Tales From a Tiny Garden

The Secret life of Potatoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep underground in a potato tub in a tiny garden near Lake Rotorua.

 A lonely potato continues its cycle. Dug up and replanted twice to investigate what happens out of sight in the dark wet soil. Late in the season it’s leaves are attacked by a plague of leaf chomping potato moth caterpillars.

Growth is powered initially by the tuber near the bottom of the tub. When leaf development is sufficient, excess sugars from photosynthesis are passed down the stem and stored in growing stolons as starch. Have a look.

View My Stats