| Author | Content |
BronxBoy
Lawrenceville, GA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
07:44 AM Post #4399618
| How far apart do you plant the eyes?
BB |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
07:52 AM Post #4399627
| Usually about 10"-12" apart. I usually lay em out in a diamond pattern. 1 on each corner and one in the middle. You can crowd them a bit sowing this way. I've noticed the plants seem to grow taller and straighter under the leaves. |
dryad57
Scottsburg, IN
(Zone 6a)
January 14, 2008
08:02 AM Post #4399641
| woo hooo! I've been waiting for this article - great information and instructions. Thanks!! |
MaryMcP
Phoenix, AZ
(Zone 9a)
January 14, 2008
08:04 AM Post #4399645
| Great article and very timely. Two friends and I have just placed an order for seed pototoes from Johnny's. Other friends in our regional forum scoffed at our not using standard grocery store potatoes, saying they had done so with excellent results. We are planning to run a test and see how the certified seed potato differs from a plain old russet from Safeway.
Thanks for the info.
Mary |
Laurie1
Burwash Weald
United Kingdom
(Zone 9b)
January 14, 2008
09:28 AM Post #4399848
| Marvellous idea - thank you. |
podster
Deep East Texas, TX
(Zone 8a)
January 14, 2008
09:29 AM Post #4399856
| What a great idea ~ thank you. Makes me want to start planting right now as I have been raking. Valentines day here is the potato rule of planting thumb.
We have many crawlers here, I may still have fork holes in the taters just because I err on the side of caution ~ LOL
Please tell me how you place the screens?
| Quoted: | | We also use recycled screens weighted down to keep the leaves from blowing away. |
|
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
09:35 AM Post #4399876
| These were old sliding door screens we er, liberated from the dumpster. Just lay them on top and weight them down so the leaves don't blow off.
Thanks guys, I'm so pleased with the responses and hope y'all have good luck with this method if you choose to try it. :) |
Sashagirl
by the Muddy Miss, IA
(Zone 5a)
January 14, 2008
09:41 AM Post #4399900
| What a great article, doccat!
I do have a question about the leaves.
Should they be shredded, before using on the potatoes- or is it better to use them whole?
I'll sure look forward to more Articles from you!
Sasha |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
10:01 AM Post #4399963
| Doesn't really matter with the leaves, Sasha. You get more coverage if you leave them whole. Think of them as dirt, that's actually what you're doing. Your hilling your potatoes with leaves rather than dirt. You can also use straw if you don't have enough leaves. You want to have enough coverage so the light cannot get to the potato shoots. |
Sashagirl
by the Muddy Miss, IA
(Zone 5a)
January 14, 2008
10:25 AM Post #4400048
| Thanks so much!
That's great news, since I am "blessed" with truckloads of Oak Leaves off my neighbors huge oak trees, blowing into my yard Fall thru Spring. lol |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
10:42 AM Post #4400112
| Shasha, if DH and I hadn't snagged mondo bagged leaves, I'd just have to come for a visit with leaf blower, rake and plenty of bags...LOL |
gloria125
Greensboro, AL
January 14, 2008
10:44 AM Post #4400124
| Doccat: I found this way of growing potatoes really interesting and Im going to try it this year.
Thanks,
gloria |
starlight1153
Seale, AL
(Zone 8b)
January 14, 2008
11:17 AM Post #4400240
| Doccat... Some truly amazing information. I have way, way to many leave s to putinto compost piles and a huge dirt driveway that covered with leave s that usually gets burned cuz there to many. we on a major burn ban and I was wonderign what to do with all my extra leave s this year. You have supplied a perfect use for them.
I order some seed potato for this year to give it a try. Can ya do this with sweet potaoes too?
I have sevral acreas that just loaded with a mix of hickory and Oak leaves. Can I use the hickory and oak mix together or just the oak only?
About how many inches tall at each stage do you keep adding the leaves higher.
Sure appreciate the tips about the snakes. I have lots of rattlers and diamond backs here and didn't even think about them hididng in mulch piles. The neighbors alredy think I crazy beating grasshoppers with a watr hose and fly swatter, now I can give them somethign to think I totally gone crazy when I out there beating leave s with a big stick.
