What is the best way to grow potatoes?
by
Megan
+1
I live in Reno, NV and I have attempted to grow potatoes for the last 2 years will little success. I am thinking they might be getting too much hot sun.
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I used a couple of plastic garbage cans that were cracking. I put rocks in the bottom to help with drainage. I planted the potatoes that were literally growing in my basement. As the branches grew I fill in the garbage can to cover until one day they were full. They don't need all day sun to grow, they can easily take some shade. We had a somewhat cool summer with short periods of hot, so my potatoes grew well, but the potatoes were not real big, and the growing season is not real long. Try putting them somewhere were they will get less of the hot afternoon sun.
Potatoes need moisture and also require hilling so that the sun does not burn them when they grow near the surface of the soil. If the sun gets to the potatoes, they will turn green and are not fit to eat.
I have a composter from RubberMaid, that I got many years ago. The top comes off, to add compost, and the BOTTOM opens, on the side, to shovel it out/rotate. I'm thinking this is an ideal way to grow potatoes. It's easily portable (if you don't mind shoveling dirt that is left behind), the top can be left open for sun, and the bottom sides make the potatoes accessible.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/when-and-how-to-plant-potatoes