Growing potatoes in straw

Growing Potatoes in Straw

Forget about what you think you know about growing potatoes...

Are you ready for something new?

We are...so we decided to plant our potatoes in straw this year.
It's sooo simple. No digging. No weeding. No tilling....

So simple a child can do it (and she did). Here's a look at our potato planting:

(I'll update photos throughout the summer to keep you posted on the progress...)

All you need to grow potatoes in straw is a place to spread out soggy newspaper.

wetting newspaper

Soak the newspaper in water first and put down thick layers of it wherever you want to plant your potatoes.

Adding wet newspaper

Add your potatoes. If they have lots of eyes, you can cut them in half to plant them. Face the eyes upward.

adding potatoes

Cover the pototoes with straw.

Covering potatoes with straw

Wait for them to grow. As they grow, add more straw to keep them fairly covered. You'll know they're ready to harvest when the plants start to die off...then, instead of getting out your shovel...just uncover the potatoes. The roots will have grown down into the ground, but the potatoes will be laying up on top for easy access!

Potatoes covered with straw

More pictures to come as the summer progresses!

For other ways to grow potatoes, see this:

Growing Container Potatoes

Growing Potatoes in Straw