tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post3662204174069089844..comments2024-03-24T11:10:13.186-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: PotatoesMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-33986915539517079832015-06-13T21:51:53.297-04:002015-06-13T21:51:53.297-04:00Oh boy...a month and still no vines doesn't so...Oh boy...a month and still no vines doesn't sound very promising. But you had said you were very dry, so maybe they are just waiting until they get some good moisture. I noticed a huge jump in the plants when we finally got rain this month. Fingers crossed that you'll see some green in the potato bed very soon!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-52480473508768037202015-06-13T18:37:53.155-04:002015-06-13T18:37:53.155-04:00Looks good. We planted ours about the same time......Looks good. We planted ours about the same time....and nothings up yet. EeekMrs.Pickleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678592143938874654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-25062910086014867592015-06-11T20:56:32.750-04:002015-06-11T20:56:32.750-04:00I just finished filling up the bed with more soil ...I just finished filling up the bed with more soil today (all the way to the top!) & want to top it with straw but am still undecided as to how I will be keeping it in place. I'm thinking maybe netting as I have some with fairly wide holes that the plants should be ok coming up through. Next year, I will probably try the double dig method that Daphne suggested in her comment above as I won't have the luxury of having a partly filled new bed like this year.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-58751256794315914602015-06-11T17:52:33.596-04:002015-06-11T17:52:33.596-04:00Your potatoes are looking really good Margaret. I&...Your potatoes are looking really good Margaret. I've been trying a new method too, earthing up once and then mulching with grass clippings as I'm growing in small beds with not much spare soil. I might have to use some of my compost to cover some though If there's not enough clippings for them all. I'm with Mark, it's agood thing you didn't cut any up, it opens up a surface for disease to get in. And with sue too, sometimes the seed potatoes are small depending on the variety. I'd like a nice range like you've got, I haven't found an organic source where you can just get a few of each. But I grow a couple of tasty varieties so that's fine - an early variety for earlier cropping and a late variety that stores better.Lou@RainbowChardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01435858511588433002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-21259530664379358692015-06-09T10:11:53.002-04:002015-06-09T10:11:53.002-04:00What's funny is that I never would have though...What's funny is that I never would have thought that there would be much difference between grocery potatoes and those you grow yourself. I guess the lowly potato doesn't often get the same fanfare as a ripe tomato or strawberry.<br /><br />I hope that I find them as easy to grow as you do. Right now things look good, but I'm already wondering what new disease or unknown bug will pop up during the season. So I won't count my potatoes until I harvest them...so to speak ;)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-57004677191550999862015-06-09T10:10:41.196-04:002015-06-09T10:10:41.196-04:00Ugh...those nasty gophers! One lesson I'm lea...Ugh...those nasty gophers! One lesson I'm learning is that there is no point in growing a veg if you are not going to eat it...it kind of seems obvious, but sometimes I lose track of that lesson when I'm looking at a beautiful seed packet or reading about a fabulous harvest on another blog. Our bed space is best saved for all the lovely veg that we want to see on our plates!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-69483008922957245172015-06-09T10:07:23.382-04:002015-06-09T10:07:23.382-04:00Thanks Dave! Everyone seems to love Yukon Gold. ...Thanks Dave! Everyone seems to love Yukon Gold. I'm really looking forward to that one in particular to see how they compare to those from the grocery store - you don't often see a veg where a "common" grocery store variety is also one of the tastiest for growing at home.<br />Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-25450104864621273872015-06-09T10:05:51.230-04:002015-06-09T10:05:51.230-04:00Thanks David - I hope that you get to grow them ag...Thanks David - I hope that you get to grow them again at some point...perhaps in the community garden?Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-23002687581411018452015-06-09T10:05:02.583-04:002015-06-09T10:05:02.583-04:00Thanks Julie - your words have made me all the mor...Thanks Julie - your words have made me all the more anxious to taste those first tubers!