Knowing how to grow potatoes is perhaps one of the most important things we can take away from The Martian aside from the fact that we can science the bleep out of any problem. Not everyone is born with a scientific mind (though everything can be learned) but everyone can definitely grow potatoes in their homestead.
It doesn’t really take a botanist to grow potatoes in your yard or in your apartment (for all the urban homesteaders out there). You also don’t have to be as good-looking and smart as Matt Damon’s Mark Watney since it’s relatively easy to grow potatoes. Well, at least, here on Earth.
Why it’s important to grow potatoes
Why do we need potatoes in our lives? These starchy, tuberous crops are rich in different nutrients. As proven by Watney, you can live on potatoes alone (though ketchup would be a great add-on). Potatoes are packed with vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and other minerals. The only things potatoes don’t have are vitamins A and D.
Potatoes are also easy to grow so it’s probably the most logical crop to grow in the event of a societal breakdown. These root vegetables are also versatile. You can boil them, bake them, fry them, scallop them, mash them and turn them into Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. You can also apparently charge your smartphone using 110 pounds of russet potatoes, according to Popular Mechanics. If that’s the case, you do need to grow potatoes, lots of them.
What you need to grow potatoes
Seed potatoes
Choose the varieties you want to grow and then acquire their seed potatoes. There are stores, online and otherwise, that offer a mix of different potato varieties in one purchase. The Peruvian Purple potato is a popular choice because it’s believed to be beneficial against cancer thanks to its high antioxidant level.
Potato planters
You need a place to plant your potatoes. Traditionally, farmers grow potatoes on land but there are disadvantages to this method. For one, you need land. Not everyone has the luxury of owning property where they can grow potatoes or other crops. It’s also difficult to harvest the potatoes if the soil is hard. Using a shovel to dig them out may slice the potatoes in half.
Fortunately, potatoes can grow in bags, cages, raised beds, and other containers making them extremely popular among urban homesteaders.
You can also use barrels for your container garden. Use a whiskey barrel planter, a trash barrel or a food grade barrel.
Some homesteaders prefer something simpler such as a potato bag. It is made of breathable fabric allowing proper drainage and aeration. Potato bags are also portable thanks to the handles at the top while harvesting the potatoes is also done easily through the side opening.
Specially designed plastic containers are also popular among urban homesteaders. It consists of two plastic containers in which the inner part can be lifted to expose the potatoes for easier harvesting.
Those who rather not use plastic can go for wooden potato planters. These wooden planters come with a side door so you can track your progress and see if you are growing potatoes.
A raised bed is also made of wood but it’s a bit bulkier than the other planters.
“Chitting” is allowed
Before planting your seed potatoes in your planters, let them “chit” or sprout first. To do so, put the seed potatoes in an egg carton exposing the side with the most buds. Place them under cool light and wait until they sprout. Keep them away from direct sunlight.
Soil
Once the seed potatoes have sprouted, they’re ready for planting. Fill your planter with half a foot of loose planting mix made up of peat moss, native soil, compost, and vermiculite. Set the rest of the soil aside.
Plant the seed potato pieces three to four inches deep into the planting mix making sure there is enough space between each. Wait until the sprouts grow to around six to eight inches high before adding more soil. Bury the plants gently up to a third of its height. Allow the plants to grow higher before adding more soil. Do this until the container is full. Make sure you keep the soil moist.
In about 10 weeks, the potatoes will be ready for harvesting. Check if the plants have flowered and started to turn yellow to be sure then dig through the top layer with your hands carefully to see if the potatoes are indeed ready. Once you’re sure, simply dump the contents of the planter to get all those glorious spuds.
Finally, you need a way to store your bounty harvest. Keep your potatoes in burlap sacks. Don’t forget to keep some so you can grow potatoes the following year.
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