How to Have fresh Potatoes & Greens Galore when the SHTF...Virtually immune from urban looters

I think this is a great idea. Plant taters right in plain sight along roads, in parks, by tree lines or anywhere there's good light and the city zombies won't even know what they look like and leave them alone. They'll be looking for boxes and cans of food.

How to Have fresh Potatoes & Greens Galore when the SHTF...Virtually immune from urban looters...

Posted By: Watchman
Date: Friday, 20-Jan-2012 18:12:06

I have been planting potatoes of most every variety virtually every where I find some open space, including of course my own property.

Potatoes will grow in every US state, of course some places are better than others.

Many folks, especially those living in urban areas have been concerned about protecting their food stores from looters and rioters. The key to the technique about growing them is the simple fact that 99% of folks would not recognize a potato plant, nor be able to discern it from a weed. The key?-- weeds do not attract undue attention from hungry folks busy looking for cans and boxes of foods they recognize.

Now the technique is simple... Small Potatoes can be ready for harvest in as few as 8 weeks. Full size ones are ready when the plants die.

The neat thing is that they do fairly well with NO weeding, fertilizing or attention. Of course the harvest is greater when fertilizer is applied prior to planting and at mid term (about 6-8 weeks after planting)

I powder the cut side of the eyes (see the following link) with a small amount of flowers of sulphur, available from most drug stores.

The sulphur aids in combating potato parasites/diseases, and the plant really loves it, since potatos need some acidic content to the soil.

As an aside, I also sow small patches of turnipseed for their greens and roots.

Now as to where? Both potatoes and turnips love lots of sun light, and well dug (loose) beds.

I plant/sow turnips in my flower beds (makes good ground cover until they get big, but by then I have eaten most anyway..

Potatoes and turnips grow good on roadsides, parks, along driveways, and of course in your garden. With lots of "secret" places, your plants will be most secure from most scavengers. By planting them in various non-obvious places, you can be assured of sustenance in the worst of times.

I have some potato beds that have been growing/self rejuvenating for three years. Here in Alabama you never have to buy special "seed" potatoes. Just buy them from farmers markets and eat them until they start to sprout. Then prepare them and plant.

Another thing is important. You DO NOT have to harvest more than you need to eat. The ones you don't need to eat will store GREAT underground, year around. You will have a few bad ones after months of storage, but most will last just fine..

Now, use your thinking cap and plant all sorts of "discrete" food plots. Animals will not eat potatoes, but they do like greens.. just plant more than they can eat. You can also plant other discreet food plants in various places. Most urbanites will not recognize them, especially if they are along roadsides. Most do not know what food in the raw looks like...

Now here's the link to all you need to know...

http://www.howdogardener.com/potatoes.html