Growing potatoes

[Joel_BC]

I plant several varieties - I like some early producers (love fresh 'taters, ham, and fresh green beans) mid-summer. Some for culinary delight (yukon gold, fingerlings), and storage-oriented, like a russet.

Joel, how much experience do you have with the "lazy man" planting? Where you set the seed potatoes in a trench and gradually cover with straw as the plants grow (a'la tire stack growing).

I have clay soil, which has improved a long way since I first started on this property. My yields are "okay", but I know I can do better.

I've used what you call the "lazy man" method, twice that I can think of. First time was years ago, and it seemed to produce less problem with scab on the skins, but small to medium-size spuds. I tried it again last year (2011), because a friend had sparked my interest in giving it another try. I planted some by the trench & straw cover method, and some in conventional in-the-soil rows... but the blight hit and killed all my potato rows.

Consequently, I don't consider myself any sort of expert on the method you've brought up.

I do think that growing on clay-based soil could be a challenge. I've never had clay soil.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Joel, thanks. "lazy man" is just a local term I remember hearing growing up.

I've been amending the garden soil for 10 years now, I had a good 4-5 inches of quality topsoil (I lost some of it due to the torrential rains we had this spring).

I'm thinking about trying a garden in a different part of the property.

This area used to be known for potato growing, next chance I get, I'll ask the neighbor across the road if he knows any local experts.

 

[BarredBuff]

 

[FarmerJamie]

Um, no , youngin. jump in here and contribute.

 

[Marianne]

Doesn't blight stay in the soil for a couple of years? I've fought that on green beans ever since we moved out here. The past three years, I have picked off every leaf that didn't look 'right' , bagged it and put it in the burn basket. I picked a few off my potato plants this past year. :/ I want to think I'm making some headway with blight, but I'm not sure.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Doesn't blight stay in the soil for a couple of years? I've fought that on green beans ever since we moved out here. The past three years, I have picked off every leaf that didn't look 'right' , bagged it and put it in the burn basket. I picked a few off my potato plants this past year. :/ I want to think I'm making some headway with blight, but I'm not sure.

Wait, Marianne, Joel split his thread into two - the blight discussion is in the OTHER thread.

http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=11741

 

[Marianne]

I wondered what happened to the blight part!
thanks -

 

[rebecca100]

I tried the tire stacking method last year but for some reason the stems rotted after I added the straw and the second tire. I don't know if I accidentally broke several of them or what but they wilted and when I checked them the stems were mushy and decayed. I followed the instructions I found online....

 

[Marianne]

I tried the tire stacking method last year but for some reason the stems rotted after I added the straw and the second tire. I don't know if I accidentally broke several of them or what but they wilted and when I checked them the stems were mushy and decayed. I followed the instructions I found online....

My guess is a bit too much water. That straw really holds the moisture and you need plenty of drainage. The tires would help retain the water, too. I usually plant potatoes on top of the soil with a thick layer of straw on top. I rarely have to water them.

This past year I planted them on top of a good size clay pocket. What a dumb thing to do! I didn't get much from those plants, so I dug in some straw bits when I added the coop litter. I do the no till thing and this was a new part of the garden. It should be better next season.

 

[rebecca100]

Thats what I think may have happened but I don't know for sure. When I pulled everything up it was pretty damp in there. I think next time I am going to grow them regular. I had better success that way.