Potatoes are like that one person who just fits in every social circle effortlessly. The feeling of being out of place doesn’t exist for this special human.
If you want to grow potatoes at home, red/white potatoes are an excellent choice since they have a uniquely sweet flavor and offer a high dose of healthy vitamins and minerals that promote eye and brain health.
7 Steps For Growing Red & White Potatoes From Scraps
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can grow your own potatoes from scraps:
Step 1 – Choosing The Right Potato Scraps
Before we get to the actual growing part, it’s very important that you choose the right potato as a foundation.
The right potato will be smooth, free of disease or any fungal holes, and preferably should have sprouting eyes on its surface.
Step 2 – Preparing The Scraps
Take your potato and cut it into small pieces of 2-3 inches. Keep in mind that each piece should have some sprouting eyes since that’s where the new shoots will grow from.
Step 3 – A Preventive Measure
Now, if you plant the cut pieces right away, there’s a high chance that they will rot and you’ll grow absolutely nothing. So, let the scraps callous for a few days in open air and then go ahead with the planting process.
Step 4 – The Planting Part
Finally, it’s time to plant! Since potatoes require quite a bit of sunlight to grow, an open backyard or a window sill that receives plenty of direct light is a good place to plant them.
Place the potatoes cut side down in well-draining soil and cover them with more soil once they’re in.
Step 5 – Aftercare
Red/white potatoes thrive in moist soil but many mistake moisture for flooding and water down the whole crop. Light regular watering is more than enough to get potato tubers going.
Once the tubers get big enough, cover them with soil from around the plant so they don’t turn green.
Step 6 – Harvesting
In about 2-3 months of planting, your potatoes will be ready to harvest. Gently dig them out using small tools and avoid damaging the tubers at all costs.
Step 7 – Curing
Work is not done yet! We still need to cure the potatoes in a cool, dark place to toughen up their skins. This is a very important step if you want healthy red potatoes that hold their integrity.
For storage, choose a basement or a shed in your house that is dark and dry. Minimize any chances of sunlight hitting your potatoes as it will promote sprouting which you don’t want.
Final Words
Red potatoes are categorized as the healthiest potato variation. Many people don’t like them as much due to their waxy texture but that’s really what makes them unique.
Mashed potatoes and fries won’t ever taste the same once you replace your regular yellow/white potatoes with red-skinned ones.
Now that you know how to grow your own red potatoes, give them a shot and try some recipes that seem appealing to you. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!