Down to Earth: Want to get kids into gardening? Plant potatoes

“Growing potatoes is great: they show visible growth, are easy to look after and at the end provide something to eat. . .” If you want to get your children interested in gardening, planting potatoes is the perfect place to start, writes Cambridge designer Robert Barker

February is a tricky month for so many of us; whether the groundhog sees a shadow or not on February 2, the feeling that winter will never end can be expected. Yet for the keen gardener, there is actually a lot to do to get you in the mood for the joys of spring.

In past issues I have talked at length about the importance of a well-designed garden providing interest throughout the year - particularly important in winter, when this can be achieved by incorporating winter-flowering and/or interest plants, such as

Helleborus, Daphne, Hamamelis, Viburnum, and of course snowdrops.

For most people, though, the garden goes into hibernation during winter. But now we are in February, it is finally beginning to wake; like a sleeping giant/grizzly bear/sasquatch - pick your preferred cliché hibernating creature - the garden is emerging, rubbing tired eyes and smacking dry lips.

After an inclement winter, all gardens now need a good dose of TLC. This can start with cutting back deciduous and evergreen grasses and pruning back winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering, along with Wisteria and conservatory climbers such as Bougainvillea.

One of my favourite things to do in February is to go to my local garden centre with my two children, who on the whole are largely uninterested in gardening (unless it involves a plant that is getting in the way of a football goal) to pick out potato tubers to grow themselves. This tradition started when they were tiny and ever since has been something that they like to get involved in.

The best method is to grow new potatoes in bags/sacks. With the sides of the bag rolled down, a little bit of soil goes in the bottom and then, once chitted, the tubers are placed in the soil and covered. As they grow, more soil is added and the sides of the bag are slowly pulled up.

Growing vegetables is a good way to get children interested in horticulture and growing potatoes is great, as they show visible growth, are easy to look after and at the end provide something to eat. I would avoid more refined tubers to start off with and instead go for varieties such as ‘Charlotte’, ‘Rocket’ (so named because it grows like a rocket) and ‘Pink Fur’. You might also want to select varieties that are ready to harvest at different times so you aren’t overwhelmed with potatoes!

In the spirit of Valentine’s month, send some love this month to your garden and get ready for the joys that lie ahead.

See robertbarkerdesign.com for more.