PotatoesWhat to Use Instead of Ashes?

I will be planting my taters later this week or weekend. I have some ashes, but probably not enough for the 10 lbs of potatoes I'll be cutting and planting. What else can I use (potash??) when cutting and curing them overnight before planting?

Use Sulfur to avoid fungal diseases. Make sure they will dry our before planting.
I already planted my potatoes. This year I have planted in my compost bin ... that's what my friend told me ...
I am curious to see what will happen.

Uh, I couldn't find my ashes after I cut ALL my beautifully sprouted PUrple Vikings last night, and was desperate for something to seal them with. All I had was a bag of playsand, so I dipped them in that...

Sure hope I haven't made a bad, bad, bad mistake...my alternative was talcum powder...

I have some of the ashes left from last year and I also have blood meal. Wonder if that would work?

I think those ashes would definitely work! I was looking for mine!!!!

Not sure about the bloodmeal. Do you think it would start eating through the cut potato pieces, since it is organic? Or at the least, set up some microbial activity that would start to eat through...?

Don't know. That's why I'm asking. lol

I used cornstarch last year. I didn't have ashes...and I figured potatoes are high starch. The potatoes sprouted fine, so at least it didn't cause any problems.

David

That's good to know, David. I have plenty of corn starch.

Checked and my potatoes seem to be fine. Need to find those ashes!

BTW, when you plant out your seed pieces, do they already have leaves or just sprouts? Mine have a gazillion sprouts all over the pieces...

This message was edited Feb 25, 2011 12:30 PM

Mine already have little leaves on them, so I guess I'll be planting them with leaves.