Potatoes Samba

Planting: Potatoes need a light, deep and rich soil. Choose a sunny location. Add well-rotted compost in the previous autumn, by scratching it in 5 cm (2in) deep, after loosening the soil. Planting takes place under shelter 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). The flowering of the lilac is often a reference point to start planting. Install several varieties in your vegetable garden to vary the pleasures!

Loosen the soil deeply and form rows 10 cm (4in) deep, spaced 70 cm (28in) apart. Place the tubers, sprout side up, every 40 cm (16in) (or 30 cm (12in) for early varieties). Cover with fine soil. When the plants reach 15 cm (6in), hill up by bringing fine soil to the base of the stems, over a height of 20 cm (8in). Hilling up will promote the formation of tubers and the flow of water. You can hill 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 protection, which allows the soil to remain moist, also limits weed growth.

Potato cultivation does not require watering, except in case of extreme heat. In this case, water the base without wetting the foliage to avoid the onset of fungal diseases.

Diseases and pests: Potatoes are susceptible, just like tomatoes, to late blight. This is a fungal disease caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus. Late blight develops in hot and humid weather. Small spots appear, white on the underside of the leaves and brown on the top. As a preventive measure, here are some tips to limit the risk of late blight:

• do not grow several plants of the Solanaceae family on neighboring rows: potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, chili peppers, as they are susceptible to the same diseases

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

• space the plants, within the row and between rows, to promote air circulation and prevent rapid spread of diseases

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

• spray Bordeaux mixture or preparations such as horsetail decoction or garlic purin

The harvest 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 soon as they appear. As a preventive measure, sow blue flax seeds between your rows of potatoes. Sow from April to June in shallow furrows. In addition to its repellent effect against 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 as the plant grows, with the tubers always being kept away from the light.

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