MINNEAPOLIS — Burlap sacks are usually free from coffee shops and they make a great container for growing potatoes.
You can also buy grow bags that work well too. Here’s how to do it.
We have two burlap sacks here, one inside the other and the top was rolled down until it was about a foot deep.
1. Fill up the burlap about ¾ way full with a good quality potting soil.
2. Place your seed potatoes a few inches apart in the soil and push them in about 2” deep. Cover with a layer of compost or more soil.
3. Water lightly, don’t get the soil soggy or your potatoes will rot.
4. When your potatoes have grown about 2” to 3” tall, cover them with more potting soil or compost to just leave the leaves emerged. This is called “hilling up”. Water regularly.
5. Repeat the hilling up process a few more times as your potato plants grow and unroll to top of your burlap sack as necessary.
6. You’ll know you have potatoes growing when the plants begin to blossom. But don’t pick them yet!
7. When the leaves have all turned brown on your potato plants. Then gently sump out the burlap sack and dig through the soil with your hands to find all the potatoes!
8. Let the potatoes dry in a single layer in a cardboard box somewhere that is cool and dry for storage. Or you can eat them right away!
If you’re wondering, yes you can plant organic potatoes you bought at the grocery store. Non-organic have likely been treated to prevent sprouting. They can introduce disease into your garden.
Seed potatoes, however, are certified to be free of disease.
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