growing potatoes?

Question

I have a large plastic garbage bin full of compost, how do I start to grow potatoes, do I just bury some potatoes in the dirt, or is there some special way of doing it??????

Answer 1

Potatoes grow largest in soft soil. If you use raised soil (example soft stuff in old tires) they will get bigger the in harder ground.

Answer 2

You do understand that potatoes themselves grow underground and you have to dig them up when the plants die down? But this is how you plant a potato, you cut a whole potato so each piece has a *eye* or sprouting point in it or small *seed* potatoes and as they grow the potatoes are part of their root system. You'll need to watch for Colorado potato beetles (stiped wings, red head) and remove them either by hand or by using a pyrethrum based spray. Let the plants grow until they start to die back, then use a spading fork and begin to dig up the earth about a foot from the plant to unearth the potatoes. Wipe a much dirt off as possible and let them dry in the sun to dry them out a bit.

Answer 3

Place 6" of compost/soil in bottom of garbage can. Add potato (as said including the eyes) add 4" compost. When the plant is 6" tall, add 4" more compost. This is known as "mounding" your potatoes. Continue adding soil as the potato grows, until garbage can is full. To harvest, tip the can over, pour out all the yummy spuds. Good luck.

Answer 4

whitefire is the only one who mentioned the "eyes" on the potato. This is what actually generates a new plant. There will be an indent in the potato and it will show signs of new growth, a sprout if you will. A potato can have several of these on it so you can cut each one off and plant it. I don't know how well they will grow in your container though, I've only grown them in a garden bed outdoors. They have quite a large root structure so it might not turn out too well.

Answer 5

here is how my dad did it. he would cut the potato up leaving one or two eyes on the piece. he would place them on an old towel outside, wet the towel, lay flat, place the pieces of the potato ramndomly and let water drip slowly on the towel. in about a week to ten days the potato pieces would start to grow vines from the eyes. he would mound up the soil in a row, leaving the soil loose and plant the potato pieces just below the surface with the vine sticking out. keep the soil mildly moist or if it rains about 1 or twice a week is better.

Answer 6

Born and raised on a georgia farm... so listen up hun...

you cut the eyes off the potatoe, (( the little sprouts))

till your gardening spot, make a row, dropp the potatoe eye in the ground, now make sure you push the dirt up like a mountain this is called a mound... water it use 10/10 fertalizers, water... and soon they will sprout... when the small bush dies towards the fall, digg up your new potatoes...

Answer 7

Dont grow potatoes..... its such a waste of time. U can buy the same amount of potatoes in the market for 2.00 that you will get by growing them.. and they dont taste any different either.

If you insist, make a mound of dirt, and bury the potatoes in it.

Potato foliage is poisonous for one thing... so make sure you have no dogs around. It is also very susceptible to mildew and blackspot... so be ready for problems. Hope you don't ever hope to grow tomatoes, cuz the disease created by growing by the potatoes will remain in the soil for 3 years, and will be spread to all nightshade family crops (tomatoes, peppers)

Answer 8

when they start getting small shoots on them,bury them and water well and when they grow and get flowers thats when to dig up

Answer 9

just dig a little whole and drop them in and cover them up

Answer 10

cut the tater in half first