The Daily Bucket is a regular series from the Backyard Science group. Here we talk about Mother Nature in all her glory, especially the parts that live nearby. So let us know (as close as you are comfortable) where you are and what's going on around you. What's the weather like? Seen any interesting plants, bugs or critters? Are there birds at your feeders? Deer, foxes or peahens in your yard? Seen any cool rocks or geological features? Post your observations and notes here. And photos. We like lots of photos. :)
A few weeks ago, I decided to try something I hadn't done since I was a kid--grow a potato plant from a potato. My first effort failed abjectly--it seems that today's potatoes, unlike the ones I had as a kid, are now treated so they won't sprout (apparently sprouting potatoes produce toxic chemicals). So I tried again with an organic potato I got at a produce store. And this time, I had success!
The seed potato--a small organic red potato. I cut it in half. Looking on the Net, I found that there are two ways to try to grow a potato plant: the first involves putting the cut potato in a cup of water so the eyes put out rootlets and leaf shoots, then planting it in soil. Alas, after a couple weeks all I had was a mushy potato and slimy water. Fail. The second option was simplicity itself--bury the potato piece in a pot of soil, water it, and wait. And wait. And wait. After a couple weeks, I began to think that this one failed too, but then:
Success! An itty bitty potato plant pokes a shoot up into the world....
...and begins to unfurl its leaves.
..and reaches for the sky.
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And now it's your turn: what's sprouting in your neck of the woods?