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-13626692243357099082015-06-09T10:04:17.535-04:002015-06-09T10:04:17.535-04:00A Potato Day sounds fabulous! I like the idea of ...A Potato Day sounds fabulous! I like the idea of actually seeing the potatoes and choosing the ones you want...the price is right too.<br /><br />I'm so glad that you don't see any glaring problems with how I've done things so far. Considering your success growing such lovely potatoes last year, I'm feeling much better about what my little seed potatoes will produce.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-36580413233591490762015-06-09T10:01:00.181-04:002015-06-09T10:01:00.181-04:00I'm sure you are right - I can't wait to g...I'm sure you are right - I can't wait to go digging in a couple of months.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-41100113793746706442015-06-06T16:24:36.457-04:002015-06-06T16:24:36.457-04:00I envy you with your upcoming first taste of homeg...I envy you with your upcoming first taste of homegrown potatoes. To me, they are one of several veggies that really taste better grown at home (those and tomatoes!). I grow lots of plants so I don't feel bad digging up entire plants just for a few baby potatoes early in the season (amazing with a generous drizzle of truffle oil!). I've always found them easy to grow personally. Hope it works out well for you, can't wait to hear about your first meal!Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354350096358468967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-43884090069890578352015-06-06T10:38:38.164-04:002015-06-06T10:38:38.164-04:00Another adventure in the garden for you! I gave up...Another adventure in the garden for you! I gave up on potatoes a few years ago after my efforts were more rewarding to the gophers than to me. I don't love potatoes enough to try again now that the gophers are denied entry to my garden beds. The farmer's market has some good potatoes for those rare occasions when I want some spuds.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812702328134261533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-75934610970329505532015-06-05T17:34:31.742-04:002015-06-05T17:34:31.742-04:00Those potatoes are sure looking good so far! I'...Those potatoes are sure looking good so far! I've gotten some of those smaller-than-expected mail order seed potatoes before! This year I had enough to go around. I've grown Bintje and Caribe before and they did well for me. And I love Yukon Gold. Like Mark I prefer not to cut my seed potatoes, but I think that's more laziness on my part than any really good reason. ;-)Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-42028443140837121492015-06-05T16:21:43.020-04:002015-06-05T16:21:43.020-04:00Have fun with the potatoes. Planted them years ago...Have fun with the potatoes. Planted them years ago in another garden. I don't have the room now in the raised beds so I just watch what others grow.David Veltenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07710293718143454000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-77999082387383875222015-06-05T10:30:56.620-04:002015-06-05T10:30:56.620-04:00You can not beat home grown potatoes, freshly dug,...You can not beat home grown potatoes, freshly dug, cooked and on your plate with a knob of butter. You will love them and you will grow them again.. Enjoy! :o) Julie https://www.blogger.com/profile/15712709232628195386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-13746255460953200772015-06-05T10:21:58.352-04:002015-06-05T10:21:58.352-04:00We are lucky over here in that seed potatoes are e...We are lucky over here in that seed potatoes are easily sourced. All the Garden Centres stock them, though I have taken to buying mine at a "Potato Day", which is basically a fair or market, where many different varieties of potato are available for purchase, and are sold individually for a few pence per tuber. This means that you can experiment with lots of them without having to buy them in big quantities. You have done things by the book, so by rights you should get a good harvest. Incidentally, I often choose small tubers when I am buying them, and I definitely wouldn't want to cut any of them into pieces, because that can easily let diseases in.Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-38209950311001007282015-06-05T05:56:57.827-04:002015-06-05T05:56:57.827-04:00Some seed potatoes are quite small. I'm sure y...Some seed potatoes are quite small. I'm sure you will enjoy them,Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-76154883840230404802015-06-04T16:18:45.141-04:002015-06-04T16:18:45.141-04:00Thanks Daphne, and that's very true about the ...Thanks Daphne, and that's very true about the raised beds - this year is not so bad as I'm starting with only a partly filled bed. Next year will be much more difficult. I'll probably give Laura's method a try as she certainly did get a fantastic yield from it. At some point I'm also going to give her shelling pea trellis idea a go - I've been eying that contraption since I first saw it. She had so many good ideas - I was very sad when she ended her blog.