THE COASTAL GARDENER:

When I mention growing potatoes, my coworkers look at me a bit like I’m crazy. I guess a potato is about the least sexy vegetable one could grow. They’re dirt cheap in the market, they grow under the ground, they’ll never make the front page of Martha Stewart Living and they have very un-sexy names like Russet, Norland, LaSoda and Modoc.

Nonetheless, here I go again.

To grow potatoes at home all you need is a big pot and a sunny spot. There are few pests, lots of interesting gourmet varieties for the home gardener; you can grow them organically, it’s a great experience for children and they taste twice as good what you buy at the supermarket. There — is that reason enough?

If you’re still reading, here’s a simple way to grow your own tasty potatoes. First, choose your potatoes. Buy what are called certified seed potatoes. They look like miniature potatoes from the market, but are not treated with growth inhibitors and don’t carry the viruses of grocery store potatoes. Lay these little potatoes on a patio table or other semi-shady outdoor spot for about two or three weeks or until the eyes (little buds on the side of the potato) begin to sprout.

Yukon Gold is my favorite potato to grow and to eat, with a buttery yellow flesh good for frying mashing, boiling or baking. Allblue is another favorite, with blue skin and flesh that is great steamed or baked, but preserves its color even better if microwaved. Russets are still the most popular potato in the country, with a light, fluffy texture, perfect for baking. I think red potatoes make the best mashers or for roasting or boiling.

Select a large container. It doesn’t need to be fancy. In fact, old timers grew potatoes in stacks of old tires or a trash can with some holes punched in the bottom and sides. But a big plastic pot or oak barrel will do just fine. I suggest it be about 20 inches wide and about 24 inches deep, but even smaller containers can work.

Potatoes prefer an acid soil, so the best way to fill the container is with a bag of “Azalea Mix.” Potatoes love lots of organic mater also, so if you have a compost bin, toss in a few scoops. You’ll want to grow your potatoes organically, no pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers. So now toss in a couple of handfuls of organic Dr. Earth or a similar brand of All Purpose or Vegetable fertilizer. Blend all of this together and use most of the mixture to fill the container to about ten inches from the top. Make enough of this mixture to fill the pot all the way to the top, but save the balance of it for later.

Once your seed potatoes have begun to sprout you can cut them into three or four pieces each with a sharp, clean knife; keeping two eyes on each piece. But if only growing one or two “potato pots” I just leave them whole. Be sure the pot is in a sunny spot and place your seed potatoes on top of the soil, about three or four per pot, and cover them with three more inches of soil. Water once, but don’t water again until you see leaves above the soil.

As the stems grow, add more of your soil mix until the pot is filled to the top, being sure to always leave four or five inches of leaves showing above the soil. In about two months potatoes will begin forming under the soil. This is about the time to add a second and final application of an organic fertilizer. Just sprinkle it on top and water it in.

In about four months it’s time to check and see if the potatoes are ready. Simply poke your hand deep into the pot and feel around for the potatoes. Break one or two off if you wish. If they’re still a bit too small (these are “new potatoes”) let them grow another month and check again. But if they’re ready, then it’s almost harvest time.

When ready, cut the leaves off the plant and let the pot sit for another two weeks. This will toughen up the skins, make harvesting easier and improve their storage ability. When harvesting, don’t use a trowel or you may nick the potatoes. Instead, just dig them by hand, or better yet, dump the pot on its side and go “potato fishing”.

Let the potatoes dry outdoors in a shady spot for a few days, and they’re ready. Most potato varieties will keep for months, as long as they’re not nicked or cut.

I think you’ll find your home-grown potatoes will be superior to those you buy in the market. Home grown spuds may not be as sexy as some other vegetables, but they’re simple to grow and taste terrific.

ASK RON

Question: Where and when is the next meeting of The Orange County Rose Society?

Denise

Huntington Beach

Answer: The Orange County Rose Society meets monthly at The Westminster Senior Center, 8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster. Their next meeting is on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Tommy Cairns, one of the country’s foremost rose authorities, is the speaker. Attendance is free, and no RSVP is required.

ASK RON your toughest gardening questions, and the expert nursery staff at Roger’s Gardens will come up with an answer. Please include your name, phone number and city, and limit queries to 30 words or fewer. E-mail stumpthegardener@rogersgardens.com, or write to Plant Talk at Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.

RON VANDERHOFF is the Nursery Manager at Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar