Potatoes require sandy loam to develop tubers underground. Compact soils hold too much moisture and do not allow below-ground production. Growing potatoes in straw is beneficial to gardeners. Straw acts as a mulch to smother weeds and saves valuable weeding time. The straw layer keeps potatoes evenly moist, so there is less need for watering as the plants grow. Potatoes grown in straw rather than soil stay clean and can be harvested quickly without digging. Potatoes grow well in all U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones in frost-free conditions for the duration of the growing season.
Cut seed potatoes with a sharp knife to have pieces about 1 1/2 to 2 ounces each with one or more eyes per piece. Place the pieces in a room temperature area for one to two days to allow the cuts to form a dry callous and prevent rotting.
Add 3 to 4 inches of aged compost to the top of your potato planting area. Choose an area in full sunlight when the temperatures are 45 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprinkle 2 inches of coarse sand on top of the compost. Use a tiller for large spaces or a spade for small spaces to incorporate the amendments into the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches.
Dig trenches 4 inches deep with a shovel. Space rows 24 to 36 inches apart. Place seed potatoes in the trench about 12 inches apart with the cut side down. Push the seed potatoes down 1/2 inch into the loose soil.
Sprinkle a layer of straw on top of the seed potatoes about 6 inches deep. Add an additional layer of straw on top as the potato plants emerge from the first layer. Keep the straw evenly moist throughout the growing season.
Things You Will Need
- Seed potatoes
- Aged compost
- Coarse sand
- Tiller or spade
- Each potato plant produces between five and 10 tubers.
- Early potatoes take about 75 to 90 days to harvest. Midseason potatoes have a date of harvest between 90 and 135 days. Late-season potatoes need 135 to 165 days of frost-free weather to harvest.
- Do not use store-bought potatoes for growing your plants. The varieties in the store contain growth inhibitors, may not sprout eyes for planting and can place chemicals in your garden soil.
- Harvest to Table: How to Grow Potatoes
- University of California Cooperative Extension Sacramento Master Gardener: Monthly Vegetable Gardening Tips
- University of California Vegetable Research and Information Center: Growing Potatoes
- Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: Growing Potatoes in Straw
- Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Improving Soils for Vegetable Gardening
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