Fanstatic article and appreciate your sharing your experiences.
|
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
11:24 AM Post #4400263
| Starlight, thanks so much for the compliments. I've not tried this with sweet potatoes, but might be worth doing a little experiment. Good idea! I can relate to the neighbor "issue".. it's ok, you've got a lot company...LOL |
chickenrancher
Nova, OH
(Zone 5b)
January 14, 2008
11:46 AM Post #4400356
| When you say "cover the blooms completely" do you mean cover the entire plant or just the blooms? How would you cover just the blooms??? Also, how often do you cover? weekly, biweekly, monthly or depending on blooms (flowers?)
Megan |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
January 14, 2008
12:02 PM Post #4400430
| Can I start with a raised bed (6 inches or so) because my ground doesn't drain very well? The sunny spot is where the water runs from yard to yard. And can I put something like chicken wire around the pile of leaves to keep the dog out? |
podster
Deep East Texas, TX
(Zone 8a)
January 14, 2008
12:09 PM Post #4400463
| LOL ~ yes, a pile of leaves makes a wonderful dog bed here too. |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
12:13 PM Post #4400477
| Megan, potato blooms resemble a tree. You need to cover everything. The "branches" have buds (eyes) that's what's going to make your new potatoes. They don't do well in the light. You will be able to see when you need to add more cover. The shoots with bloom will come right through the leaves. Just keep adding the leaves until they finish blooming.
Expect to have a large "pile" of cover before their done blooming. Our last bed was over 4' deep. You just gently rake the leaves off until you get to potatoes. Now if you want to "rob" the pile for some new ones, it's real easy to do with this method. Just gently pull back some of the leaves and help yourself. :) New taters, green beans and some onion, Yummy! |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
12:16 PM Post #4400493
| Cathy4, that should work. Potatoes have got to have good drainage. They do not like wet footies... |
wgnkiwi
Burlingame, CA
(Zone 9a)
January 14, 2008
12:36 PM Post #4400593
| Great article doccat, congrats to you. My seed potatoes are being shipped today from Ronnigers and I can't wait ot get them in the ground.
I was told by one of my hort professors never to use potatoes from the supermarket because you run the risk of introducing disease to your garden. The seed potatoes one buys from a grower like Ronnigers/Johnnys/Wood Prairie are certified disease free. |
gardenglory
Gainesville, FL
(Zone 9a)
January 14, 2008
12:38 PM Post #4400601
| I was just getting onto researching this. Perfect timing. Can you put a cage around the leaves do you think? I have dogs where I have the sun? Also, about how high is the pile of leaves when you can stop adding. Curious how many bags of leaves it might take for your 3x3 spot by the time you stop adding? |
grampapa
Wheatfield, NY
(Zone 6a)
January 14, 2008
12:43 PM Post #4400620
| wow, I love this idea. unfortunately, I don't have any leaves at all (new development with no large trees). I'll have to see if I can import some from my son's neighborhood. |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
12:44 PM Post #4400623
| Thank you, I'm getting wonderful feedback and questions from this article. I'm so pleased. :) Potatoes are pre-disposed to problems with viruses. Maybe because they're grown in the ground? I don't know. Growers do use chemical growth retardants on supermarket potatoes to slow sprouting and keep them "fresher" longer. That does great affect the production. I personally would rather buy fresh seed and be sure I was going to get the bang for my buck in production, plus I buy organic with no chemicals. We usually get enough to feed us, our kids and families, the neighbors (who may or may not avoid me, depending on what's in season) and some left over which we contribute to the local food bank. I still have plenty to overwinter. DH is in the process of swapping some tilling service for an old horse trough. We want to bury it and use it as a root cellar, as this house is on slab. We've redone most of the garage and that is now going to be too warm to store root veggies.
You can also use straw, NOT hay, if you don't have the leaves. Sometimes we mix the 2, it all goes to the compost bins when we're done. :)
This message was edited Jan 14, 2008 12:46 PM |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
January 14, 2008
01:28 PM Post #4400829
| I just loved your article and had purchased two bags of potato seeds from one of the big box stores.. and had no idea how to plant them.
Do you think it would work on raised beds that are already three feet high? I'm afraid to use the leaves because there is no room to go really high, unless I can just plant in the center of the bed or the leaves will have no support on the sides to go up. Maybe I can use chicken wire to make side supports. Don't know.
Thank you again, for all the tips. I did not know to cut them and let them callus..
Antoinette |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
01:39 PM Post #4400883
| I see no reason they wouldn't work in raised beds. You could always rig something like chicken wired if you needed to. The main issue is to make sure they have good drainage. They do not do well in the wet. |
DiggerDee
Ffld County, CT
(Zone 6b)
January 14, 2008
01:41 PM Post #4400889
| Very interesting article doccat - thanks! I've been thinking of trying potatoes for awhile and was always hesitant to try, but this may be the way to go. Goodness knows I have plenty of leaves!
