L - the Purply Majesty are supposed to be mid to late season, so depending on our weather I may only get "new potatoes" outta them. I'm not sure how hot tater plants can take. They will be under the shade structure and that does lower the temp a few degrees, but sustained temps over 100°? I don't think they can hang - lol...
That's the same reason I don't think I could get a fall crop. We stay hot sometimes into October and then this last year we had a freak frost December 4th! So if I do go for a fall crop it will have to be an early season variety and cross my fingers we have a typically mild winter...
Potatoes Under Straw/Leaves #3
Melissa,
What're your potatoes doing? Post a follow up pic!
Making a beeline for the homestead back 40 in about 2 minutes! Potatoes are perking up after my brutality!
Joy, this is my first year growing blueberries, but I planted mine in the ground, I also have 2 blackberry bushes as well that are loaded with flowers, I will definetely try raspberries next.
Carminator: Blueberries grow wild here for the soil we have is perfect for them, it tends to run a little more acidity than others, that is why people here that want nice lawns have to lime the daylights out of their soil first. I think the smart pots will be nice for fruit bushes and then bury the smart pot into the ground, it will keep the roots pruned nicely won't it?
joy
You're lucky, Joy...wild blueberries, yum.
Yahoo!! My potatoes are starting to pop up! Right on schedule, exactly 14 days after planting!
My taters:
Midwest, isn't it exciting?! Now you'll be checking them everyday for new shoots!
Joy--Niiiicccccceeeeeeee lookin' taters!
Joy what nice taters, :) . I do like the smart pots but don't you think they are a little low for growing taters? I think growing blueberries or other veggies would probably be a better use for them, don't you think?
We're getting some good information here. Sounds like it's fairly typical to seed potatoes above ground about two weeks after they're planted. Good to know.
I went to an Earth Day celebration today - lots of booths and giveaways and stuff like that - and I thought of you guys. Lots of companies give away the reusable shopping bags with their company logo on them, and I'm thinking, whatever. I sew my own and they're prettier. Then I overhear a guy saying that he grows potatoes in them! So you know I high-tailed it over to the gas company booth to pick up two!
I'm actually going to grow green beans in them. It says they're made from 100% recycled bottles. I hope that's an ok plastic to have in the sun. Hard to tell what's in these things, though.
Probably good idea to check that they don't have BPA in them, though!
Exactly. I've had enough trouble with the ol' endrocrine system that I don't need to be asking for more. And I don't want my legacy to be the inventor of the world's first obesogen green beans! Oooo, the tag says made in china. Certainly can't go wrong with that.
In all seriousness, though, it's my understanding that BPA is some sort of hardening agent used in epoxy and polycarbonate. So this floppy bag might be more safe than the glasses sitting on my face. Not sure, though.
Thanks, and yes I think they are a lil low for growing potatotes
joy
BPA turns out to be pretty nearly ubiquitous these days, apparently. It's even in the interior coating of some canned goods.
Problem in my tater patch!!!!!
Is this blight? Is there any hope for my taters?
Stephanie, I am not a hundreed percent sure but if it is, there is an anti blight mixture you can spray that is completely organic.
The mixture is 1 gallon water, 1TB baking soda, 2 1/2 ts vegetable oil, put that into a spray bottle and spray every week and after a rainfall. Try this and hopefully it will not spread out anymore.
Here's an article I found on early blight as well that describes the symptoms.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytophthora_infestans
Thanks, Car! Will try that tomorrow.
My potatoes have been growing above ground for about a week, and tomorrow night we should get a low of 34 degrees. Will they be ok without being covered?
Sky I'd throw a sheet or blanket over the vines. Better safe than sorry!
I think I will, thanks.
Help!
I've got a potato vine in distress. Could I be overwatering? The leaves are turning yellow.
There are no blossoms on this particular vine.
This message was edited Apr 26, 2010 9:37 PM
Uh, did ya'll go on vacation or something? Where is everybody?
I've got BLOOMS! This morning, bright as you please, I find these three Daisy-looking-blooms on one 'a the tall vines. Racing for the J-O-B and didn't have time to whip out my trusty cellphone camera. But, I will this evening.
