What is sack potato production? :
It is the growing of potatoes in 50 kg woven polythene sacks.
Reasons for growing potatoes in sacks :
Because of these climate changes due to global warming, it has been discovered that sack potato growing enhances production as compared to other methods.
Advantages of growing potatoes in sacks
Can be practised on a small piece of land
grow bags
Keeps moisture for a long time
No loss of chemicals and fertilizers
Easy to manage and control pests and diseases
No risk of damage during harvest
Disadvantages of growing potatoes in sacks
No re-use of sacks
Potato seed varieties in Zimbabwe (common):
BP1, Garnet, Jasper, Amethyst, Pimpernel, Mont Claire, Opal, Emerald, Jacaranda
Soil Preparation:
The soil should be sterilized so as to ensure that nematodes, bugs, fungi and worms are destroyed.
Potato Seed:
Potato seed is normally supplied in 30 kg pockets containing sizes from 25 mm to 56 mm in diameter and an average of 400 tubers in each pocket
Sprouting of seed potato:
Sprouting is the development of shoots in potatoes .Each tuber has form 2 to as many as 10 buds or eyes, arranged in a spatial pattern around its surface .The buds generate shoots that grow into new plants when conditions are favourable .Pre-sprouting of tubers help to increase the number of main stem and consequently the crops final yield .Sprouting also ensures quick, uniform and full germination.
Sprouting is done by storing the tubers in diffuse light .Tubers smaller than 25mm should not be used as seed. Farmers may sprout tubers by chitting trays or forced sprouting method.
Planting of potato seeds in sacks:
Pack treated soil of between 16 to 20 kgs in each sack .Arrange the sacks in row and water them with a 5 litre can. Allow the water to soak and use a garden shovel to make a hole of about 10cm deep at the centre of the sack .Apply seed fertilizer (Compound S ) in the hole using a 30 gram cup .Cover the fertilizer with the soil .Place one potato seed in the hole with sprouts facing upright .Treat the seed and the surrounding soil in the hole with Phenamophos and cover the seed leaving the sprouts slightly underneath the surface so remove dry air from the soil .Continuously water the seed after every 7 days in winter and 3 days in summer using a 5 litre can .The potato seed usually takes 7 days to germinate .
Add soil in the sacks as the potato grows leaving about three leaves outside the surface .Continue adding soil until the sack is full .Drench with karate or Lamda watering each soil is added .Watering should be sufficient to soak the soil in the sack.
Harvesting :
At the end of the growing season, the plants leaves and stems die down to the soil level and its new tubers detach from their stolons.The crop will be ready for harvesting when 95% of the leaves have died off/In some cases ,and in seed production ,the crop canopy is destroyed prematurely for early harvesting or seed production or where severe attack of late  blight is feared .Where chemical destruction is employed ,it is advisable to lift the crop within 10 days to avoid by black scurffy. Potatoes are harvested when the potato skin is hardened sufficiently to reduce physical damage during lifting
Packaging and Storage :
Use potato packaging pockets of 15 kgs to pack potato produce .Store in a cool and dry shed and do not wash the produce as this might cause sprouting, Potatoes usually do not sprout until 20 to 3 months after harvest.
What is the yield per sack?
The yield per sack does vary with a lot of factors but all things being equal each sack will translate to a pocket and working with a price of $10.00 per pocket: If you have 100 sacks in your backyard then you are sitting on $1,000.00. So get to work and fatten your purse. Great share. To your continued success.
when we say the yield per sack would be about one pocket, how many potato seeds are planted per sack
one tuber per sack
At flowering which one is better potasium nitrate or best bloom or should i use both
were do l get the sacks
it all depends with the type of sacks you want but there is Mbare Musika for the basic sacks as well is in Msasa were you get the seed
how many times should i put fertilizer in sack potatoes
where in masasa do i find the seeds. i am based in bulawayo
I have heard that 90kg sacks are better to use than 50kg ones, is this true? Also,some say it is 2 tubers/sack when planting,is this true? Lastly, how long before I start harvesting?
How much can a 90kg sack yeild
What exactly type of soil gives a best yield?
This is good hey, woow thats powerful
thanks… its such comments that keep us going on
thank you for the guide. How about the soil itself? Is it re-usable or are we going to end up with holes in the ground all over the place. How does one preserve the environment while we do this?
Joseph how are you. Soil can be reusable yes but to an extend. It can also be treated prior to replanting. The issue of holes all over the place needs environmental consiousness on our part to find ways not to degrade our soils
wht do i have to do to attain maximum yield
The potato plant has specific rules which should be followed. Have you bought our manual or attended training? It is important to see how someone does it so you wont go wrong too
Where / how can I obtain your manual? Or when shall you conduct your training? I have recently settled in Nyamandlovu. I am deeply interested in this new technology.
Reuben Monga Thebe
may you please send me the potato growing guidelines manual
iam sending you inforamtion right away
mr simba sack potato has been proved no feasible in zimbabwe. many have tried this it does not work bro
Thanks Ken! It is something that has also troubled me for some time after visiting a lot of sack potato farmers and provided consulting expertise in this area. However, I discovered that the sack is a learning curve and it needs time for farmers to understand the optimal amounts of all inputs including fertilisers and water to maintain the naturality of the potato. Remember everything is concentrated in that sack. I have seen more failures than successes and I have been growing experimental sacks for the past two and half years to really see the best way to have the best yield but like you said, the best is to get your potatoes into the ground…but after a learning curve, you can still do the sacks successfully. Thanks
Simba i am asking if you could possibly allow me to publish tour article in my magazine .i think this article makes a whole lot of sense to me and so educative.
Simba i am asking if you could possibly allow me to publish our article in my magazine project .i think this article makes a whole lot of sense to me and so educative.
Please kindly assist with the potato growing manual
want to start what are the required inputs
Simba i am asking if you could possibly allow me to publish our article in my magazine project .i think this article makes a whole lot of sense to me and so educative.
i was very impressed to hear about this potatoe sack , i have been wondering are you able to come and demonstrate in zambia , or if you have already been please advise who we can see as well for training here