Growing potatoes does not require hard work. If you want to add potatoes to your garden without digging, follow this method of growing without digging! This is my favorite way to grow potatoes.
Growing potatoes without digging
Potato is one of my favorite crops to grow, not only because I find it fairly easy to grow, but also because I can control its growth. Conventionally grown potatoes contain high levels of pesticide residues, according to the Environmental Working Group's Dirty 12/Clean 15 list.
I try to grow as much "dirty" food as possible using organic means. It used to be difficult to find organic potatoes in my area, which is why I originally started growing them. They are easier to find now, but I can save a lot of money by growing my own potatoes. That's what I do! If you do not want to work with your hands or your health does not allow you, there is a way to make your work easier - this is a potato planter with a walk-behind tractor, we recommend that you pay attention to
planters to walk-behind tractor.
But other than that, potatoes are amazing! I think it is a very beautiful plant, and digging it up in the fall is like going on a treasure hunt. It's always interesting to see what's down there buried in the dirt. {Yeah, I know I'm a bit weird...} But I really just love eating potatoes!! So, let's start growing potatoes. It really isn't difficult.
When to plant potatoes
Potatoes are one of the first spring crops that can be planted. Depending on your garden zone, many places recommend planting potatoes by St. Patrick's Day, but in my zone 5b garden, it's a little earlier. In my zone 5b garden in Iowa, potatoes are usually planted in early to mid-April, and northern Iowans later in April.
Soil temperature is important for the development of the root system of potato plants. The optimum soil temperature for planting potatoes should be around 59-68 F. You don't want the soil to be too cold or too wet or your garden will rot rather than grow.
So, potatoes need to be planted before the last frost. Don't worry because they can tolerate light frost (while they are still small) and it takes some time before the tubers begin to develop leaves.
How late can you plant potatoes
The growing season for potatoes is typically 90 to 120 days, depending on the variety you choose. With the first frost in mid-October in my garden area, a fast-growing variety could be planted in early summer and at least harvest new potatoes.
However, potatoes will not develop strong roots if the soil is too hot. Therefore, it is better to plant potatoes at the beginning of the growing season, when the ground is still relatively cool.
How to plant seed potatoes without digging
Potatoes can be planted in early spring once the soil has been worked. Make sure the ground is not too wet and the soil temperature is above 45 degrees. Potatoes will not germinate if the ground is too cold, and really wet soil can cause potatoes to rot before they grow.
The ISU Expansion Office recommends planting seed potatoes 3-4 inches deep, and folklore says they should be planted on Good Friday in my zone, Zone 5. I don't know about you, but dig a 3-4 inch trench. and covering potatoes with so many inches of soil is an awful lot of work that I'd rather not do.