I have a dilemma, and will not make this mistake next year -- I had so many pieces of the Kennebecs and the Red Fingers that I mixed 1/2 of each in three tubs. The two SmPts have only one variety each (Yukons and Purple Vikings). Now, I don't know which is which in the tubs and which gets ready sooner (or later) than the other. Duh...
Mental NOTE for next potato season (mid-August!!! yay!!!): Plant only ONE variety per container.....
I'm here!!! I've been lurking these past coupla days, waiting for peeps to post their knowledge and experiences on all things potato-related.
Don't feel bad...I had my potato seeds on some cardboard pizza boxes by the window (early March) and my stupid dog knocked them on the ground and they got all mixed-up...so, John will be having "potato suprise" come harvest time. At least there are only 4 varieties to guess from, and one is a red potato.
I'm still here, My potatoes are still out there. They're not growing like crazy fools anymore, but don't look anywhere near being done and ready to harvest, either.
A nice thing about potatoes is they can just sit in the ground and wait. You don't have to harvest them right as soon as they are done. So if you've got mixed varieties, just let them all wait for the later harvest.
Hard to tell from the pic Ms. Linda but it looks like some type of deficiency... See how the veins are green but the leaf is pale? What it might be lacking though I'm not sure;o)
Oh John! I'm so laughing!!! (Sorry about that and I hope you didn't kill the dog.)
Linda, I have no wisdom for you in regards to your yellowing, but something is definitely up with that. You might try asking Phil.
I have made the mental note to not combine tater varieties, too. Now if I don't lose my mind before the next planting season comes along everything should be fine.
Hi guys.. I am new to planting potatoes and this year I did red potatoes. I haven't hit my 14 day mark yet so no sprouts yet but I just wondered.. How many potatoes does a plant yield?
MechelleT,
Only your hairdresser knows for sure!
LOL, I know it's not possible to know exactly how many you'll get, but 4 or 5 maybe?
Somewhere I got the figure 25-50lbs per 25 row feet.
And I was advised to plant the potatoes about a foot apart.
Ok, ya'll. It's about time to plant SWEETIES, so we'll be shifting gears from our Idaho spuds. Should I start a whole new thread called "SWEETIES UNDER STRAW/LEAVES!" ??? or, do we wanna continue the potato discussion here?
LMK.
p.s. Where're ya'll getting your sweetie slips from other than rooting them at home? I checked Burpee and 12 bare rooted slips is $13.95. Is that a reasonable price?
Linda
Yeah Stephanie, I wanted to kick the dog but I didn't, LOL! I think he "sampled" a few of the seed potatoes as well since I ended up with less seed potatoes. I think they were mainly the yukons.
What timing, Linda! I've been thinking about sweet potatoes lately and I think I have room for some experimenting now that I can officially declare some of my leafy green crops a bust. Time to dig those suckers up and re-plant.
I saw the same Burpee listing and wondered the same...good deal, anyone? I am not sure where to get my seed potatoes. Maybe I should just try and root one from the grocery store?
This thread is getting too long regardless so I'm good with whatever you guys decide...
Hmmm...I have two swiss chard plants that are bolting. One is over 6' tall, LOL! The other isn't far behind. They were great plants and provided me with many helpings. Might be a good place for some sweet potatoes (using the square ft method.)
END OF POTATOES UNDER STRAW/LEAVES THREAD #3.....
Go here http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1092018/
for Potatoes Under Straw/Leaves #4
I have no idea if that price is good, but why buy your slips? Start your own - lol... Though those of us in warmer zones should have already done it. They take a good 4 months to reach full sweetie size and last year I planted too late (eventhough you can plant through June here) and had to pull them early as I needed the space. Just get yourself an organic sweetie from the store or farmer's market and there you go. One sweetie will produce many slips.
Yeah, I thought about that....
JUMP OVER to #4.
I vote separate thread for sweet potatoes. Don't you grow them a little differently?
I don't like them anyway. Yuck. Kind of a picky eater.
Divided, I don't like them either. They're very good for you, but I just haven't developed a taste for them.
Drown the sweet potatoes in brown sugar with butter, some cinnamon, and maybe a little nutmeg. Bake for 2-3 hours at 325. Yum!
I peel them then steam or boil until barely soft. Mash with a bit of butter and brown sugar - yum!