Gardening is supposed to be a pleasure, but not when you are new to blindness. I once weeded up an entire row of my father’s newly planted carrots.  While you are beginning to adjust you may need to rest up some of the time. Being a couch potato can be depressing, but sitting on the porch with sunshine warming you and the breeze blowing around you is relaxing and even peaceful.

Still you want to grow something – something you can care for and also enjoyed. Who can resist digging both hands into a tub and closing them around new home grown potatoes?

The rest of the summer I hope you can rest on your porch and recover a little from all the stress that vision loss brings. You and the bucket – both of you porch potatoes side-by-side.

Porch Potatoes (Patio, Balcony or Back Step)

1. Find a bucket with a seriously leaky bottom, or use a large plant tub with some crocks covering the holes.

2. Place the bucket in  full sun

3. Put in 6 inches of good potting soil.

4.  Place your 3 or 4 seed potatoes 5 inches apart on the soil, with any sprouts pointing up.

5. Cover with more earth and water thoroughly. Make sure your barrel is draining nicely into the tray underneath.

6. As your potato plants grow add more soil to cover most of the stalks.

7. Continue doing this, watering whenever your finger poked into the dirt can’t feel moisture.

8. After the plants have flowered, and when the leaves begin to die – maybe 3 or 4 months – slide your fingers down into the dirt and gently check for potatoes.

You can harvest them all at once or store the bucket in a cool place and use them as needed.

For more ideas on what to plant on your porch, check next week’s blog “Are You Wanting to Please Your Eyes, Your Nose or Your Mouth?”