- Planting and growing early potatoes
- Growing herbs in pots or garden boxes
- Strawberries in your Planty Garden
- Sow or plant chives?
- Vegetables and herbs for the bees
- Buy vegetable seedlings or not?
- Growing potatoes in a pot
- Planting potatoes in an MM-Airbak
- Strawberries in your Planty Garden
- Raspberries in your Planty Garden
- Growing garlic
- Beans in your vegetable garden
Almost all information about plants has been included with the plants in our free app. So, you don't need to remember it.
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- Planting and growing early potatoes
- Growing herbs in pots or garden boxes
- Strawberries in your Planty Garden
- Sow or plant chives?
- Vegetables and herbs for the bees
- Buy vegetable seedlings or not?
- Growing potatoes in a pot
- Planting potatoes in an MM-Airbak
- Strawberries in your Planty Garden
- Raspberries in your Planty Garden
- Growing garlic
- Beans in your vegetable garden
Planting and growing early potatoes
Our potatoes are planted early in the year and therefore harvested early. They are super tasty, firm, and have a yellow color and oval shape.
What are (early) potatoes?
Potatoes come in all kinds: different colors, floury, waxy, round, oval, and also early, mid-early, and late. The latter are mainly grown to be stored for the winter.
Originally, the plant comes from South America, but since the 16th century, it has become a staple in our European diet. It makes sense, as the plant forms tubers underground in which it stores large amounts of starch. These potatoes are the most important source of food for humans, along with rice, wheat, and corn.
Most potatoes are planted in April and May and can be harvested from late July. Early ones, like ours, are already planted in mid-March and can be harvested in June.
Originally, the plant comes from South America, but since the 16th century, it has become a staple in our European diet. It makes sense, as the plant forms tubers underground in which it stores large amounts of starch. These potatoes are the most important source of food for humans, along with rice, wheat, and corn.
Most potatoes are planted in April and May and can be harvested from late July. Early ones, like ours, are already planted in mid-March and can be harvested in June.
Potatoes are healthier than you think
Potatoes contain a lot of carbohydrates, especially in the form of starch.
Because low-carb diets have become quite popular in recent years, potatoes are sometimes seen in a negative light: they make you gain weight. And yes, fatty mashed potatoes, bags of chips, fries, and mashed potatoes with lots of gravy are not really ideal for your waistline.
But potatoes also contain vitamin C and vitamin B6, and - in smaller amounts - other B vitamins. They contain potassium, calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, as well as a considerable amount of antioxidants. Moreover, the starch in potatoes is 'resistant' and is therefore only digested in the large intestine. Various studies indicate that this can improve blood sugar levels, digestion, nutrient absorption, and satiety.
In essence, potatoes are a great addition to your diet as long as you eat them in moderation. It's better not to have them every day, to eat them as fresh as possible and prepare them yourself, without all those fatty additions.
And oh yes: most of the fiber and vitamins are in the skin. So, use varieties with thin skin, which you can simply cook or bake, like ours 😉
Because low-carb diets have become quite popular in recent years, potatoes are sometimes seen in a negative light: they make you gain weight. And yes, fatty mashed potatoes, bags of chips, fries, and mashed potatoes with lots of gravy are not really ideal for your waistline.
But potatoes also contain vitamin C and vitamin B6, and - in smaller amounts - other B vitamins. They contain potassium, calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, as well as a considerable amount of antioxidants. Moreover, the starch in potatoes is 'resistant' and is therefore only digested in the large intestine. Various studies indicate that this can improve blood sugar levels, digestion, nutrient absorption, and satiety.
In essence, potatoes are a great addition to your diet as long as you eat them in moderation. It's better not to have them every day, to eat them as fresh as possible and prepare them yourself, without all those fatty additions.
And oh yes: most of the fiber and vitamins are in the skin. So, use varieties with thin skin, which you can simply cook or bake, like ours 😉
More about the potatoes from the Makkelijke Moestuin
Our seed potatoes are the earliest potatoes that are firm and waxy. They have a smooth, elongated shape, a yellow color, and are super tasty. Ideal for salads, frying, or for the air fryer. Of course, they can also be boiled.
- Variety: Annabel
- Family: nightshade
- Number of plants per square: 2
- Height: 40 to 60 cm
- Pre-germination: February to mid-March
- Planting time: mid-March to mid-May
- Planting depth: about 20 cm (on the bottom)
- Harvest time: from the end of June (after 90-110 days)
- Germination: between 7 and 21°C in 21 to 35 days
- Sunlight: can be in both full sun and partial shade
On average, one square yields 1.25 kg of potatoes. That's 4x as much as a potato farmer, because he harvests about 3.5 kg per m2 🙂
We sell these potatoes in nets of 250 grams, and only in the spring. The stock is quite limited and when it's gone, it's gone. There are 8-10 potatoes in such a net, which is enough for 4-5 compartments.
