Introduction: Why You Should Start Growing Potatoes at Home
Potatoes are one of the most nutritious and versatile vegetables that you can grow at home. They are also one of the easiest plants to grow as they do not need a lot of attention and care.
This article will tell you why you should start growing potatoes at home and how to do it.
Benefits of Growing Potatoes Indoors
Growing potatoes indoors is a space-saving way to grow food and yields a high crop yield.
Potatoes are not only easy to grow, but they also require little maintenance. Potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables grown in the United States.
They’re easy to grow, and have a long shelf life for those who don’t have the time or space for gardening. Many people use an indoor garden to grow their own food.
Growing potatoes in an indoor garden can be a great way to save money and space while still getting fresh, quality produce. A well-maintained indoor potato tuber is capable of producing 10 pounds of potato tubers annually per square foot of growing area, while a poorly maintained tuber is only able to produce 1–2 pounds per year.
Using an indoor garden for potatoes need not be complicated.
There are many different ways to grow potatoes indoors and you can also grow some of your favorite heritage varieties. Some of the options include growing in a container on a windowsill, using a homemade potato bag, or building an indoor garden tower system.
Preparation and Planting Your Potatoes in Containers
If you are looking for a way to grow potatoes without the need for a garden, then container gardening is the solution. Potatoes can be grown in containers that are anywhere from 1 to 5 gallons in size.
The best time to plant your potatoes is in late fall after the first frost and before the ground freezes. You will want to choose a location that receives full sun exposure and has good drainage.
The soil you will use should be fine sand or well draining, and it needs to be prepared by mixing in peat moss, compost and a little fertilizer.
The first step in planting your potatoes in containers is to fill your container with soil and then place the potatoes into the container about six inches apart from one another. You should make sure that there is at least two inches of space between the top of the potato and the top of your container. Finally, cover them up with more soil and water them well before putting them back in a safe place for growing until they are ready for harvest (usually about three months).
Potato Maintenance Indoors
Potato plants need a lot of care and attention. When they are grown indoors, it is even more important to provide the right conditions for them to grow.
The most important thing is to make sure that you have the right light for your plants. You can’t just use any type of light, but one with a spectrum that closely resembles sunlight.
You will have to water your potatoes every day, preferably in the morning or evening when the water has time to dry off before nightfall. Make sure you always use potting soil instead of regular soil so that your potatoes can get enough nutrients from it and don’t develop fungal diseases. And finally, keep the temperature between 18-22 degrees Celsius during daytime and 12-16 degrees Celsius during night time.