Various Soil-Friendly Methods
In permaculture, the goal is to work as gently as possible with the soil and to use natural cycles. For potatoes, there are proven methods that require little or even no soil. Here, we present several options – suitable even for beginners.
1. No-Dig/No-Till with Mulch (Permaculture Classic)
Simply place the seed potatoes on the ground (this also works on grass or an unprepared bed).
Cover them generously with a thick layer of organic material: straw, hay, leaves, compost, or wood chips.
The potatoes grow up through the mulch material, and the tubers develop under the mulch layer.
Advantages: No digging, hardly any weeds, very little work, soil life is preserved, moisture is retained.
Tip: Regularly add more mulch to prevent the tubers from being exposed to light (otherwise, they turn green and become inedible).
2. Potato Tower or Bag (Almost No Soil Needed)
Potatoes can be grown in towers (e.g., made of wire mesh, wood, or old car tires) or in bags.
Start with a thin layer of soil or compost at the bottom, place the potatoes on top, and cover with mulch (straw, compost, leaves).
As the plants grow, keep adding more mulch material.
Advantages: Space-saving, needs hardly any soil, harvest is easy since you just remove the material.
3. Hydroponics – Potatoes Without Any Soil
Potatoes can also be grown hydroponically, completely without soil.
The tubers grow in a system where the roots are in a nutrient solution (e.g., Deep Water Culture or Nutrient Film Technique).
Substrates such as rock wool, coconut fiber, or perlite can be used, or sometimes no substrate at all (aeroponics).
Nutrients are supplied via the water; the plants need sufficient light (sunlight or grow lights) and constant temperatures.
Advantages: Very clean, no weeds, hardly any pests, highly efficient use of water and nutrients, high yields possible.
Disadvantages: Initial investment in equipment and know-how, ongoing monitoring of the system is necessary.
4. Aeroponics – Potatoes “in the Air”
The roots hang freely in a closed chamber and are regularly misted with a nutrient solution.
No substrate, no soil – just air, water, and nutrients.
Very high yields, extremely resource-efficient, but technically demanding.
Author: Francesco del Orbe
