Just a few weeks ago I was helping my friend turn her compost pile and we found several potato plants growing simply from skins she'd thrown in the pile the season before. Plant each potato segment cut-side down (eyes up) in a 6-inch-deep hole or trench.

To plant potatoes in containers put 4-8 inches of soil, mulch, or straw in the bottom of the pot, place the pieces in, and cover up with another 4-8 inches. I will plant the small potatoes as a whole tuber in the ground, if the potato is very large ( over 5″ long) I will cut it into quarters, making sure each quarter has a … After a few weeks, the potato plants will begin to sprout.

Potatoes are so easy to grow, that I end up with "accidental" potatoes every year! Exposure: Full sun When to plant: Early spring to early summer (although sowing on March 17 is a planting tradition) Pests and diseases to watch out for: Flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, scab Recommended varieties: Purple Viking, Yellow Finn, Yukon Gold How to Plant Potatoes. But, before you can harvest potatoes, you need to plant seed potatoes.Growing seed potatoes is easy and affordable, but there are a few things you need to know about planting seed potatoes that will make sure you are successful. Plant small whole potatoes or cut large ones into golf-ball size pieces. Potatoes don’t grow well alongside many plants, so take care when planning out your vegetable garden.

Plant seed potatoes individually in a 12cm deep hole.

Cover each potato with about three inches of soil.

Potatoes fresh from the ground is a great treat for the home gardener. If any frosts are forecast, nip out with some horticultural fleece and cover these so they’re not damaged.

Planting potatoes from eyes is not a difficult process. When you plant potatoes, avoid planting them near: Apple, peach, and cherry trees. Then cover both potatoes and fertilizer with 2-inches of soil, and water the soil well. It won’t be long before you start to see leaves emerging along the row. Keep covering the sprouts as they grow, just as you would the plants in the garden. This is called “hilling” and it protects the potatoes from the sun, as well as supports the plant. Step 4: Plant Your Potatoes. Just as there are good companion plants to grow beside potatoes, there are also plants that won’t work well.

Then you can gently fill the trench with another few inches of soil, leaving the top of the plant exposed. Space each segment 12-inches apart on all sides. Between each segment, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous fertilizer.

Photo: Shutterstock How do I look after potatoes once they’re planted? After I buy my seed potatoes, I sort the large potatoes from the small ones.