Planting potatoes in your garden is a smart decision. There are not many people who don’t enjoy eating potatoes and there are so many different ways to prepare and cook potatoes that it makes sense to have a fresh organic supply of these on hand. Potatoes are full of carbohydrates and can help with weight gain or regulation. They are easy to digest and are good for babies and people who have digestive problems but still need a good source of energy.
Potatoes are also full of vitamin-C/B and minerals like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc which can be great on the skin. Literally, washing dry problem areas of skin with a cut or smashed potato can help clean and soften it. There are numerous ways potatoes are used as a natural remedy or a part of a healthily diet to prevent other diseases from infecting the body.
Seeding potatoes are what is planted into the ground. They like the soil a little more acidic than other plants so if compost is used as a mix, adding some pine needles, oak leaves or sawdust to it can help raise the acidity of the soil when it is added. When preparing the seeding potatoes to plant, there should be at least 2 eyes on each cut off section to be sowed. If there has been peas or beans in the garden in the past, this would be the best spot to put the potatoes because the soil will have been filled with nitrogen from the past plants. Potatoes will use the nitrogen in the soil and thrive.
After cutting the seed potatoes, don’t place them directly into the ground. Allow them to dry out for a couple of days until a thin layer of skin develops along the exposed potato. You can also keep them bagged until they are ready to plant, stored in a dry but warm, dark area. Often times the potatoes will begin shoots just from this environment in a couple weeks. The outside garden soil should be at least 60 degrees before sowing the seeders.
Deep trenches or holes should be dug to place the seeding potatoes. The deeper they are planted, the more potatoes they will produce. Usually about 10 to 12 inches deep is sufficient. Don’t pack the potatoes down tightly, the soil should stay loose and damp. If bigger potatoes are desired, place the seeders about 12 to 14 inches apart. If smaller ones will do, about 6-8 cinches apart will produce the baby creamers.
Once harvested there are many ways to enjoy a potato. As a natural remedy the juice of potatoes can treat burns, bruises, sprains, skin problems, narcotic withdrawals, and prevent certain cancers. Just take care not to eat the potato leaves or any fruit it produces as they are poisonous. Potatoes are high in sugar content so those who are diabetic or obese should enjoy them baked rather than raw or fried, if at all. They are an excellent source of fiber though if eaten raw.
Ref:
RainyRiverRecord.co
OrganicFacts.net