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Health Benefits of Potatoes
Intro
Potatoes are one of the popular vegetables in the world. They can be grown from seed potatoes or purchased as a bagged potato plant. Potatoes come in many different sizes and types, which is why they are so versatile for cooking. These include red potatoes, yellow potatoes, purple potatoes, fingerling potatoes, and more! This blog will discuss how to grow organic potatoes at home and what you need to do to get started.
To start growing your own organic potatoes at home all you need is some soil that has been amended with compost (you can also use commercial potting mixes), water, containers (or bags) for planting the seeds into; containers must have drainage holes.
Planting Potato Instructions
How to Choose the Pot Needed for Potatoes
The pot size should be at least 12 inches deep, and containers should be at least 18 inches wide. Fill the container with a quality commercial potting mix or soil that has been amended with compost or manure. Plant your potatoes in containers by placing them about two feet apart from each other (this is to avoid too much shading of plants).
Potatoes can also grow in bags, which is good for gardeners with limited space or those who want to start growing potatoes indoors. The grow bag should be at least 18 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Fill the bag with good potting soil or a quality commercial seed-starting mix that is high in organic content (this will help maintain moisture levels). Cover over the top of the grow bag with plastic sheeting or newspaper so the potatoes are not exposed to light continuously.
Water Requirements
Potato needs a lot of moisture so make sure they are watered regularly and deeply, especially when it starts to get hot out.
Keep both container planted potatoes and bags watered frequently; water should be kept off leaves so they don't become damaged from too much exposure to moisture while still being able to get enough water intake for plant survival.
You can test if you need to water by sticking your finger into the soil up to half an inch. If it is dry, then water; if moist or wet, do not add more moisture.
Sunlight Requirements
In order for potatoes to grow properly, they need light. If you are using a grow bag or container this means that you will have to place your potato in an area where there is plenty of sunlight each day. They need at least eight hours of sunlight each day to grow.
Type of Soil Needed
The best type of soil to use to grow potatoes in containers is a combination of potting soil and compost.
you can use commercial potting mixes but making your own mix will save you money.
I prefer to make a soil mix myself, but you may also choose a good potting soil. I like Happy Frog Potting Soil. It's essential to make sure you use a potting mix if you buy soil. Buying potting soil will get expensive. Well-draining soil is vital for growing in pots. Potatoes need well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter.
A good soil mixture is one part compost, one part coco coir, and one part perlite. I add three tablespoons of greensand, three tablespoons of bone meal, three tablespoons of blood meal, and one tablespoon of azomite to the mix.
How to Plant Potato Seeds
I plant my potatoes using an entire potato, some people prefer to cut their seed potatoes. I plant them about six inches under the soil, then I water thoroughly. The most important thing is to make sure the soil has sufficient nutrients, add a little bit of organic fertilizer.
Potato GrowingTips
Here are a few tips on container-grown potatoes:
-Potatoes are heavy feeders, so you should fertilize them every two to three weeks using a high nitrogen fertilizer.
-If the soil in your pot dries out too much then mulch with something like straw or dried leaves. This will keep moisture from evaporating away as quickly.
-using a full potato for seed allows the growing potatoes to have more to feed on.
Health Benefits of Potatoes
Potatoes are a healthy food choice, containing some key vitamins and minerals. Potatoes contain vitamin A which helps with vision in dim light and can be found as an antioxidant to fight against free radicals that might cause damage on cell walls or lead to cancer cells developing.
One of the most important nutrients that potatoes have is vitamin C because it's required for producing collagen. Collagen production decreases over time so this nutrient becomes more important later in life. A lack of Vitamin C leads to scurvy; symptoms include fatigue, depression, easy bruising, bleeding gums, and nosebleeds.
The mineral potassium is also abundant in potatoes and plays a role in many metabolic processes including regulating blood pressure levels. Low levels of potassium can attribute to muscle weakness, confusion, and heart rhythm disturbances.
Potatoes are a good source of vitamin B-complex. This includes thiamine which helps maintain healthy nerves; riboflavin for a healthy immune system; niacin effective in reducing cholesterol levels also assists with the release of energy from fats and proteins; pantothenic acid is required for growth as well as the production of hormones and red blood cells that help carry oxygen throughout the body. Folate is another one found within potatoes responsible for preventing birth defects including neural tube defects like spina bifida.
We hope you’ve learned some helpful tips on how to grow potatoes in containers. Whether it be for a garden or just as an experiment, the ideas and information we shared should help make your next potato plant successful. And don't forget to comment below with what is your favorite type of potato!
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