Don't throw away your budding potatoes!

Don't throw away your budding potatoes! If you have potatoes that have started to grow buds like the ones pictured at left, slice them up and watch them grow. Plant them in a garden container/planter or even an unused trash can. The great thing about potatoes is that they can grow year round either indoors or outdoors when the weather is warmer.

I decided to use planters for easier harvesting. You just dump out the container at harvest time. Growing potatoes in the ground is great, but requires a little more work. At harvest time, you take a chance of cutting the potatoes when digging them out of the ground. Since this was my first time growing potatoes, I took the easy road.

You should use a container that can hold at least 10 gallons or larger is better. If using a trash can, be sure you poke holes at the bottom for drainage. Next place about 4 inches of soil in the bottom of the container. Put your potatoes pieces, budding side up on top of soil. Place about 5 potatoes pieces spread out evenly in container depending on size of container, you can place more for larger containers. Cover with about 3 more inches of soil. Do not fill the container with soil.

I hired my little man to help with the potato planting. He had a million and one questions. This is a perfect time to bond with your children and grandchildren. They will think you are the greatest and coolest person in the world for getting them involved. Harvest time will be one of their greatest highlights that will create a lifetime of memories.