Sowing experiment yields small, green potatoes teaching me valuable lessons about location, water and depth.
As the potato vines and leaves began to shrivel and turn brown, I mentally prepared myself for the upcoming harvest. I rolled dates around in my head planning the best time to reveal the results. In the midst of my indecisiveness, nature ultimately decided for me. I took my cue from the first potato to peek its green skin out of the mulch. At the sight of the partially unearthed potato, I shifted my expectations from hopefully expectant to mildly optimistic.
I originally began this sowing session as an experiment with shade. I previously shared in The Sweetest Potatoes that we currently have a white PVC fence closing off the backyard drastically reducing sunlight on the south-facing side of our house. As a response to this gardening challenge, I have engaged in various plant experiments to see what I can successfully grow in the planting bed I created along the inside of the fence. In Go for the Gold!, we previously grew baby gold potatoes on the north side of the house with minimal light exposure with decent results. Naturally, I believed I stood a chance at defying conventional gardening wisdom in order to teach nature a few lessons about light and shade.
Digging with my fingers and a hand trowel, I uncovered a few underwhelming, small to medium potatoes close to the surface of the soil. Most presented with some amount of greening on the skin. For this reason, we will not be eating this harvest since green-colored skin indicates significant chlorophyll production therefore making the potatoes too toxic to consume.
Nature teaches me three important lessons.
Reflecting on this experience, I have learned three lessons from my attempt at mastering nature. First, these plants need direct sunlight. Although we have a white fence and a light-colored house, the reflected sunlight just wasn't enough to assist in tuber production. Second, I should have continued to top off the mulch throughout the growing process in order to prevent light from passing through to the potatoes. Third, the potatoes need to be watered with greater frequency during our cool, dry winter season.
I must admit that I have taken a “thrive on neglect” approach to gardening from time to time by placing several plants under "reasonable" stress to boost their resiliency. In this shady circumstance, however, more attentiveness on my part would have compensated for the decreased light exposure.
Through this experience, I have learned valuable lessons that will contribute to more productive harvests moving forward. And with that said, our next crop is already under way.
My husband took the lead with this round of gold spuds by sowing sprouted potatoes 3 weeks ago in a raised bed that receives approximately 4-5 hours of afternoon sunlight. So far, these tenacious tubers have sprouted successfully and are looking just as healthy as can be. I have high hopes for our gold potato future. Here’s to mastering our potato lesson with our next harvest in 75 days!
Watch as I harvest the experimental potatoes.
Harvest Photos
It is my pleasure to share. We all need a little "gardening accountability" from time to time, especially with the busyness of life. I am sure she secretly appreciates the reminders : )
Thank you for sharing your challenges so that we can all learn along with you. I have also had to remind my wife from time to time to water the potatoes.