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brownrexx · June 1, 2019

I cut the seed potatoes so that there is at least one eye per piece and let them dry.

I fluff the soil and place the seed potato pieces under about an inch of soil and then cover the rows with straw.

As the plants grow I add more straw or grass clippings. Instead of mounding up the soil, I mound up the straw.

The roots from the seed potato pieces are in soil but the new tubers grow from the stems and are in the straw. I am able to harvest nice clean potatoes using just my gloved hands.

The important thing is to put the seed potatoes under a light covering of soil. Last year I tried just straw and they didn't grow. I had to uncover them and put some soil on top and then they rooted fine.

The other important thing is to make sure the developing tubers are covered with straw or grass clippings to protect them from light or they will turn green. The second picture shows the straw pulled back on harvest day. I don't know where that red one came from, maybe a volunteer from the previous year.

As you can see, I get nice clean potatoes with very little scab.

DSC00880 by Brownrexx, on Flickr

20180812_122732 by Brownrexx, on Flickr

20180915_105409 by Brownrexx, on Flickr

June 1, 2019	#23
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I cut the seed potatoes so that there is at least one eye per piece and let them dry. I fluff the soil and place the seed potato pieces under about an inch of soil and then cover the rows with straw. As the plants grow I add more straw or grass clippings. Instead of mounding up the soil, I mound up the straw. The roots from the seed potato pieces are in soil but the new tubers grow from the stems and are in the straw. I am able to harvest nice clean potatoes using just my gloved hands. The important thing is to put the seed potatoes under a light covering of soil. Last year I tried just straw and they didn't grow. I had to uncover them and put some soil on top and then they rooted fine. The other important thing is to make sure the developing tubers are covered with straw or grass clippings to protect them from light or they will turn green. The second picture shows the straw pulled back on harvest day. I don't know where that red one came from, maybe a volunteer from the previous year. As you can see, I get nice clean potatoes with very little scab. DSC00880 by Brownrexx, on Flickr 20180812_122732 by Brownrexx, on Flickr 20180915_105409 by Brownrexx, on Flickr Last edited by brownrexx; June 1, 2019 at 04:11 PM.