Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions are absolute must-haves for any home veggie patch. Let’s be real: you’ll never find produce fresher than what you dig up from your own backyard! If you’re looking for a low-maintenance but high-reward crop, potatoes are the way to go. I’ll walk you through the simple steps to get them growing in your garden.
Growing and Cultivating
Unlike most veggies, we don’t start potatoes from tiny seeds; we plant “seed potatoes” (which are actually just small tubers) directly into the ground. If you live in a warmer climate, you can get those pre-sprouted tubers in the dirt as early as March. For those of us in cooler regions, it’s best to wait until mid-April to start planting.
Prepping Your Soil
Potatoes are happiest in loose, sandy-loam soil. About two weeks before you plan to plant, give your garden bed a boost by mixing in some nutrient-rich compost. If you’re a planner, you can even prep the soil the previous fall with well-rotted manure. Just keep an eye on the nutrients—potatoes need plenty of magnesium. If you notice yellow leaves with green edges, your soil might have too much potassium, and a magnesium-rich fertilizer could be just what the doctor ordered.
Chitting (Pre-Sprouting)
To give your spuds a head start, you’ll want to “chit” them (that’s gardener-speak for pre-sprouting) for about six weeks. Place your tubers in a bright, airy room kept around 50-60°F (10-15°C). Make sure the “eyes” are facing up so they grow short, sturdy green sprouts. A pro tip: a few days before moving them outside, let them acclimate to the cooler outdoor air (around 40-45°F) during the day.
Planting Your Early Potatoes
When you’re ready to plant, place your seed potatoes about 12 inches (30 cm) apart in loose soil. You only need to cover them with about 2 inches (5 cm) of dirt at first—this allows the spring sun to warm the soil quickly, encouraging fast growth. Space your rows about 20 to 30 inches (50-75 cm) apart depending on the variety. As the plants grow, you’ll want to “hill” them twice. Every time the shoots hit about 4 inches (10 cm) high, mound more soil around the base until you’ve created a ridge about 8 inches (20 cm) tall.
Your Step-by-Step Planting Guide
- Let your potatoes sprout (chit) for about 6 weeks before planting.
- Loosen up your garden soil thoroughly.
- Space your potatoes 12 inches apart (with 20-30 inches between rows).
- Cover the tubers with about 2 inches of soil.
- If a late frost hits, protect the bed with garden fleece or plastic until mid-May.
- Regularly “hill” the plants by mounding soil around the stems.
- Keep the soil consistently moist with regular watering.
- Harvest early potatoes in June or July.
- Late-season varieties can stay in the ground even longer!
Important Tips to Remember
Make sure those growing tubers stay completely covered and away from sunlight. If they peek out and get sun exposure, they’ll turn green and become toxic. The best part about root veggies? They are fantastic for long-term storage and can often keep your pantry stocked all winter long!
