Organic Potatoes Vitabella

Planting: Potatoes need a light, deep, and rich soil. Choose a sunny location. Add well-rotted compost in the previous autumn, by scratching it in 5 cm (2in) deep, after having loosened the soil. Planting takes place under cover in February-March for early varieties. For other varieties, plant them from mid-March to May depending on the climate. Wait until the soil is at least 10°C (50°F). The flowering of the lilac is often a landmark for starting the planting. Install several varieties in your vegetable garden to vary the pleasures!

Loosen the soil deeply and form rows 10 cm (4in) deep, spaced 70 cm (28in) apart. Place the tubers, sprout upwards, every 40 cm (16in) (or 30 cm (12in) for early varieties). Cover with fine soil. When the plants reach 15 cm (6in), mound up by bringing fine soil to the base of the stems, up to a height of 20 cm (8in). Mounding up will promote tuber formation and water drainage. You can mound them up again a month later. Mulch at the base of the plants, with thin successive layers of mixed grass clippings if possible with dead leaves. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also limits weed growth.

Potato cultivation does not require watering, except in case of high heat. In this case, water the base without wetting the foliage to prevent the onset of fungal diseases.

Diseases and pests: Potatoes are susceptible, like tomatoes, to late blight. This is a fungal disease caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus. Late blight develops in warm and humid weather. Small spots appear, white on the underside of the leaves and brown on top. As a preventive measure, here are some tips to limit the risk of late blight:

• do not cultivate several plants of the Solanaceae family in neighboring rows: potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, chili peppers... as they are susceptible to the same diseases

• in terms of crop rotation, wait 4 years before cultivating a Solanaceae plant in the same location

• space the plants, within the row and between the rows, to promote air circulation and prevent rapid spread of diseases

• if you need to water, do not wet the foliage

• spray Bordeaux mixture or preparations such as horsetail decoction or garlic purée

The harvest can also be affected by the Colorado potato beetle, an insect of the order Coleoptera. You will recognize it by its yellow head and its body striped with yellow and black. The best solution, although a bit time-consuming, is to remove them as they appear. As a preventive measure, sow blue flax seeds between your rows of potatoes. Sow from April to June in shallow furrows. Besides its repellent effect against Colorado potato beetles, flax will brighten up your vegetable garden with its pretty little blue flowers. You can also interplant peas between your rows of potatoes.

Other planting methods: The detailed planting method above is the most common. Other methods exist, such as mulch planting and tower planting.

Mulch planting involves placing the tubers on the ground and covering them with a layer of mulch. This protection will be supplemented as the plant grows, with the tubers always being kept out of the light.

Tower planting or bag planting is practical for small spaces but requires regular watering. The tower can be built from various materials (wood, wire mesh, bag, tires). The tubers are placed on a bed of potting soil or compost. As soon as the plant grows, it is covered with potting soil, leaving only the last leaves exposed, and so on until the top of the tower, allowing the tubers to form at the entire height of the container. Harvest when the foliage has dried up.