FoodieFanatic
Senior Cook
I plant potatoes every St. Patrick's Day. Tradition has it that it is good luck and will bring you great wealth throughout the year. So, for the last three years I have done this and the results have been pretty good. I harvest the potatoes over the 4th of July holiday. I had over 10 pounds this year. Two pots, that's it! We take potato seedling potatoes, cut them into half or quarter pieces depending on the size of the potato and how many EYES it has. The EYES are what you want on each piece as that is where the plant/roots come from. I dry the cut pieces for a week to 10 days on cookie sheets lined with parchment and keep them on the dining room table, away from drafts, cold, etc. When a harder 'skin' forms, you can plant them. A little soil, then the potato and enough soil to cover them. As they start to sprout, cover the plants with more soil. When you are about two inches from the top of the pot, stop covering them. I used coffee grounds and egg shells in the soil. I buy Black Gold and add the coffee grounds and crushed egg shells to the soil bag and mix it up. Don't use it until it has had time to release nutrients to the soil, about 2 weeks. Every week, add four more egg shells and about a cup of coffee grounds. If you don't drink coffee, Starbucks give the use grounds away for gardens...it's free! Remember after harvesting, DO NOT rinse the dirt off the potatoes, let them sit in a dark place for 10 days, then rinse and use. Delicious!