Growing Potatoes in a Vacant Lot

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The owner of this formerly weed-infested vacant lot is happy to let us use it without charge because growing potatoes the organic way both keeps the weeds under control and helps build the fertility of the property's soil.
The owner of this formerly weed-infested vacant lot is happy to let us use it without charge because growing potatoes the organic way both keeps the weeds under control and helps build the fertility of the property's soil.
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We get best results by growing potatoes specifically cultivated as seed stock.
We get best results by growing potatoes specifically cultivated as seed stock.
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The potatoes we planted March 15 stand 30 inches tall at flowering time, with spreading foliage that provides a moisture-preserving shade during dry spells. Rows in this photo are 30 inches apart and plants are spaced 18 inches between in the rows. Harvesting begins in early June.
The potatoes we planted March 15 stand 30 inches tall at flowering time, with spreading foliage that provides a moisture-preserving shade during dry spells. Rows in this photo are 30 inches apart and plants are spaced 18 inches between in the rows. Harvesting begins in early June.
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Our earliest-planted potatoes grow such vigorous vines that — by midsummer — the patch looks like a jungle as the foliage spreads to meet between the rows. Later plantings do not grow quite as luxuriantly, so we cover the ground around them with grass cuttings, leaves, and corn stalks. Both early and late plantings mature with only the moisture from spring rains. Nor do we use fertilizer or pesticides.
Our earliest-planted potatoes grow such vigorous vines that — by midsummer — the patch looks like a jungle as the foliage spreads to meet between the rows. Later plantings do not grow quite as luxuriantly, so we cover the ground around them with grass cuttings, leaves, and corn stalks. Both early and late plantings mature with only the moisture from spring rains. Nor do we use fertilizer or pesticides.
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Potatoes prefer loose soil. Planting in wide rows will give you space to hoe without compacting the soil, and the potato plants will require less water and be more resistant to insect attacks.
Potatoes prefer loose soil. Planting in wide rows will give you space to hoe without compacting the soil, and the potato plants will require less water and be more resistant to insect attacks.
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Do not store potatoes over winter in heated basements. Instead, use the landing and steps leading down. To exclude heated basement air, shut the door at the bottom of the stairs or, if there is no door, hang a tarp or rig up a similar arrangement. We store 20 to 40 pounds of produce in lug boxes and ventilated pans on each tread of our basement stairs and still find ample walking room beside the produce. The landing provides space for another couple hundred pounds of vegetables. We haven't needed it yet, but if we ever do, we'll build shelving along the stairwell wall for even more storage space. We really enjoy potatoes, like the ones shown here, at Christmas time! 
Do not store potatoes over winter in heated basements. Instead, use the landing and steps leading down. To exclude heated basement air, shut the door at the bottom of the stairs or, if there is no door, hang a tarp or rig up a similar arrangement. We store 20 to 40 pounds of produce in lug boxes and ventilated pans on each tread of our basement stairs and still find ample walking room beside the produce. The landing provides space for another couple hundred pounds of vegetables. We haven't needed it yet, but if we ever do, we'll build shelving along the stairwell wall for even more storage space. We really enjoy potatoes, like the ones shown here, at Christmas time! 

For many years, nothing but weeds grew on a vacant lot near our home, so we finally called the owner of the property and asked permission to garden there in return for our care of the land. It wasn’t as hard to persuade him as we had thought it might be, which left us with the problem of deciding what to plant.

We soon concluded growing potatoes would give our family of six a maximum return on a minimum investment of time, money, and energy. That free land now provides us with big, creamy, delicious potatoes which—properly stored—last almost year-round.

Here’s how we did it:

Getting the Land

  • Published on Mar 1, 1972
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