Growing Potatoes and Rosemary in Your Home Garden

I want to share with you some tips about growing your own rosemary and potatoes. Both are easy to do, and require little maintenance throughout the growing season.

First, let’s talk about growing potatoes. You can grow potatoes in a pot on your deck or patio that gets full sun. Plant sprouting potatoes from your pantry (use smaller varieties for the best chance of success) and cover with 3 inches of soil (do not fill the pot with soil to the top.) It is best to plant in early spring as the potatoes take up to 5 months before you can harvest them. As the plants grow, the roots will emerge above the soil. Add additional soil to the pot as needed and water often. Harvest when the plant above ground starts turning yellow and dying. You should get 3-6 potatoes from each plant.

Anna, a photography client of mine, and her family grew potatoes in a pot on their patio this summer/fall for the first time. This adorable video of her first harvest will make you want to try growing your own potatoes next summer.

Rosemary plants make great front yard landscaping. They are perennial in our mid Atlantic climate, and usually evergreen. That means that they stay green and available for harvesting all year long. Purchase a small plant in the spring from a garden center and make sure that the new plant is watered regularly when you plant it in the ground. It is a prolific grower. Before you know it the fragrance of fresh rosemary will tickle your nose. Simply cut off springs with scissors when you want to use the fresh herb in dishes.

I use fresh rosemary in many cooked dishes. It’s distinctive taste brightens up sauces and stews. I often add it to lentils when making a body warming dish for these cold winter nights. Let me know if you are interested and I will share the recipe. The simplest way to use fresh rosemary is to pair it with roasted potatoes. Cut up unpeeled red potatoes into chunks. Toss potatoes with olive oil and the fresh rosemary tines on a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper, and roast in a 375 degree oven for 40-50 minutes. (turn potatoes once or twice to evenly brown).