Maximizing Your Potato Harvest: A Complete Guide to Planting Potatoes

Potatoes are a staple in many households, and they're surprisingly easy to grow. In this video, Jack covers everything you need to know to plant potatoes and get the biggest harvest of your lifetime.

The first thing to consider is whether you can plant your potatoes whole or if you need to cut them. The rule of thumb is that potatoes must be big enough to cut, which means they need to be more than two ounces (about 50 grams) in weight. If they're smaller than two ounces, you must plant them whole.

When choosing your seed potatoes, make sure they look like seed chips and not like they've been chewed up in the dark. These potatoes will produce weaker plants, and you won't get as big of a harvest.

If you have larger potatoes with chits all over them, you can cut them in half, but each half of the potato should only have a maximum of two chips. If you have a smaller potato with chits all over it, keep two large, healthy chits, and remove any other smaller ones.

Once you've prepared your seed potatoes, it's time to plant them. Jack uses wooden boxes that are two feet by two feet, but you can use any container that's at least 12 inches deep. Make sure to mix your soil with 50% native soil, 40% compost, and 10% coconut coir. Add a slow-releasing, light fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 4-4-2 and sulfur to lower the pH level of the soil. Iron phosphate can also be added to reduce earwig populations.

When planting, make sure to space your potatoes at least 12 inches apart with 16 inches between rows. Plant your potatoes six to eight inches deep with the chits facing up, and then water thoroughly.

By following these simple steps, you'll be on your way to growing the biggest harvest of potatoes you've ever seen. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting, planting potatoes is a fun and rewarding activity that can save you money at the grocery store. Thanks for tuning in, and happy gardening!