Leave the sections out until the cut areas callus. Set the pieces about 3 inches deep and a foot apart. As the potatoes sprout, mound soil around the plant for a place for the new potatoes to grow. If you already have herbs, apply nitrogen to stimulate early growth. Zap the bugs.
Aphids feast heavily on the new growth of shrubs and vegetables.
Direct repeated blasts of water at infested plants to control them. Or make repeated applications of insecticidal soap, diazinon or malathion until controlled. Spider mites begin infesting evergreens now. They leave stippled specks on the leaves. Shower the greenery with strong forces of water.