PHS’s Meadowbrook Farm, a free public garden, is participating in PHS Harvest, turning out hundreds of pounds of produce, including spring crops like lettuce, summer crops like beans, peas, squash, and tomatoes, and fall crops like garlic and onions. Marta and Abbey at Meadowbrook discuss how potatoes should be planted, grown, maintained, and harvested. Tips include:
- Grow your potatoes in the ground, a bag or even a bucket! Just make sure there is good drainage.
- Covering up your growing spuds with dirt is key so sunlight won’t affect the skins
Potatoes are heavily requested from food banks. Daniela D’Ambrosio, Whole Foods Market Mid-Atlantic Prepared Foods Associate Coordinator, points out that potatoes are easy to keep, prepare, and eat. She suggests:
- Choosing potatoes for their end use – waxy or starchy. Choose waxy for boiling in soups, and starchy for baking applications.
- Selecting potatoes without blemishes or other marks
- Storing potatoes in a cool, dark spot like a pantry or basement
Overall, make sure your new spuds can breathe once harvested!
From April through late October, PHS Harvest welcomes produce donations to its network of food banks and other community organizations to provide access to fresh, healthy food to those in need. To sign up to grow as an individual gardener, or as part of a growing team, or to donate to the initiative, click the button below to learn more.