By any chance, do you have a webpage/blog etc., where you have pictures? I tend to be a visual person and can get a lot more out of photographs than just written instructions. I'd love to see some photos of your potato beds if you have any.
Thanks!
Dee |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
01:43 PM Post #4400897
| Sorry, Dee have no pictures. Never occurred to us that anybody would be that interested in the method. Most of the neighbors have "landscaping" and think we're nutso! LOL |
DiggerDee
Ffld County, CT
(Zone 6b)
January 14, 2008
01:43 PM Post #4400900
| Okay, thanks anyway! |
Horseshoe
Efland, NC
(Zone 7a)
January 14, 2008
02:29 PM Post #4401080
| doccat, nice to see your article finally arrived. I remember some folks in a particular thread were waiting for it for quite a while now.
As a side-note, what may be confusing some of the readers is the term "blooms" and their being covered up. (Blooms are opened flowers.) It is not the blooms or flowers where the potatoes come from but rather they are formed underground from stolens that grow from the stems (the stems coming from the eyes of the seed spud). So, to clarify, when ya'll see flowers forming (if they do at all) there is no need to cover them up. As a matter of fact, when piling on the leaves during plant growth you might want to always leave about 6 inches of topgrowth uncovered so the plant can absorb the sun's rays (necessary for photosynthesis). As the topgrowth increases add more leaves. Regarding "flowering", some potato varieties will seldom flower, if at all, but rest assured the plant will still produce your delicious spuds underground.
Everyone have fun! You're gonna love this easy way to grow potatoes.
Thanks, doccat for sharing!
Shoe |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
January 14, 2008
02:37 PM Post #4401111
| Just came in out of the cold after looking around the yard for a sunny dry spot for my new tater garden, and by george, I've found it in a back corner by the privacy fence. It has sun from mid morning until dark, hope that is enough! I'm going to put down newspaper to kill the grass as soon as it warms up just a tiny bit. I figure if it can grow grass there, it can grow taters. Can't wait! |
Indy
Alexandria, IN
(Zone 5b)
January 14, 2008
03:07 PM Post #4401235
|
| Quoted: | | We also use recycled screens weighted down to keep the leaves from blowing away. |
Doccat, Are you just leaving those screens on top for a few days until the taters show through? Also, are the potato stalks sturdy or spindly when they grow so tall? |
starlight1153
Seale, AL
(Zone 8b)
January 14, 2008
03:16 PM Post #4401288
| Doccat... Did ya say I can use a mix of hickory and oak leaves? Don't want to mess up if I can help it. |
Fitsy
Hayesville, NC
(Zone 7a)
January 14, 2008
04:15 PM Post #4401578
| Good info! Those lovely clean 'taters that are
curing in the garden for 2 or 3 days are surely
not lying in sun????
Fitsy |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
04:34 PM Post #4401648
| Mix of the leaves doesn't matter, Starlight. We discovered that the oak leaves repelled the potato beetles. They are a real pest around here.
Fitsy, yes you're going to leave them out in the sun to cure. New potato skins are tender. You need to cure;/mature them in order to store for winter use. |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
January 14, 2008
04:50 PM Post #4401724
| I just cut some of the bigger potatoes and will wait for them to callus.. some are already sprouting buds, I don't know what to call them. Now, do I wait till all the sections start sprouting to plant, or can we plant them without the sprouts and they will sprout on their own? I have them inside and there about 2 doz total (is that enough for two people?) |
doccat5
Fredericksburg, VA
(Zone 7b)
January 14, 2008
04:58 PM Post #4401767
| You can plant with or without the sprouts. And I'm quite sure you'll have plenty for 2 people. When you plant this way, the potatoes throw multiple lateral shoots and there is new tater growing on each one of those.
Good luck with your planting, I'm waiting for my seed to come in. Got the fever! LOL |
Gourd
(Zone 4b)
January 14, 2008
05:03 PM Post #4401785
| I'm getting itchy too, the garlic is in, and most of the onions... I got brave and got some asparagus roots too. but, these potatoes will be a big hit if they do well for us. Thanks for all your help.
A. |
starlight1153
Seale, AL
(Zone 8b)
January 14, 2008
05:37 PM Post #4401914
| Ya know what good about this article Doccat?
It filled with lots of info ( the meat) and potatoes!!!!! : ) |
