| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jul 08 2008 : 10:47:48 AM
I went down to check my potatoe plants. This if the first time I have ever grown them. I planted yukon gold, red pontiacs, irish cobbler, and kenebecks. The yukon gold ones flowered and then made little green berries of some sort where the flowers use to be. The other potatoes were flowering but the deer came in and ate the flowers off. I was wondering if they will still make potatoes underground since the flowers were eaten off...or will they not be able to finish their process since they can't be pollenated now? Otherwise the plants look healthy.
Also when are you suppose to harvest the potatoes ? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I sure don't want to mess them up by rooting around the plants and hurting them.
I can't wait to eat some potatoes. 
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jul 12 2008 : 2:26:46 PM
Connie,
not totally sure bacause I ended up giving about 15 pounds away. But it was around 50 or 60 pounds. At first I was cutting them with 2 eyes on each one. When I realized how many we had I started planting them close together and some of the really big potatoes I ended up only cutting them in 2 because I got tired of planting them...lol.
I went down last night and dug a few plants up and decided I wanted to have some for dinner. I dug up 5 small sections and got about 5 to 7 lbs of potatoes. The yukon gold seem to be doing the best. They are about the size of the palm of my hand the other ones were more like golf ball size. They seem to be the most vigorous of all the kinds I planted. We are having them tonight with chicken stew curry conction I make. I can't wait to eat it and the potatoes. I am going to cook the potatoes in their jackets.
Wow it sounds like your potatoes did really great considering where you live and the growing conditions. You guys are lucky. It must be really hard to garden in such a short season and cool weather. I find it hard where I live with all the problems with drought one year and drowning the next. You should pat yourself on the backs for overcoming such challenges. I think that is so cool.
take care
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 11 2008 : 5:32:47 PM
linda last year we planted about 15 pounds in 42 ft rows 1 ft apart and got more than an industrial sized wheelbarrow full! they werent terribly big either because of our cool soil (not much above 60 degrees at best) and short growing season! we even got them in late because of so much rain early in the season. you will be feeding the entire county with the longer season and warmer soil temps there! we have alot of permafrost under us. hubby wants to know how many pounds you planted yours.
peace connie in alaska |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Jul 11 2008 : 11:42:27 AM
Oh!!! That sounds wonderful!!! And oh...I can smell them right now--you know me well, Linda! When I was at Interlochen, and all through my early 20's, I wore amber essential oil as my perfume, and always (always) amber jewelry...still my favorite scent! Almond and oatmeal is a wonderful combination, and the peppermint (etc.) and the teatree sound divine. I'm so happy that you do something that fulfills your soul, and still excites you. It's vital for our existence!
Again, how thoughtful of you, and I cannot wait. Our friend, Lisa, absolutely RAVES about your soaps, and now I can too :)
Be well,
J
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jul 11 2008 : 09:59:19 AM
OMG !!! I forgot to tell you what was in the package.....lol.
Its not a big deal but I sent you 4 bars of homemade castile goatmilk soap. One is sandlewood/amber...
almond/oatmeal....pepperment/sage/rosemary and teatree/citris. The last 2 are my favorites. The first 2 were made because a friend of mine likes them. Anyway hope you like them. I have been making my own soap for the past 17 years. Still get excited everytime I make a new batch and take it out of the mold.It never gets old to me.
If you want potatoes I could send you some later when they are ready....lol.
I'll be ready to get together when you all decide on a time. Will be there with bells on.
take care
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Jul 10 2008 : 8:10:07 PM
Is it potatoes? 
Just kidding...Linda, you are very dear, and I'm thrilled. Thank you for thinking of me...I mean what I say about all of us getting together sometime soon (September is JUST around the corner!)..
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jul 10 2008 : 1:24:20 PM
Hey Jonni,
just wanted to let you know I sent you a package today in the mail. Let me know when you get it.
take care
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jul 10 2008 : 1:22:40 PM
Oh I almost forgot. I went digging around the potatoes today. The yukon gold have potatoes in the ground but they flowered and did their thing.Some of those are almost the size of the palm of my hand. The other ones flowered too and made the little berries things. They have small potatoes under them. The irish cobblers are the ones the deer ate the flowers and I don't really see anything there yet. They don't seem to be doing as well as the other three. The plants are half the size.
I covered them back up and didn't steal any potatoes yet. I am going to wait till hubby is here because he has taken such an interest in these potatoes. He even took pictures of them and checks on them before he goes to work.He cracks me up.