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-30489000272627583382015-06-04T16:11:43.459-04:002015-06-04T16:11:43.459-04:00You know, I've never tasted a homegrown potato...You know, I've never tasted a homegrown potato...sad but true. From everyone's descriptions, I have really been missing out!<br /><br />In the past, I generally grew quite a bit of each veg, but usually chose only a couple of varieties. Lately I have been adding more variety to my veg selections & it's so much fun (and delicious too!). Most varieties out there are never seen in stores, so if you want to try them, you have to grow them. We gardeners are so lucky in that respect - we get to experience taste delights that many people never do.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-90526558578458965412015-06-04T15:59:15.231-04:002015-06-04T15:59:15.231-04:00That's hilarious! Things have definitely chan...That's hilarious! Things have definitely changed with the internet. When I planted that first little garden, there was no internet, so I relied on books - I look back at some of those old books from the 80's even now, and the lack of detailed info or even misinformation (based on what we now know) still surprises me.<br /><br />I hope my potatoes do well - but you know how it goes. There are probably 101 things that can go wrong (and some of them probably will) and who knows what new pests or diseases I'll be frantically looking up in a month!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-9713292125334422052015-06-04T15:51:16.480-04:002015-06-04T15:51:16.480-04:00Looks like you may have an unintended potato harve...Looks like you may have an unintended potato harvest this year after all! Digging up some surprise potatoes in the spring from last years potato bed seems to be par for the course if you grow your potatoes in the ground or in a bed. I definitely wouldn't mind that sort of surprise ;)<br /><br />Maybe you can get hubby to dig up some potatoes for dinner after they mature. Or you never know - you may have more energy than you think once the baby comes!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-52283072770521136702015-06-04T12:02:18.055-04:002015-06-04T12:02:18.055-04:00Finding a good source for seed potatoes is always ...Finding a good source for seed potatoes is always hard. Now you know where to get them. Good luck. Oh and I'm obviously not planting potatoes anymore, but I really liked the way Laura did it. <br />http://www.modernvictorygarden.com/apps/blog/show/13709713-planting-potatoes-and-harvest-monday<br />I tried it the last year I grew potatoes and it worked well. Raised beds are hard since you can't really hill potatoes easily. Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-11177973563053236062015-06-04T11:46:44.402-04:002015-06-04T11:46:44.402-04:00How exciting growing potatoes for the first time. ...How exciting growing potatoes for the first time. I anticipate the first potato harvest of the year, it's so special boiling those first spuds, perhaps with a bit of mint and then slathered in butter, yum yum, I can't wait. Potatoes are a bit like tomatoes, so many varieties to try so it makes it exciting each year choosing something different as well as growing the old favourites. The tubers do look very small sometimes but they still give a good yield so don't worry about that. Your Linzer Delikatess Fingerlings look a bit like Anya, my favourites, so I shall look forward to hearing what you think about those. I think it's great when you can buy in small quantities so that you can try a few different varieties, we have potato days here when they can be bought by the tuber rather than large bags but I've never been to one. I have found a garden centre which sells in the same way and they have a great selection too so I'm growing more varieties than I usually would this year. It's always exciting when you try growing something new so I'm looking forward to seeing how they do for you.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436932004631816039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-65861269230423241732015-06-04T11:16:05.947-04:002015-06-04T11:16:05.947-04:00I'm sure you will have a splendid harvest--you...I'm sure you will have a splendid harvest--you've done your research and have plenty of different varieties.<br /><br />I knew nothing about potatoes that first year (decades ago) and thought ---like an onion (!!) -you'd get one big potato for everyone planted. Imagine my surprise (horror??) when I dug up the plant and saw at least a half dozen per plant. I was very popular that year in the neighborhood---free taters for everyone! I had planted roughly 200 eyes. Oh my!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10122524042294993949noreply@blogger.com