Growing potatoes with
minimum effort
Find out how to grow potatoes with no digging, although growing potatoes in the soil usually requires some cultivation even if shallowly. Potatoes are a staple item in many diets. If you want early potatoes, or if space is limited then grow 'earlies' only. If space allows also grow a 'main crop' to provide potatoes from late spring to next year. Rotation: 'Root crop' - after brassicas, not within 2-3 years of last growing potatoes. Soil preparation: Any soil type is suitable. At most dig the soil in the autumn and add compost/ muck to enrich the soil if not done for the previous crop. Before planting break down the soil to a tilth and add a general purpose fertilizer. Note in open soil you will need to dig sufficiently to ensure there is no compaction. In raised beds that have been prepared properly just loosen the surface 10-15cm of soil. Seed: Buy quality virus free seed potatoes. Chit before planting. How to chit potatoes: Take your seed potatoes and lay them in a single layer in a box or on a tray in a cool light (not sunny) frost-free place to shoot. Allow up to 6 weeks until you see 1-3cm sturdy green shoots. Chitting encourages rapid growth at planting usually meaning earlier crops. Planting potatoes in open soil: - Pick a warm site free of frost pockets
- Plant according to vegetable garden planting times; first earlies in early spring, second earlies in mid spring and main crop in late spring/ early summer
- Mark out rows (60cm apart for 'earlies' and 75cm apart for main crop varieties) by drawing a straight line with a trowel, marking both ends with a stick
- To plant dig a hole 12cm deep for each seed potato, placing the seed potato shoots uppermost and then fill in the hole. Proceed onwards digging holes (30cm apart for earlies and 40cm apart for main crop) until all seed is planted at the appropriate spacing according to the type
For the ultimate lazy, but effective, way of growing potatoes: get a bag of compost and stand on end firmly. Cut holes in the sides about 20cm apart. Push a seed potato in to each hole and cover. Water from above ensuring excess water can drain out of the bottom. Ensure shoots emerge through each planting hole from side of bag. Maintenance in open soil: - Use a rake to pull up a shallow ridge over each newly planted row. If late frosts are likely make a higher ridge to protect new growth
- a firm ridge of fine soil will deter slugs
- When foliage is 20cm tall ridge up fully to produce a broad 15cm high ridge ensuring all tubers are covered
- water regularly after planting, but only water soil once leaves emerge to minimise disease build-up
weed regularly by hand
Hygiene: Take off diseased leaves/ plants as they appear to minimise disease spread and future problems. Carefully remove true potato seed from plants and even tiny tubers from the ground when harvesting to minimise problems of potatoes in the next crop. Harvesting potatoes: Dig early varieties 3-4 months after planting, usually when flowers open in mid summer. Main crop potatoes can be dug in early autumn onwards. Ideally cut and burn diseased foliage (haulm) and then harvest potatoes 10 days later. Allow to dry, store in open boxes in a cool dark frost-free place. Note: Green potato tubers, stalks and stems are poisonous and must NOT be eaten. They contain high levels of the alkaloid solanine that interferes with cell membranes and nerves. For more information
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