By Noxolo Londiwe Sangweni
Choose the right potatoes: Pick a variety suitable for your climate and soil type. You can buy certified seed potatoes from a garden store.
Prepare the soil: Potatoes thrive in well-drained, loose soil with a pH of 5.0-6.0. Dig the soil and add compost or well-rotted manure.
Planting: Plant seed potatoes (cut into pieces with at least two eyes each) in trenches or mounds around 12 inches apart and 3-4 inches deep. Leave space for the plants to grow.
Hilling: As the plants grow, hill soil around the base of the plants to protect the tubers from sunlight, which can turn them green and toxic.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the growing season. Potatoes need around 1-2 inches of water per week.
Fertilizing: Potatoes are heavy feeders. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer, rich in potassium.
Pest and Disease Control: Keep an eye out for pests like potato beetles and diseases like blight. Practice crop rotation and use organic controls if needed.
Harvesting: Potatoes are ready to harvest when the foliage starts to die back. Dig them up gently to avoid damaging the tubers.
Humble Beginning!
