growing potatoes

I ended up with some sprouty potatoes and finally did some research on how to grow your own potatoes. I've been wanting to know about this for the longest time. Turns out that - although most people recommend that you buy "seed potatoes" (guaranteed disease-free and not sprayed to inhibit sprouting) - a sprouting potato is a good bet for being put into the ground to make more potatoes.

You can watch the videos about preparing the trench, planting the potato, 'hilling', etc., here.

These are the potatoes in question.


Here they are, cut into plantable sections.

After that, they go into a paper bag, for the cuts to 'heal' before going into the ground.

I have grand intentions of following through on planting - and documenting the results. Meanwhile, the cut potatoes are in a paper bag, in a dark cabinet. Here's hoping they don't first turn green or black or otherwise an offensive rotting colour instead! I haven't exactly been keeping up with gardening stuff. Too busy pointing out that this vent is under the tub, that plug is behind the bookshelves, and trying to figure out how rescuing a bit more attic space could possibly cost $750. (I haven't figured that one out yet).

Meanwhile, Figaro (the required fig tree - this is officially an Italian household, after all) and a new Camellia still languish in their 'boughten' plastic pots. . . . and the Sedum I'd planned to lift and divide this spring is already up and out and way bigger than I can manage on my own, without a backhoe.

I may just give up that idea and leave the overgrown Sedum to the next tenant.