Potato Harvest

It was early Spring when I planted a few pieces of potatoes in four bags. After cutting the seed potatoes, I "cured" them by exposure to air for a day or so. Then I put about four pieces into each of the bags with a depth of about two inches of an even mixture of compost and topsoil. 

As the vines grew, I continued to cover them with the compost and topsoil so they were not exposed to light.  I added about as much soil as the bags could hold. By June 28, the potato bags looked like this.

I watered them only when they were extremely dry. Toward the end of August, the vines began to die.

This was the day I was waiting for. On September 1, I dumped the bag onto a tarp. Some potatoes rolled out.

I sifted through the soil and found a plentiful harvest.

And this was the largest!

The other three bags did not yield so many potatoes. Since planting, I have heard that it may be better, when planting in bags, to use small whole potatoes, or much larger pieces, so the vines have extra nourishment to get started. Next year I will try using larger pieces at planting time. However, I'm happy with the harvest. We should get lots of good meals from this crop!

The soil I had dumped on the tarp? I dragged it over to another part of the yard to expand my flower garden ~ getting ready for more peonies next year!

Update: The Peony garden is beautiful in season, and I am newly inspired to plant more potatoes!

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