How to grow potatoes

Le potatoes They're really easy to grow: even a pot will do. And you can even have them indoors. The important thing, in the case of pots, is to respect the size of the container, while if sowing takes place in the garden, you need to keep the right distance from the plants. shoots. The potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) belong to the Solanaceae family, the same botanical family as tomatoes and eggplantThis annual herbaceous crop is native to South America, originating from Peru, Chile, and Bolivia. Potatoes began to spread across the continent after Christopher Columbus's expeditions, and were first cultivated in Italy around 1600. Potatoes are a very nutritionally rich food, belonging to the carbohydrate family, containing phosphorus and potassium, and are highly digestible. Grow them in pots, in the vegetable garden in the garden or on the balcony is simple by following a few simple rules.

Cultivation in pots

To start with, take a very large vase, at least 50 litres, fill it up to 1/4 with good soil and get a good compost, better if homemade following this processAt this point, just take some potatoes, preferably organic, and follow a few simple steps. adviceFor growing in pots or in the ground, the seedlings should be spaced at least 35 cm apart. If you intend growing potatoes on the balcony, don't forget that this is a very particular crop: this vegetable is a tuber and grows underground!

Land

You can use very tall vases, buckets, recycling bins or bags. For this DIY cultivation at home All you need is a bag, some fertile soil (universal soil), and some potatoes to sprout. Fill the bag halfway with fertile soil. Arrange the potatoes you wish to grow on the soil, spaced as far apart as possible, and cover them with more soil. While the potatoes are growing in the bag, if new roots appear on the surface, cover with more soil. The harvest period is at the beginning of theautunnoTwo weeks before harvest, cut the plants above the root, leaving them on the ground, then remove the soil to harvest them. Now the potatoes are ready to be cooked. To determine if it's the right time to harvest the potatoes, simply rub the skin. If it doesn't come off, the potatoes are ripe for harvest.

Semina

You don't need to buy seeds or seedlings. If you have some potatoes at home, you can definitely start a cultivationBefore planting potatoes, place them on a tray in a cool, naturally lit place for 3-6 weeks. Be careful, however, not to place the potatoes in direct sunlight. The waiting time varies depending on the potato. If the potato was harvested a long time ago, it will take a short time to sprout. Once the potatoes have sprouted, you can proceed with cultivation. Potatoes prefer a cool, temperate climate but tolerate intense cold. At temperatures below zero, the leaves freeze and die. Only in the South does the sowing Potato harvesting takes place in autumn for a spring harvest. Since the potato is a tuber and therefore a root vegetable, month The best time for planting is during the waning phase. Potato plants adapt easily to different soil types. However, the best yields are obtained in soils rich in organic matter, well-aerated, and with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Prepare furrows in which to place the potatoes. Then, dig holes about 50 cm deep, spaced at least 30 cm apart in rows. Place the potatoes in each hole, leaving the shoots to develop upwards.

Watering

Depending on the weather and season, potatoes can be watered 2-3 to 7-10 times a month. To adjust, simply observe the soil: if it's too dry, watering is necessary. Water regularly, especially in summer. Fertilize the soil with nutrients, preferably organic. You can use manure, which however must be well matured, and in any case buried during the winter period. To improve the quality of the soil, the result of home composting can be buried. Even in this case, it is necessary to act well in advance of the planned sowing period. Carry out the harvesting Potatoes can be harvested when the plant's aerial parts are completely dry. The exact timing will depend on the variety you choose and the planting season. At home, it's done by hand. Therefore, to make the process easier, it's best to choose a time when the Plot be in tempera, that is, neither too dry nor too wet.

Advice

To promote good cultivation it is necessary:

• Keep the potatoes at dark to facilitate the sprouting process.
• Bury the tubers in parallel rows Spaced at least 60-70 cm apart. This space is not so much for the tuber's propagation as it is for normal maintenance and easier harvesting. For this reason, when growing potatoes on a balcony, they can be planted in a bag filled with soil and compost.
• The holes intended to accommodate the tubers can be made with the help of a awl.
• Water regularly without stagnant water.
• Potato flowers are very beautiful and tell us that the plant is in good health.
• Once the potatoes are ready, let them dry in the sun.

Read also:

• How to grow oregano in a pot
• How to grow basil in a pot
• Growing pumpkins in the garden or in a pot
• The best potato recipes