| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Heather B |
Posted - May 29 2012 : 09:09:50 AM
I was weeding and I came across what looks to be the start of a Norland potato plant. At least thats what I think it is based on what was planted in the spot last year. I must have missed a tuber or two!
Question: Should I dig this up or is there a chance it will produce a good crop? Any one have this happen to them, and how did it turn out?
Thanks much ladies!
Heather
http://homesteadincity.blogspot.com/
http://littlehouseonthebumper.blogspot.com/ (My "glamper" page)
"Only your real friends tell you when your face is dirty"
Farm Girl Sister #662 |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| houligan19 |
Posted - Jun 10 2012 : 08:04:10 AM
I apparently missed tons of tiny little fingerling tubers last year and have a bunch of volunteer potato plants. My understanding is that they could spread disease and that is why you need to rotate the potato crops every year. If it's just one plant it may not matter, but I pull mine.
http://earthhomevt.blogspot.com/ |
| Heather B |
Posted - Jun 01 2012 : 06:12:10 AM
Thank you for all the suggestions and information ladies! I think I'm going to just leave it for awahile. Good thing is it is in with the "cabbage" family. The Kale and it seem to love each each, growing larger everyday.
Heather
http://homesteadincity.blogspot.com/
http://littlehouseonthebumper.blogspot.com/ (My "glamper" page)
"Only your real friends tell you when your face is dirty"
Farm Girl Sister #662 |
| Ninibini |
Posted - May 30 2012 : 8:05:17 PM
Hi Heather -
I always have lots of neat volunteer plants that come up and they do just great. I did have a volunteer potato pop up this year, but I pulled it because potatoes are really bad companion plants. Nothing but cabbages grow well with them, from what I understand (and they do really well after the prior year's planting of corn, but you're not supposed to grow them together). They supposedly soak up every nutrient in the ground and starve your other plants. If yours is in the middle of cabbages, power to ya! If not, I would rethink letting it grow. Please understand I'm no pro, this is just my two cents coming from everything I've read about potatoes. :)
Let us know how you make out!
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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| Bella |
Posted - May 30 2012 : 6:22:46 PM
Hello Heather,
I don't know about volunteer potato plants, but I did find four Moon and Star watermelons coming up in the watermelon/cantaloupe/corn garden. They weren't exactly in the row, so I did dig them up and made hills for them. So far, they are doing fine. I'm guessing that a critter (deer, tarapine) ate a watermelon last year and some of the seeds that were left got worked deep into the ground. When my husband turned over the garden this spring I guess it helped them emerge. Fingers crossed that your potatoes will produce!
Karen
"Just living is not enough, said the butterfly. One must have freedom, sunshine and a little flower." -Hans Christian Anderson |
| MiaBella |
Posted - May 29 2012 : 10:37:34 AM
I don't have an answer, but if it were me, I would just wait and see if it produces anything.
I found a volunteer tomato plant growing under a small raised chicken coop that I have. It was my first coop when I had only a few chicks and once I moved them to a larger area it is only used when I get new chicks, then when they are old enough to move in with the big girls it is left empty. Well when our last batch of chicks started laying eggs, they went back to their "childhood home" to lay. I regularly give all kitchen scraps to the hens, so I am guessing someone pooped out a tomato seed and it decided to grow. So, it has only received rain water, which we have not had a ton of and it is located in sort of a shady area. No tomatoes on it yet, but I am keeping an eye on it.
Michelle
Farmgirl Sister #4097
MiaBella Farm
New Caney, TX
www.miabellafarm.com |
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