What do you need to grow potatoes yourself?
All you need is this:
- a container for pre-sprouting
- a 30x30 cm bed with a light, nutritious soil mix (ours 😀)
- early plant potatoes
- a spot with at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day
In other words: a MM-mini, or a bed in an MM Garden box, filled with MM-mix
In this perfect soil mix, growing potatoes is really super easy. If you grow them in poor quality soil, it will be much more difficult and the results will be disappointing. So don't skimp on that and just go for the best.
All potatoes are susceptible to the dreaded phytophthora, a plant disease that can also affect tomatoes. Therefore, never plant them in the same mix for 2 consecutive years, but leave 2 or 3 years in between.
That's why I find it convenient to use MM-mini's or an airbak. You can also use regular containers, but then you have to remember to skip them in the coming years.
By the way, the chances of early potatoes getting infected with this disease are much smaller than with the later varieties 🙂
That's why I find it convenient to use MM-mini's or an airbak. You can also use regular containers, but then you have to remember to skip them in the coming years.
By the way, the chances of early potatoes getting infected with this disease are much smaller than with the later varieties 🙂
How to plant and grow early potatoes?
These potatoes are available in the free Makkelijke Moestuin app. If you use it, it will guide you from planting to harvesting.
Each vegetable goes through several stages - we call them levels. The app tells you exactly what to do in each level and regularly prompts you to check if your plants are ready to move on to the next level.
You don't need to know how to successfully grow potatoes in advance. But if you're interested in reading more, I'll now explain what the whole process will look like.
Each vegetable goes through several stages - we call them levels. The app tells you exactly what to do in each level and regularly prompts you to check if your plants are ready to move on to the next level.
You don't need to know how to successfully grow potatoes in advance. But if you're interested in reading more, I'll now explain what the whole process will look like.
We deliver these potatoes early: from mid-February. During this time, it is often still cold and wet outside, so it doesn't make much sense to plant them outside yet.
That's why we sprout them indoors until mid-March. This way, they already have sprouts, the plants emerge earlier, and you can harvest earlier as well. If you receive the potatoes after March 15th, you can skip the sprouting process and start directly with level 2.
That's why we sprout them indoors until mid-March. This way, they already have sprouts, the plants emerge earlier, and you can harvest earlier as well. If you receive the potatoes after March 15th, you can skip the sprouting process and start directly with level 2.
Level 1: Pre-sprouting early potatoes
For pre-sprouting, you will need a shallow tray with some kitchen paper to keep the potatoes dry. If you are pre-sprouting for multiple patches at once, an empty egg carton is very handy.
You can already see different 'eyes' on the potatoes: some very small, others slightly larger. These dots will grow into shoots.
You can already see different 'eyes' on the potatoes: some very small, others slightly larger. These dots will grow into shoots.
Place the potatoes upright in the container - with the eyes facing upwards. The sprouts grow strongest at a temperature between 10°C and 15°C.
Therefore, place the container in a bright but cool place. Such as on a windowsill in the pantry or in an unheated bedroom.
Therefore, place the container in a bright but cool place. Such as on a windowsill in the pantry or in an unheated bedroom.
You don't need to do anything else now, not even water them.
Level 2: Planting early potatoes
After March 15th, plant the potatoes in your bed, provided the temperature is above 8°C.
Loosen the mix in a compartment in the bed and plant as follows:
Loosen the mix in a compartment in the bed and plant as follows:
- Make 2 deep holes in the compartment - preferably to the bottom
- Place 1 seed potato in each hole (carefully so as not to break any sprouts)
- Then close the holes again and give some water
Depending on the weather, you will see something green sprouting after about 4 weeks.
Level 3: The first plants
Once you see the first plants coming up, you know things are going well. Then it's time for the next level.
A potato often produces multiple sprouts. They won't all come up at once, but more will appear in the coming weeks.
A potato often produces multiple sprouts. They won't all come up at once, but more will appear in the coming weeks.
Level 4 and 5: Take care of your plants
In the 2 months of these levels, you hardly have to do anything. Just give water occasionally and some extra MM-plantfood.
If the plants grow bigger, you can support them by placing a small rack over them. This way, the plants will stay neatly in their patch.
Level 6: The plants are getting yellow leaves.
The potato plants are already quite big, between 25 and 50 cm tall.
Because all the energy is now going to the potatoes in the mix, the leaves of the plants are becoming uglier: they turn yellow and eventually die off.
For potatoes, this is a good sign, because it means that the harvest is approaching.
Because all the energy is now going to the potatoes in the mix, the leaves of the plants are becoming uglier: they turn yellow and eventually die off.
