitable for almost everyone to grow. Before planting, ensure you use certified disease-free seed potatoes. Wait until the eyes (shoots) have formed, then cut into pieces, ensuring each has a shoot and allow them to dry for 24 hours before planting. Plant in a full sun position with good drainage.
There are several methods for growing potatoes, depending on the space available and your preferred growing style.
Growing potatoes in the ground
- Add Rocky Point ActivGrow and Organic Health Garden Soil to existing soil.
- Create rows in your desired length of hilled soil 50cm apart.
- Plant the seed potato pieces at the bottom of the hills in the trenches. Eyes facing up.
- Cover the potatoes with some soil and compost and water in well.
- Fill the trenches with some of the hilled soil and for the next 6 weeks, add extra compost and mulch if needed as the potatoes grow.
- Regardless of whether you are growing in the ground or in a container, apply regular applications of liquid seaweed and fertiliser.
Growing potatoes in containers is an excellent option for gardeners with limited space.
Growing potatoes in containers
- Fill your container about a quarter of the way with Rocky Point Organic Potting Mix.
- Place your seed potato pieces in the bottom, eyes facing up and cover with about 5cm of potting mix and compost.
- As the potato plants grow, keep adding more Organic Potting Mix and ActivGrow Soil Improver up against the stems until you reach the top of the pot.
You do this continual hilling in pots to encourage more roots and consequently more potatoes.
Harvesting
Once the potato plant flowers start to die down, this is your cue to harvest your potatoes. It usually takes around 20 weeks to reach harvest time.
Varieties Sebago, Pontiac, Nicole, Kipfler, Sapphire, Kennebec, Ruby Lou, King Edward, Toolangi Delight, Dutch Cream.
