potatoes under straw

Deb ~ I'm not sure what you are asking... sorry, it's just me tonight after a grim day at work. LOL Please try to get thru to my brain again? 8 )

i used plastic 55 Gallon drums and put fresh saw dust on the plants as they grew, always leaving most leaves exposed
3 - 6" of plant above the saw dust. as they grew added more to the top of drum, when it comes time for harvest.tip the drum over, nice clean potatos almost 50 gals of taters each. have fun AL

Mine is only 32 gallons, next year I may by another one(or 2) lol

Darla

Al
You used sawdust instead of leaves? Did you keep it out of the rain? How about watering it?

Pod, this time of the year the sun doesn't go straight overhead so the soil at the bottom of the can isn't getting any direct light from the sun...does that matter? We tipped it toward the sun but it's not inside the fence so don't want any wild creatures climbing into it....like to have it standing straight up...does that make sense? Thanks, Deb

Aha! Sorry, I had read your question about that earlier. I honestly don't know the answer. I am sure bright light will be good but direct sunlight would be preferable. As quickly as the sun moves overhead, it shouldn't be long before you will be receiving direct sunlight. Meanwhile tilt it as much as possible. In this area, I planted the potatoes on the ground and covered with leaves. If I had used a barrel the potatoes would have fried in the summer heat. I planted in too much shade and found the plants were tall and leggy while reaching for sunlight and suspect you will too. Wondering if next year, it would help you to paint the inside of the barrel a white or silver reflective paint to make it brighter...

Potato gardeners on this site say that if you build the organic matter up along the stem, leaving only a few inches of the plant exposed, potatoes develop further up the stem. What's happening in that situation? Does anyone have photos of it? Are the offshoots developing roots, and that's why the extra potatoes are developing? Or is the root system from the bottom simply moving up? Anyone know?

(Attached illustration from www.life.uiuc.edu)

I have always heard that, but never experienced it. The picture implies that the potatoes push the top of the soil up. I couldn't find the article from the link -- even with the final ) removed. Could we have a more specific URL or directions?

They're stolons, not roots. New stolons develop along the stem, and tubers form on the stolons.

So mulching deeply causes stolons to form higher up and therefore more potatoes?

Seems to work that way.

But then you have to be careful to keep the highest layer of potatoes covered, lest they turn green.

I need to add more leaves, the plant tops keep climbing higher and higher daily!

Darla

Thanks for the correct terminology, Tilton. I guess they would have a little trouble drinking with tubers on their roots!

Did I let these cut seed potatos set too long? I cut them several days ago, and they are now pretty dry and I notice some mold/fungus growing on the cut surfaces. Can I still plant them or do I need to get some new ones.

MaryinLa ~ I would say plant them. I left last years batch out drying and conditions and timing were not right to plant for 3 weeks. They were all right.

Do you think the spots of mold/fungus on them is a problem? Thanks for your response

No, I don't think it will cause undue problems when they sprout and grow. Perhaps others will have a different opinion but you have nothing to lose.

Mine were cut at least 10 days and looked very similar. Earlier today I covered them in wheat straw as they are about 6 inches high now. Isn't that the way with Spring, you wait and wait and wait and overnight they grow fast and you're almost too late. Question: Should I cover the top leaves or leave them out, or partially cover them. Thanks.

Christi

Leave the top leaves exposed but as they grow taller, keep adding leaves, straw, mulch, soil whatever.

Cajuninky: i had them against a fence in my yard on the side of my house. watered them when they dryed out ,Just damp not wet.the sprinklers on the lawn did wet the drums twice a day.outsde only, did wrap the outside of the drums with some burlap bagsfor cooling
sitting in the rain,found the saw dust at local lumber yard..

This message was edited Mar 23, 2009 12:54 PM

Thanks. If I can't find enough leaves I have plenty of sawdust at the barn.

For those of you who have used straw, how tightly do you pack the straw when you add it? My potatoes finally recovered from the freeze and are tall enough now to think about adding straw. Thanks!

David

I don't pack it down at all. I just try to make sure it covers all the emerging tubers.

Should I take some of the straw off the tops of these potatoes? They are about 6-7 inches tall.

I wouldn't. Soon they'll be needing more.

Mine are in a barrel and almost to the top of the rim. I need to add more leaves, but I'm too tired after digging and planting today. Maybe I'll get to it tomorrow.

Darla

I read somewhere to use straw because it has less seeds than hay. I add straw yesterday and it is full of seeds. I just read a couple of the first post on here and I see that Darius had a similar problem. Are they going to grow and cause a problem for my potatoes? Any suggestions?

Most straw has plenty of seeds, but is better than hay which may be alfalfa which is way to high in nitrogen. The weed seed can usually be easily pulled from the soil under the straw, because the straw keeps the soil moist and loose. Not a big problem IMHO.

OHHHHHHHHH, I'm excited....my potatoes are up at least 4 inches and look so green!!! soon will come the straw....Deb

Cover the ground with 2 layers of newspaper, then apply the straw. The newspaper takes care of sprouting wed seeds.

I'm going to give "growing potatoes in straw" a try this year. I'm excited to see it become 'fun' rather than a back-breaking chore! Wish me luck! :) .....Thanks HoosierGreen for sharing all you know!!!

My taters are above the ground now and putting on a few lwaves. When do I add the straw?

Jamlover, good idea. I already have alot of straw down though.

Hope there is taters under there...

Where did you get the red bucket the tomato is in? Mine will be here from Territorial Seed next week and I still haven't decided where to plant them.

Christi

Christi those are 2 HD Homer buckets one sitting inside the other. The growing medium is coir. It is an e-bucket. Look over on the Self-Contained Box Garden forum if you are not familiar with them. I have several of them and the tomatoes are doing pretty good right now. I am waiting to see what they do when the 100++++ degree weather hits.

Thanks I have a couple of those buckets.

Help!!! My husband swears I've got too many potatoes in the can...he says the tubers will not develope because they don't have any growing room...can you tell from this pic if I need to thin them out????? Thank you, Deb

yep way to many only need one plant per can they do need room to grow!

When do I add the straw to my taters? They are putting on leaves now.