How to Grow a Potato in the Classroom

Potatoes are a staple of the western diet and are familiar to most schoolchildren. Growing a potato in the classroom can enlighten the students about what plants need to grow, such as soil or nutrients, light and water. In addition, several other subjects can be associated with growing a potato in the classroom as the children observe its life cycle. These subjects include farming crops, identification of plant parts, photosynthesis and even historical events such as the Irish Potato Famine.

Plastic bowls
Sand
Plastic wrap
Rubber band
Flowerpot
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a bowl with a 6-inch diameter halfway with sand. Sprinkle a little water into the sand. Mix it well so that it is damp, but not soggy.
- 2
  Cut a potato in half. Push one half cut side down into the sand. Cover the potato half with sand, and pat it down firmly.
- 3
  Seal the bowl well with plastic wrap. If the plastic wrap does not seal to the rim of the bowl, use a large rubber band around the rim to seal it.
- 4
  Place the bowl in a closet, cabinet or other dark place. Keep the temperature between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, if possible.
- 5
  Check the bowl every day. When sprouts appear in the sand, uncover the bowl and put it on a sunny windowsill until 2 or 3 leaves appear.
- 6
  Fill a flowerpot with at least a 20-inch diameter halfway with potting soil. Carefully remove the potato sprout from the bowl of sand, and place it in the potting soil. Fill the pot with more soil to within about an inch of the top. Do not cover the leaves. Pat the soil down firmly.
- 7
  Place the flowerpot in the sun on a windowsill or outside. Keep the temperature between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, if possible. If the temperature is too warm, lots of leaves will grow, but not many potatoes.
- 8
  Water the potato every 3 or 4 days. Keep the soil damp, but not soggy. If you overwater it, the plant may mold.
- 9
  Harvest your potatoes several weeks after you plant them in the flowerpot. The growing time depends on the type of potato you planted. Early varieties take 70 to 90 days to mature. Middle or late varieties can take up to 140 days. Dig around the sides of the plant with your fingers to loosen the soil. Gently pull the potato plant out of the pot by its main stem. Carefully shake the soil loose from the potatoes as you pull. Most of the potatoes will still be attached to the plant.

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