Planting potatoes whole takes most of the worry out of potential disease problems, and since a growing plant derives much of its food from the tuber itself, a healthier plant and a healthier harvest are produced. Just dig a hole four inches deep, drop the tuber in the hole, then cover. Space the planting holes about a foot apart and cover the soil with a one- to two-inch layer of mulch--you can use compost, shredded leaves or grass clippings. Water well.
Simpler planting methods are ideal because they can help improve the soil at the same time. The trick is to plant potatoes above rather than below ground. If the soil is poor, just toss the tubers onto the ground, spacing them about a foot apart, and cover the entire planting area with a deep layer of hay, straw or shredded leaves.
Start with a six- to 12-inch layer, and don't worry about smothering the plants. As long as the mulching material is loose, they will get plenty of air and water. In no time at all--three to five weeks or so--the green foliage will poke its head out of the mulch.
As the weeks go by, add more mulch to maintain a fairly constant one- to two-foot depth--that's about the only maintenance you'll have to deal with. In many cases you don't even need to worry about fertilizer, because the developing plants will get all the nutrients they need from the decomposing mulch. When it's time to harvest, reach into the mulch and pull out the potatoes. What makes this approach so great is that after the harvest, you'll be left with a bed full of incredibly rich soil.
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