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When to Harvest Potatoes
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2017
- In this video Greg talks about harvesting potatoes: when to do it, and how to decide whether they should come out or stay in the ground. Thanks for watching, and if you enjoyed this content, please subscribe to my channel. You can also check out my podcast (maritimegardeni...) where we discuss how to grow healthy food in your backyard cheaply and easily. Special thanks to Audionautix for the music in this video (audionautix.com....
I'll be harvevesting my first ever grown potato on my birthday 7th of August I'm going to be 14
How'd it go?
@@NCharlesworth86 good, got a lot
@@dom150 good for you!
@Dom Plays Beat Saber. I’m very proud of you for learning about gardening. It’s becoming a lost art.
@@theoldfarmerswife5915 not on the island at least. It was already quite common practice, with many community gardens in areas that are mostly condos and apartments. Covid has totally reinvigorated urban gardening it seems........ And...... I couldn't be happier!! 🤗
ON A TRIP TO ALASKA 9 YEARS AGO I HAD MY FIRST YUKON GOLD I BROUGHT SOME HOME AND PLANTED THEM NOW I HAVE SO MANY I SUPPLY MY NEIGHBORS WE ALL LOVE THE TASTE.
Dad planted, hilled and dug over a ton of potatoes per year when I was young. I started helping, but it was serious work. He never wanted to try those crazy new ideas, but it might make him smile to see his grandson growing potatoes in 5 gallon buckets.
By hand, although he finally got a tiller. Weeding, hilling (twice) and harvesting was by hand.
I live in Derbyshire, England. I have just harvested my first crop of potatoes from peelings. They look great! Free potatoes! I have taken on board your advice and look forward to lots more harvests in the coming months
Wonderful!
Norland red and Pontiac red make amazing mashed potatoes the skin is light and soft ! Been growing them for years !
When you pulled out the granite rock I was all excited I thought you had the big one! 😂
This is my first time growing, I used 50lb rice bags, I put holes in the bottom. folded down the sides as they grew I rolled up the sides and added more dirt. almost ready to harvest they just flowered a week ago. excited to see what I've got. after I harvest I'll save the dirt in the bags and use it next year. 😊
Awesome! Good luck
I grow my radishes with the potatos. Works well for me. This year we went from recurring frosts, until mother's day, to stinking hot summer. So my radishes just all bolted at once. I let them go to seed. I had a lot of those beautiful little radish flowers, amd will have enough seeds for a fall planting, and next spring too.
That's great!
I planted potatoes on March 24 2021 17 days later 6 inch tall stems with leaves. Week 6 they hit 60 CMS tall or 24 inches tall flowered out now week 9 flopping over turning yellow. Norland reds and russet's potatoes. Soil type 50/50 mix with compost and and peat moss along with blood meal. Now my containers are cram packed full of golf ball and baseball size potatoes. 3 weeks ago planted another batch of norland reds already up to 15 CMS tall.
I’m so tired of buying rotten potatoes for 60 cents a pound here in Quebec! Looking forward to harvesting a big crop this year!Thankyou for the visit to your garden!
You can do it!
Plant those not so great potatos, they will still grow new and better potatos for you. Even now, you can still plant some potatos. Might not get quite as large, but very good. Ready by Thanksgiving, or soon after. I harvest the last potatos, when frost kills the green parts of the plants.
Remember that potatos absolutely need well draining soil, like pretty much all root crops. Large pots work well too.
I agree!
We decided to try the cardboard box method, started with cardboard on the ground, put a box on it and added a few inches of compost, then the seed potatoes, and a layer of shredded paper (all the grocery circulars), and as the plants grow, added more compost and shredded paper. Never saw such big potato plants, and looking forward to harvesting. Hope we get more than you did! Will let you know in a few weeks.
Sounds great!
Kenebec potatoes make super fluffy tasty fries.
I grew Norland , Superior, Pontiac and Yukon gold as well.
I liked and subscribed. I love your no nonsense video. I've been gardening for 55 years and have a small backyard garden now. You don't need an acre of land to raise a crop as you have proven. Great job my friend.
Thanks for the sub!
This was excellent, and I love your low key, non authority, manner of speaking. ❤️🇨🇦
I almost skipped this video because it was so long, but I am glad I didn't miss it. You got right to the point and I didn't HAVE to watch the whole thing.
I started purple potatoes in a bin in the house end of March. It is mid June and I have purple flowers 😁. I live in Sask
In North Florida, I plant February 14th and mine are ready in about 100 days. Red Pontiac is what I plant. You have a great channel, thanks for taking the time to share your adventures.
I just came across your videos and planted my first potatoes, but I feel like it’s kinda late to plant, but maybe not. I planted sprouted potatoes that were left sitting around, and now I’m goi g to get some mulch, after watching and learning more about potatoes. But I’m going to go to the garden shop and get some varieties of potatoes, and wonder how these potatoes will taste, that I planted from the store, that sprouted. This is such great information, thank you!!
It should be ok. I usually plant one bed this late as well - so go for it
Its my first year growing potatoes so I thank you for the information!
Best of luck!
