Potatoes
"Digging up your own potatoes feels like finding buried treasure."
How to plant it
Start with seed potatoes, not grocery store ones.
Cut larger seed potatoes into pieces with 2-3 eyes each.
Plant 4 inches deep and 12 inches apart.
Mound soil around stems as they grow ('hilling').
Harvest when the tops die back and turn yellow.
Beginner-friendly varieties
Watering
Keep soil evenly moist, especially when plants are flowering.
Sunlight
Full sun. They need at least 6 hours to build strong tubers.
Container tips for patios and balconies
Grow bags work beautifully for potatoes.
Use at least a 10-gallon container per plant.
Start with 6 inches of soil, then add more as the plant grows.
- Don't eat green potatoes—they're exposed to sun and can make you sick.
- Store in a cool, dark place and they'll keep for months.
Quick Facts
What is soil pH?
Soil pH is just a measure of how "acidic" or "sweet" your soil is. Think of it like a flavor profile for plants! Most beginner-friendly plants are perfectly happy right in the middle.
- Most garden soil is already just fine for common veggies and herbs.
- If your plants look healthy and green, you don't need to worry about pH.
- If a plant struggles later, a simple test kit can help you adjust things.
✨ Pro-tip: You don't need to perfectly measure anything to start planting today!
