Potato Experiment

These potatoes plants were sown on April 2nd. In February, I selected an organic red variety from the local health food store, let the eyes sprout, cut them apart, then shallow planted them in soil I'd prepared the previous year using the no-till technique. On top of the planted spuds, I added a thick layer of straw then covered the entire area with the fabric row cover I re-use each year.

Last week I dug three plants. Each had at least two fist sized potatoes and a few babies about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. I'm amazed at the bug and disease free leaves, healthy tubers, and the amount of potatoes growing in a shallow densely planted area. A friend mentioned that potatoes would grow in straw, too. Next year, another experiment!