| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 11 2009 : 06:07:08 AM
I know there was something here about this awhile ago. But I just discovered some that I bought several months ago and they are growing leaves! So I was wondering is it too late to plant them and how do I do it? I have never grown them before but a neighbor lady used to. I just remember they run and take up a lot of room.
So was just wondering really if I could plant them this late in the season. Thanks for any info.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Especially For You |
Posted - Aug 12 2009 : 1:07:58 PM
Toni-thanks for the info. I was going to try to dig some up but maybe I will wait till fall.
Kris- Girl you and these snakes seem to have a thing going on. Oh wait wasn't there a song with that line in it when we were growing up? Mrs Jones I think? I know my mind is a very strang place. Are you going to wait till fall to butcher your birds? I know my dh uncle did all his butchering in the fall. Hogs and chickens that is.
Tina |
| lovelady |
Posted - Aug 12 2009 : 09:55:14 AM
Kris~ My husband was mowing around our fields and in the waterways yesterday and said he saw a bunch of snakes. I like to think they are out there, because I hate mice, but I just don't want to see them. Or their skins. I saw a big patch of skin down by my blackberries the other day. Won't go down there in my flip-flops again!!
About the sweet potatoes, I think you just harvest them in the fall, before it frosts. They grow a bit differently than regular potatoes. I was expecting them to be going horizontally, but mine were growing down, so you really had to DIG, and they were kinda easy to snap off if you weren't careful. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 11 2009 : 2:59:22 PM
Thank you so much, Tina! That would not be a fun thing to find, now would it? But guess what I found this morning as I was feeding my chickens? A snake skin. Yep, a snake skin. It was probably out there shedding it's skin as I was waiting to round up my roosters. I wanted it to be dark enuf before I started grabing them to put in a pen. Anyway, this morning I looked over and there it was. I am going to see if I can pay the guy to mow these fields around us. It's awful high and I know they are all over out there. I also found a dead mouse in the milkroom last night when I ws sweeping the floor. So I know that snake is gone.
I don't know when to dig them. I would think they would be like regular potatoes and when they flower they're ready? But I have no idea. I guess we learn as we go. Pull one up and see what happens and let me know. And do they just have a cluster of potatoes or one here and there along the vine?
Tanna, thanks for the info. I will check out the site.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Especially For You |
Posted - Aug 11 2009 : 12:52:38 PM
Kris,
i wouldn't plant them in straw because mumof3 did that and she had 5 snakes in her straw. I planted mine in old tires, but Alee made the observation that the tires coild leek bad stuff. So, I wish I could help more. Do you know when you dig you seet potatoes? Mine are everywhere. I planted them in the spring. Sorry I havn't e-mailed you it is crazy here. i will e-mail soon.
Tina |
| Tanna |
Posted - Aug 11 2009 : 07:54:03 AM
I have read that you can plant sweet potatoes in straw like you can regular potatoes. You lay newspaper, you put the potatoes on that and cover with straw. Here is more info: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/salloum100.html
Tanna
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Aug 11 2009 : 06:42:16 AM
Thanks, Toni. I think I could plant them in a raised bed. I need to get it all cleaned out and add more soil. But I will try it. I remember my neighbor calling them slips, too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| lovelady |
Posted - Aug 11 2009 : 06:15:14 AM
Kris~
I don't know if it is too late in your part of the country or not, but it couldn't hurt to try! I have only ever planted the ones that I purchased from someone else, so I am not completely sure about growing your own. I think that you have to kind of twist off the "slip" or the shoot-kinda thing where the leaves are coming out and plant it. You need to have a well-tilled area and kind of mound up the dirt about 10 inches or so. Mine are looking very healthy and have even gotten some blooms, which I hear is a little rare. But they really aren't taking up THAT much space. Definitely less than my squash and pumpkins. But the area that they do cover is completely covered by leaves and vines. I know that you are also supposed to occasionally lift the vines off the ground so that they don't become rooted because that takes nutrients away from the original part where your big potatoes will be growing. Sorry i haven't been much help, but hopefully it will work out for you! |
