Organic Potatoes Charlotte

Planting: Potatoes need light, deep, and rich soil in a sunny location. Add well-rotted compost in the previous autumn, by lightly forking it in 5 cm (2in) deep, after loosening the soil. Plant 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). Easter is often a landmark for planting. Plant several varieties in your vegetable garden to vary the crop!

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

Potatos do not need watering, except in high temperatures. In this case, water the base without wetting the foliage to prevent the onset of fungal diseases.

Diseases and pests: Potatoes are susceptible to blight. This is a fungal disease caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus. Blight develops in hot 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 blight:

• do not grow different plants from the Solanaceae family in neighbouring rows: potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chili peppers... as they are susceptible to the same diseases

• in terms of rotation, wait 4 years before growing a plant from the Solanaceae family in the same location

• space the plants, both within and between rows, to promote air circulation and prevent rapid disease spread

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

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

Harvesting 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 yellow and black striped body. 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 on 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 added to as the plant grows, with the tubers always being kept away from the light.

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