I got a little carried away and planted four 60 ft. rows. I wasn't sure how many to buy because I had never planted potatoes before. Next thing I knew we had 4 big rows planted. Its kinds funny to see all those plants. My son teases me and tells me we can feed the county. I don't think we have that many but I think if all works out we should be eatin potatoes for awhile.
take care.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jul 10 2008 : 1:14:31 PM
I am considering it Connie....lol.
The problem is when fall comes they somehow seem to hide when hunting season is in. I love deer and think they are beautiful animals but they are so thick here you literally have to bump your way down the road at 15 miles an hour. All four of my family has hit deer this year. One came through the drivers side window and hit my husband in the face and neck. He sustained over 200 lacerations to his face from all the glass and had to have surgery on his eye to remove the deer hair. The hair was stuck in his eyes like a toothpick. Thats how much force the deer hit him with. The state trooper said he couldn't believe it didn't break my husbands neck.
Not to mentioned when he pulled up in the driveway.......he drove home this way. I just totally freaked out when I seen his face and neck.It took several hours to get all the glass out. He was very lucky.....and so was I. It was a miracle....
Yep he is going to try to thin a few out if he can get the time off from work. If not I am going to let a few people know they can come over and help themselves.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 10 2008 : 10:32:31 AM
oops he wanted me to ask it you are gonna be eating venison this fall? lol. we are gonna eat moose as the big stupid things love our garden and even dared to eat the tops off my lilac bush that i have been babying! lol peace connie in alaska |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 10 2008 : 10:30:13 AM
my hubby says treat them as tho they are fine because it is just a bit of work and no more money outlay. he has had potatoes make that barely had a blossom on them. good luck! peace connie in alaska |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jul 09 2008 : 3:26:52 PM
Lisa you crack me up.......I was going to check my potatoes later this evening but we got a downpour and received over an inch of rain. Dang it.....last year we fried in the drought. This year we are drowning. My potatoes are well hilled but now I wonder if I should put life jackets on them.....lol.
Thanks for the warning Lori. I am getting worried about that too. I will check them tomorrow after I get back from the feedmill. I will just have to go in barefoot and dig. Hope they aren't rotting. That would be horrible after all the work.
Well I guess I will get back to making dinner. Sunflower Sundries cornbread recipe and rosemary chicken and sauted zuchini....yum yum.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| nubidane |
Posted - Jul 09 2008 : 2:19:44 PM
Hey Linda
If I get a chance to call you I will, but last weekend while we were down messing with the chicken coop, I started diggin a little around my potatoes & was pleased to find some decent sized red ones. We ate them & they were yummy. Still no flowers on any of the plants yet. I found a Yukon gold(pretty tiny) & also a few Kennebec, but they were real small too; I think those will need a little longer. But at least I am getting something/. I was ready to hang it up. I still won't have near what you do over there in little Ireland. |
| notforgottenfarm |
Posted - Jul 09 2008 : 11:36:14 AM
Hi Linda~
I just read your post...our potatoes are coming in here...small little golden 'new' potaotes!...I didn't notice if the deer had eaten the flowers off the tops of ours or not, but i do know that the heavy rains will rot them in a jiffy if you're not quick!
hope you'll be enjoying yours real soon! |
| wooliespinner |
Posted - Jul 09 2008 : 11:32:00 AM
Thanks Jonni......I will dig around them a little and see whats happening if it ever quits raining. I am really having a time with the deer. There are so many of them people who come to visit comment on the deer. They say they seem them everywhere and its the middle of the day. They have pretty much eaten the tomatoe plants too. They grazed them down about half way. Thank goodness I have some planted up by the house where they are safer......at least I think they will be....lol.
Lisa I am glad to hear about removing the flowers. I was sure that since they ate them off before they were pollenated that they would not make any potatoes. That is a relieve to know that. Thanks for the info.
I knew there had to be some farm ladies who knew about this. I will try to dig around in a few days when its not so muddy and go potatoe hunting. Will let you know what I find.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
| lisamarie508 |
Posted - Jul 09 2008 : 07:26:00 AM
Actually, I was told that the flowers should be removed in order to obtain bigger potatoes. Harvest after the plants die back. I use a trowel and my hands (gloves on) to dig them up so that I don't poke holes in or cut potatoes in half.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Jul 09 2008 : 06:17:15 AM
Hey Linda!!! I'm sorry about those deer and their appetites!
But, I bet you've got potatoes under there (earlies) that you didn't even know about....you should be able to get some right now (today!)...Typically after the flower heads die back (which incidentally, is only about 2-3 days time), the plant should start to die back at which time, you can take your main harvest. This can be anywhere from the end of the month to September.
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
