The Damsel adores potatoes. They are her food of choice. You know how people talk about what food they’d choose to be stranded on a desert island with? The Damsel does not hesitate to say potatoes potatoes potatoes.
And she especially loves new potatoes, which means freshly dug and not monstrous. She feels it a tragedy of modern life that many people don’t know about the wonderfulness that is a new potato. She’d like to invite these people over for a taste. One at a time.
Potatoes are easy-peasy to plant. Experts say it’s best to buy seed potatoes meant for your area, but just know that many a potato plant has been grown from a regular old potato taken from the eating-stash.
First cut the seed potatoes into pieces. See the little dimple in the middle? That’s an “eye,” and that’s what the roots will grow from. It’s best if you can plan the cuts so each piece has three or so of these “eyes.” Even one is okay, but three is better.
Put some anti-fungal garden dust in a container such as a paper bag, and add the cut potatoes. Coat with the dust. (Shake the bag) You could skip this step, but your potatoes might not grow as well, and that’s too sad to think about.
The Damsel’s father once grew potatoes on a large scale so he was the font of wisdom for her. He told the Damsel many interesting tidbits, including the fact that poor folks used to plant potato peelings because they needed their potatoes for eating. And they’d actually sorta grow. He also used to mix the anti-fungal with talcum to make it go farther. It sealed the “wound” of the cut potato and stopped fungus from growing thereon.
Make a trench about six inches deep, but don’t fuss. Plant potatoes about a foot apart.
Note: The Damsel’s family is owned by a dog-shaped horse whose job is “fertilizing” the back yard, which he does with great thoroughness. One year, the potato trenches were lined with “fertilizer” as an experiment. The potatoes grew in lush abundance.
Cover the taters with a nice dirt blanky…
…and then tamp the soil down. Get the neighbor kids involved whenever possible. The Damsel has found that when she provides the damp earth, little boys are happy to provide the bare feet. Water well if needed.
Now then. After the potatoes sprout, there’s more to do. It’s best to add more dirt as they grow, etc. etc.. But for now, we’re just planting and calling it good. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
