Home-grown potatoes are very yummy and much better for you than commercially grown ones, which are loaded with nasty chemicals, as well as having less flavour and nutrition due to long storage. But, which of the available varieties grow best for home gardeners in New Zealand? And what is the best way to grow them? Which ones do well in containers? All these questions and more made me decide to set up some experiments, and invite other gardeners to do the same, then share and combine data at the end of the season. So, I decided that for my part of the experiment, which I called the 2014 Spud Challenge, I would grow 5 varieties of potatoes - Rocket, Swift, Jersey Benne, Agria and Ilam Hardy - in half-drums and potato planter bags, as well as some in planter pot and some in a garden bed, and see what happens. I came up with my own concoction of goodies to add to the drums and beds for nutrients and vigour too. To see how I've set this up, and how I prepared and planted the potatoes, check out these two short videos:
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