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This article is from Today's
Native Father, issue #133, May/June, 2004. Related articles from this issue: |
No Greenhouse? No Problem! Grow Potatoes by David Hertzler |
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Gardening can be tough in cold northern climates, with their short growing seasons, severe winter temperatures and acidic, rocky soil. Still, these regions have some advantages over southern areas. Sunshine is abundant in summer, with less pollution and longer days. Some plants, such as peas, prefer cooler temperatures. Low humidity and cold winters reduce the spread of harmful fungi and insect pests. Given a little help from mulches and plastic coverings, outdoor gardening is possible even in some areas north of the Arctic Circle. The potato is one of the easiest vegetables to grow in the north. It is also one of the most nutritious, when the whole potato is used. The Inca Indians of South America were the first to grow potatoes. Spanish Conquistadors discovered them and carried them to Europe in 1536, where they became a popular food staple. In recent years, potatoes proved their versatility by becoming the first vegetable to be grown in space. Here are a few tricks to help you grow your own crop of potatoes. Variety. Choose seed grown in or for the north. Red Norland is a good early variety. By “seed,” we mean whole potatoes which you cut into pieces, with an “eye” in each piece. Dusting the fresh-cut seeds with sulfur will help prevent scab. Soil. Potatoes prefer a slightly acidic loam, so don’t use lime or wood ashes. Dig a trench about 30 cm deep. Line the bottom with well-rotted compost, or with a balanced fertilizer (5-10-10) and superphosphate (0-20-0). If you use fertilizer, cover it with soil. Plant the potatoes with the eyes up, about 30 cm apart and 20cm deep. Cover with about 12 cm of soil. When the plants show about 12 cm of new growth, finish filling in the trench and hill the soil around the potatoes. You can also cover the tops with soil to keep them from freezing if frost threatens. They will grow out again, and the buried tops will produce more potatoes. Planting. Plant after the soil temperature reaches 7 degrees Celsius, about six weeks before the last frost. Watch the weather, and cover the plants if you think they will freeze. Midway through the season, start looking for “new” potatoes by feeling with your fingers underneath the plants. These young potatoes won’t store well, but they make great eating, skins and all. Harvesting. Potatoes should be ready to harvest when the weather turns cool, just before frost. For best results, let the tops die before harvesting. To tell if a potato is mature enough to store, rub the skin with your thumb. If the skin rubs off easily, it is too young to store. If you damage your potatoes while digging, use them right away, since they will not store well. Let the potatoes lie in the open air for several hours to dry. Do not wash or brush them, since this could cause them to rot in storage. But don’t let the sun hit them too long; this could cause them to turn green. Store the potatoes in a cool, dark place with good air circulation, where they will not freeze. Potatoes stored this way should keep through the winter. |
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