Whether you like them baked, mashed or fried, potatoes are a winter staple.

The good news is they’re super easy to grow at home, even if you’re short on space.

I’m a big fan of using potato grow bags. They’ve got a handy flap near the bottom so you can keep tabs on your crop and even harvest a few early spuds – what us gardeners like to call “bandicooting”.

To get started, place a base layer of sugarcane mulch at the bottom of the bag, then add a generous serve of compost. I love using cow manure, though chicken manure or any decent organic matter will also do the trick.

After that, put down a shallow layer of good-quality potting mix. This becomes the seed bed for your potatoes.

Make sure you're using certified seed potatoes. Don’t go rummaging through the pantry for sprouting spuds; supermarket varieties often carry viruses.

Place five or six seed potatoes across the surface, spacing them out a bit. Don’t worry if it’s a little tight, you can always thin them later.

I like to roll the sides of the bag down at this stage to let in more sunlight. Then cover the spuds with about 2-4cm of potting mix.

As the shoots grow, keep topping up the potting mix around the stems, always leaving a bit of foliage exposed. This helps build a bigger yield.

Once the bag is full and your potato plants start to flower, you’re nearly there.

When the flowers die off, it’s harvest time. Either dig them out or lift the flap on the side and go bandicooting for fresh, homegrown potatoes.

No grow bag? No worries. A hessian sack works just as well. Just make sure your spuds get good drainage, rich organic soil, and a decent dose of sunshine.

Give them a go this winter. They’re easy, fun and delicious.

Clivias under attack? Blame the caterpillars

Clivias are usually hardy, low-maintenance plants, but lately I’ve seen more and more gardeners dealing with lily caterpillar outbreaks.

These sneaky little pests hide deep in the folds of clivia leaves and can chew right back into the crown before you even know they’re there. If your clivias are looking shredded, it’s likely the caterpillars have moved in.

My go-to treatment is a spray called Success Ultra Insect Control, which contains the active ingredient spinetoram.

It’s fast-acting and once sprayed, the caterpillars stop feeding immediately. You can also try an organic option like Bacillus thuringiensis, but be warned: it can take up to four days to kick in, and by then, your clivias could be toast.

Act fast and keep checking for more caterpillars hiding in the foliage.

The quicker you catch them, the better your plants will bounce back.

To watch the full gardening segment, head to The Bugle News Kiama’s YouTube channel.