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The greatest comfort comes from food that we grow ourselves. What could be more satisfying than harvesting fresh potatoes from your garden? Whether you choose to grow them in a pot or in your kitchen garden, here is everything you need to know. Plant your potatoes now for a great harvest in December and January.
Chit your potatoes
Did you know that potatoes are grown from potatoes? Check your vegetable rack for potatoes with eyes. Eyes refer to the little sprouts that grow out of potatoes. You can use these potatoes as seeds that can be planted. If your potatoes do not have eyes yet, help them along by ‘chitting’ them.
Read other Naledi Farms articles.
Chitting is the process of encouraging seed potatoes to sprout before they are planted. Chit your potatoes by placing them in an egg box or tray. Position them in a cool, light place, without any direct sunlight. Leave them for approximately six weeks until they start producing eyes.
Plant your potatoes
Plant seed potatoes in spring around the time of the last expected frost. Plant them in soil that drains well and incorporate lots of good-quality compost. These plants love sun, so plant them in a spot with full sun where they will get at least six hours of sunlight each day. Plant them 10 to 12cm deep and 30 to 40cm apart with the shoots pointing upwards. Keep the soil well watered until the tubers start to form.
You can also plant these plants in pots and containers. Just make sure the plants have enough space to grow upwards as well as downwards.
Green shoots should emerge within two weeks. These will grow into bushy plants, and after three months or so new spuds will develop underground. When the green shoots are between 20 and 30cm tall, add extra soil around the stems to stop any light from reaching tubers that are growing closer to the surface. This process is called earthing-up/hilling and prevents your potato crop from turning green. You will need to continue doing this as the plants grow.
Harvest your potatoes
Your crop is ready to harvest when the plants begin to turn yellow and die back, typically 18 to 20 weeks after planting.
If you want these vegetables fresh, dig up only what you need and leave the rest in the soil for later use. If you plan to store your potatoes, do not dig them up until two or three weeks after the foliage has died back. Dig the tubers up with a spading fork, or use your hands, and be careful not to pierce the tubers.
Leave them on the ground for a few hours to dry and cure. Brush off loose soil and store in a cool, dry place until you are ready to use them. Do not wash these vegetables before storing them. The moisture will reduce their shelf life. – Manti Maifadi, Naledi Farm
For more information on Naledi Farm or for advice on growing vegetables at home, contact Manti on 082 800 2327 or email bookings@naledifarm.co.za.
