sumi
Rest in Peace 1980-2020
Here's a nice different method of growing potatoes that I'm going to try next spring.
If you plant your potatoes very early in the spring( after the last hard freezes, but a light frost here or there is ok) in deep straw( some manure mixed in is good too) and plant them finger depth down( they may take 2-4 weeks to emerge since they are planted so deep.) you don't have to hill them. Just add straw once during the summer if needed about when they bloom to prevent green potatoes. Once the blooms fall off you can carefully pull the straw back from the plant base and pick off the largest potatoes. Them gently replace the straw. The small potatoes will continue to grow. This can be done several times during the growing season. Once the plants are completely dead and the potatoes cured( be sure to dig them before the first freeze) the plants can be pulled out and the remaining potatoes dug out. Because the straw is so soft you don't need a fork or shovel to dig so no damaged potatoes. The mulch also holds water during dry periods and keeps the roots nice and cool in summer heat. Watering the plants when they are small with miracle grow will increase yield and size also. Water with the miracle grow 1-2 times weekly until they are about 6-8" tall.
If you plant your potatoes very early in the spring( after the last hard freezes, but a light frost here or there is ok) in deep straw( some manure mixed in is good too) and plant them finger depth down( they may take 2-4 weeks to emerge since they are planted so deep.) you don't have to hill them. Just add straw once during the summer if needed about when they bloom to prevent green potatoes. Once the blooms fall off you can carefully pull the straw back from the plant base and pick off the largest potatoes. Them gently replace the straw. The small potatoes will continue to grow. This can be done several times during the growing season. Once the plants are completely dead and the potatoes cured( be sure to dig them before the first freeze) the plants can be pulled out and the remaining potatoes dug out. Because the straw is so soft you don't need a fork or shovel to dig so no damaged potatoes. The mulch also holds water during dry periods and keeps the roots nice and cool in summer heat. Watering the plants when they are small with miracle grow will increase yield and size also. Water with the miracle grow 1-2 times weekly until they are about 6-8" tall.