For potatoes, this is a good sign, because it means that the harvest is approaching.
This could mean that your plants have been affected by potato blight.
This disease - or phytophthora infestans - is a harmful fungal disease that can spread quickly in humid weather. The disease mainly affects potatoes, but tomatoes are also susceptible to it.
This disease - or phytophthora infestans - is a harmful fungal disease that can spread quickly in humid weather. The disease mainly affects potatoes, but tomatoes are also susceptible to it.
You can recognize the disease by the brown and black spots on the leaves and stems. Once a potato plant is affected, the fungus can multiply rapidly and the plants will die. The potatoes themselves will also be affected and develop brown spots.
Therefore, remove the affected plants from your bed as soon as you see the first signs. Dispose of the foliage immediately, far away from your vegetable garden and especially not in the compost heap.
Then, immediately dig up all the potatoes in your bed and check if you see any brown spots on them. If you catch it early enough, they are usually not affected and can be eaten without any problems. However, discard the potatoes with spots on them. They won't make you sick, but they won't taste good anymore.
Afterwards, carefully clean the mix. Remove all plant debris and also check if any small potatoes have been left behind.
Level 7: Harvesting the potatoes
In this stage, which you reach at the earliest after about 12 weeks of planting, the leaves of the plants are yellow and ugly or the plants may already be partially dead.
Harvesting potatoes is always a surprise. After all, you don't know how many potatoes have grown, how big they are, and where they are located. It's like rummaging in a grab bag: super fun 😀
To find them, you have to search through the entire bed of mix. It's easiest when the mix is a bit dry and loose.
Be careful not to damage the potatoes while harvesting, as you won't be able to store them anymore. That's why I simply harvest them with my hands.
Harvesting potatoes is always a surprise. After all, you don't know how many potatoes have grown, how big they are, and where they are located. It's like rummaging in a grab bag: super fun 😀
To find them, you have to search through the entire bed of mix. It's easiest when the mix is a bit dry and loose.
Be careful not to damage the potatoes while harvesting, as you won't be able to store them anymore. That's why I simply harvest them with my hands.
If you do use a shovel, make sure it has a round blade - like our MM shovel - and work carefully from the outside in.
Harvesting from a MM mini is even easier: take a piece of cloth or garbage bag, dump the contents of the mini onto it, and pick out the potatoes.
After harvesting, remove all plant residues, roots, and even the last mini potatoes from the mix. Once you've done that, the bed is ready for another vegetable.
Note: due to potato disease, you should never grow potatoes in the same mix for 2 consecutive years. If you want to play it safe, skip 3 years.
Harvesting from a MM mini is even easier: take a piece of cloth or garbage bag, dump the contents of the mini onto it, and pick out the potatoes.
After harvesting, remove all plant residues, roots, and even the last mini potatoes from the mix. Once you've done that, the bed is ready for another vegetable.
Note: due to potato disease, you should never grow potatoes in the same mix for 2 consecutive years. If you want to play it safe, skip 3 years.
What do you use early potatoes for?
These potatoes have a smooth, elongated shape, a yellow color, and are super tasty.
Because they are firm, they are ideal for salads, frying, or for use in an air fryer.
These potatoes are at their best when freshly harvested. If you want to store them, first let them dry well and place them in a cool and dark place.
Because they are firm, they are ideal for salads, frying, or for use in an air fryer.
These potatoes are at their best when freshly harvested. If you want to store them, first let them dry well and place them in a cool and dark place.
Note: Never eat potatoes raw, as they contain a substance called solanine that can cause headaches or stomach problems. The same applies to potatoes with green spots, when they have been exposed to the sunlight for a while. Always cut those pieces away.
So: what's stopping you from planting early potatoes yourself?
They are easy to grow and harvesting them is really fun: super fun to do.
Furthermore, with our app and materials, it's almost impossible to fail 😉
We only sell early potatoes in early spring. Then you can buy the seed potatoes separately, or in an affordable potato package.
As long as they are available, you can find them in the shop under 'Promotions'.
Furthermore, with our app and materials, it's almost impossible to fail 😉
We only sell early potatoes in early spring. Then you can buy the seed potatoes separately, or in an affordable potato package.
As long as they are available, you can find them in the shop under 'Promotions'.
Succes!
Other plants
- Planting and growing early potatoes
- Growing herbs in pots or garden boxes
- Strawberries in your Planty Garden
- Sow or plant chives?
- Vegetables and herbs for the bees
- Buy vegetable seedlings or not?
- Growing potatoes in a pot
- Planting potatoes in an MM-Airbak
- Strawberries in your Planty Garden
- Raspberries in your Planty Garden
- Growing garlic
- Beans in your vegetable garden
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