Potato Planting: Preparing Seed Potatoes
After we expanded the Chicken Field last year, we had talked about planting potatoes. Originally we thought we might do it last spring but couldn’t get the garden prepared in time. This year it seemed the way was made for it to happen so a few weeks ago we began preparing rows.
Then just the other day Stewart brought home a 50 pound sack of potato seed, ironically from my home state.
I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening cutting the Red Norland potatoes into thirds and quarters (with eyes!) in order to let them cure before planting. We also decided, since we have plenty of it, to dip the cut ends of the potatoes into wood ash. Apparently this is supposed to prevent rot and other diseases.
And for a few days our kitchen table was taken over by the curing potatoes who had nowhere else to go. Just this morning we planted them and thereby received our table back… but I will save that story for another day, Lord willing.
How long did you let your potatoes sit/cure after cutting?