Growing potatoes organically

I’m passionate about potatoes and frequently use them in meals throughout the year. On any given day, we can visit the fresh produce aisle of the local food market and purchase them for a competitive price. On the whole, their quality and presentation is good if not excellent. Of course there are environmental arguments against commercial production and some of the unfortunate practices such as irradiation. These are not necessarily the reasons why I prefer to grow potatoes organically at home. At the risk of sounding slightly eccentric, I choose to grow my own because it sharpens the mind. Yes, I appreciate the entire concept of self-sufficiency and want to be constantly reminded of its difficulties and challenges. Too much dependency on the shopping malls and produce markets will only leave us soft and vulnerable to a sudden change in our circumstances.

Two serious traps exist for the inexperienced. Potato blight and the inevitable arrival of hungry pests. The blight is first detectable as brown spots appearing on the leaves. Unless dealt with quickly, an entire crop can be ruined within a short period. The common problem of milax slugs is usually less obvious until the earliest crops are harvested. In simple language they bore deep and hungry holes in your tubers.

Several years ago, we made the decision to tend our garden with patience and attention to detail. I don’t often call myself an organic gardener but that’s what I practice. No chemical sprays or fertilisers but more importantly, no excuses. If my potatoes fail, I’m the one taking responsibility. That’s how it should be of course.

The blight arrives late in the season. Thankfully this is the most typical timing. Panic like a lunatic for a moment then relax. Breathe deeply and control those negative emotions. There is a simple way to salvage most of your crop. Cut all of the affected foliage to the ground then gather carefully to incinerate or otherwise dispose of this in the appropriate manner. From here on a waiting game is required. Given a period of two or three weeks, the released spores should have dispersed to an extent that they will not contribute to further problems. Lift the potato crop and carefully remove any suspicious members. Dry your healthy potatoes in sunlight then store them for future eating.

The pests are coming, the pests are coming. No, they’re here but this is the challenge of organics. We might avoid the toxic chemicals but most of us know a trick or two for dealing with these unwanted visitors. My favourite is the Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. The Phasmawhat??? Well actually it’s a biological control. A pathogenic nematode (eelworm) which attacks the milax slugs in particular. I won’t describe the details; they’re a little bit medieval in their cruelty. But hey, mess with my potatoes and I’m gonna mess with you. Enough said.

So next time you’re shopping and about to throw a bag of Kennebecs or Pink Firs into the trolley, stop. Think about what you’re missing by taking these without struggling to enjoy the occasional certainty and security of raising them yourself, at home.