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Farm Kitchen:  Potatoes  |
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Rivergirl_2007
True Blue Farmgirl
332 Posts
Shirley
Karnak
IL
USA
332 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 10:55:37 AM
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| Can anyone help me with planting potatoes? I have been told to dig a trench and line it with straw. I have also been told to keep piling dirt over the plants. That doesn't make sense to me. Wouldn't that smother the plant and kill it? Any help will be greatly appreciated. |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 10:59:54 AM
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Hi Shirley...you dig a trench (4 inches deep, 6-8 inches wide--I use the width of my shovel as a guide) and then you plant the tuber, sprout up. As the plants get taller (and they will get taller!!!!), just above the beginning line of your trench, you shovel the dirt from the trench over them to "mound" them. The point of this being you don't want your actual potatoes to see the light of day, turning them green (and slightly poisonous!). It also "braces" the plant itself, because the plants can actually get to be 2-3 feet high.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - FebruaryViolet on Jul 13 2009 11:00:28 AM |
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chaddsgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
843 Posts
Sarah
Farmgirl Sisterhood #639
MO
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 11:06:11 AM
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Hey Shirley! You don't really need to line the trench with straw. Potatoes will grow on concrete as long as you put some kind of mulch over them. YOu can even grow them in tires and cardboard boxes! They are very resilient.
This is what I do, cut the eyes off your potatoes and plant each one not too deep but completely covered with soil. When the plants start coming up mulch them really good. Doesn't really matter what you use, straw, old hay, newspaper, dead weeds, whatever you have. As the plants grow, continue to mulch them so that the plant still has some leaves sticking out on top but most of the plant is covered. You can do this with dirt, but using some type of mulch will make your life easier. The goal is to shut out the light from most of the plant. The more you mulch the more potatoes you will get. It wont' smother the plant as long as at least the top part is still sticking out where it can get light and air. Then, when it's time for you to start harvesting your potates, instead of having to dig them up, all you have to do is push the mulch out of the way and VOILA!! Potatoes!!
Farmgirl # 639 |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 11:21:29 AM
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Yep, what Jonni and Sarah said. If you mulch them higher after every growth spurt, you will have potatoes all the way up the main stem. Also, pinch off the flowers...you get bigger potatoes if you don't allow them to bloom. Potatoes don't need to bloom or pollinate for their roots to grow into tubers. The only reason it blooms is to produce seed which is pointless when you can just plant pieces of rooted potato! If it blooms, the plant thinks it's done and it will die back and your potatoes won't get any bigger than they are at that point. Have fun with them...they are really easy to grow.
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 apron website:
http://lisamariesaprons.bravehost.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 11:23:52 AM
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Now, Lisa, I just learned something from what you've posted...and next year I'll give that a shot (pinching the flowers). The German Butterball potatoes that I bought from Seed Savers have been a bit disappointing--LOTS of plant growth, but very small potatoes. These are supposed to be "all purpose" but I'd be in the kitchen for days peeling them for an au gratin!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 11:28:41 AM
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Good topic! I've grown potatoes for the last couple of years but never knew this info. Just planted the eyes like anything else, dig a hole, drop them in and cover them up. Always got potatoes so yes, they'll grow anywhere! LOL. I'll try mulching the top growth this year and see if my crop doesn't increase! Thanks ladies!
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
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chaddsgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
843 Posts
Sarah
Farmgirl Sisterhood #639
MO
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 11:31:31 AM
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I did NOT know that about pinching off the blooms! Thanks Lisa! Got a great harvest out of my Yukon Golds this summer. Planting again for the fall.
Farmgirl # 639 |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 12:11:13 PM
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Also check you planting zone- I am at the tail end of being able to plant potatos for the season.
Lillian |
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laurzgot
True Blue Farmgirl
1690 Posts
Laurie
Alvin
Texas
USA
1690 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 2:03:55 PM
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Yes check your planting zone. Down here on the gulfcoast of Texas you have to plant them in late Feb. or very early March. When I harvested my russetts I got a bushel and a half. I was so happy and I did pinch off the blooms. Always mulch and mulch.
Laurie
suburban countrygirl at heart |
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Rivergirl_2007
True Blue Farmgirl
332 Posts
Shirley
Karnak
IL
USA
332 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2009 : 6:57:45 PM
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| Thank you to all. I checked out the planting table and am good to the end of the month. I have had a garden for years, but have not planted potatoes before. Wish me luck. |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2009 : 8:22:44 PM
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I plant all my potatoes in tubs out of wash machines, layer of mulch, plant and keep layering as the plant grows, the metal keeps out the rodents and when they are ready to dig, just dump them out, simple and you are recycling at the same time
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Farm Kitchen: Potatoes |
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Potatoes