1st time garden potato grower. (my experience at the end) What I learned from your awesome video, Thank you! ;
Sea weed? Im very surprised anything grows in the salt. ? The mulch covering, planting RED potatoes, and non-store potatoes … 👍👍👍👍
Great info!
I had cut up too many potatoes by accident for a stew and had a few that went bad in the bag from the store. I just tossed it all in hole I dug in one corner of my pumpkin, tomato and corn garden in late May. (Maine) It’s mid-August now and they own that top half of my garden. I have three foot long stems tripping over each other in a giant bush. I believe these were a Russet variety and the potatoes were huge in the store bag.
I saw some flowers a few weeks ago, but their gone now and a few stems are starting to die off. I’m guessing I’m super close to harvest. I’m pretty excited. I’ve had a dismal tomato and corn season. But decent pumpkin activity.
Next year I’ll rock this potato stuff! Thanks again for taking the time to produce this quality informative video and share your knowledge, it’s greatly appreciated. You have an amazing garden btw!
Thank you. Re the seaweed - it has very little salt - that's why it works
Thank you for answering all my questions plus the questions I didn't know I had!!
I didn't know that about the flowers emerging being a sign of the ability to do an early pick. Out of the many, many videos I've watched, yours was the 1st to mention that. Very helpful tidbit. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Yay. I just planted Red Norland today . Havnt tried this variety before.
I just found out that potatoes come in determinate and indeterminate varieties. Who knew? The determinate ones grow all their tubers in the planting layer, and the indeterminate ones grow out from the stalk as it grows up. The first kind don't need to be hilled and the second kind would benefit from hilling. I grow in containers so my take home message is I should be planting indeterminate varieties. Luckily I planted Russet Burbank in my tallest containers, so we shall see!
The Gardening Astronomer so helpful. Thank you!
How can I find those ? Very little garden supplies in sweat Ohio
I wish I could help you, but available potato varieties seem very local. I suggest you contact your local seed supplier, or online store in your country (as I doubt seed potatoes can cross borders).
@@DavidMFChapman ya, the greed o big Farmers to keep little guys n gardens is shameful in Ohio, almost greedy because of corporate plans to make money at any expense, especially with toxic carcinogenic herb n pest aside
I’m growing in containers too. How often do you water potatoes in containers?
FYI, in India they can make yogurt using ant eggs as a starter. There's also something on pepper stems that can culture yogurt. Fascinating.
deborah lewis Thankyou!
😮
I grow Reds and their flowers are light purple. Nice video.
I’ve got whites and red with purple flowers with yellow centers
Nice vid mate, NS similar climate to the UK, tho more extreme in the seasons. The point I make to less experienced gardeners is the importance of mulching - its massively improves the soil micro biology as well as providing nutrients, keeps moisture in (probably not a problem in NS!), and reflects heat from the sun. Also, year on year it improves soil fertility, thus plant yields, and at the end of the year more material for composting, a cumulative effect. I've got to the point where I have to give my excess compost away.
BTW, I like that yellow digging tool - I've made something similar, just a single tine from a tine hoe with a handle; also a small version with a single spike, for weeding between plants and loosening the soil.
Thanks man. Glad you like my channel :)
Trying Red Nordland for the first time this year in half 55 gal. drums. Might be ready in about 6 weeks. can't wait.
'Jonesin' for potatoes!! Haven't heard that expression in a long time......brings back funner days.
Thank you for this video. I'm growing potatoes for 1st time this year. This is very helpful and much appreciated! God bless you!
You are so welcome!
@@maritimegardening4887 ..
I had my many questions answered thank you.
I cut the plant down once it withers and just leave them in the ground until needed except for my first batch and then I replanted. In the winter in VT I store my potatoes in an old broken chest freezer in my barn with one lightbulb that keeps them at 40f and they last well into late spring.
New subscriber here on July 25, 2021. 😎👍🏼
I'm growing my first ever potatoes this year and needed to know what to look for at harvest time.
Thanks for the help!
Awesome! Thank you!
The little green tomato type balls, are the real patatoe seeds. Don't eat them. Dry them and then plant them.
This is a cool thing to try because you get a true potato plant that will have different characteristics than a potato plant grown from a tuber of the same variety!
You answered my question.
Did the Stout method for my New Potatoes. Boiled and then tossed in rolled oats and butter, delicious. Have them in containers this year to give it a try. Enjoyed.
Wonderful!
First time watching any if your videos, youve earned a new subscriber. Thanks for all the informational nuggets you shared.
Awesome, thank you!
I really enjoyed this video. Thanks for taking the time to post.
Thanks
thank you for sharing stay blessed
Thank you too
Excellent practical advice. Thanks.
I always use rule of thumb as you said flowers mean we are doing good growing and when the plant gets yellow & droopy time to dig up my taters
nice. I wish mine did as well. but whatever I get out of them I feel is a blessing and I will keep trying. just replanted 3 containers and only got about a pound of potatoes out of them. I replanted them with katahdin potatoes. hoping I get a good harvest. still have 3 containers to dump and I hope that they produce a little better than the first 11 did. but I got 13 pints of potatoes out of them so I am happy.
Pontiac red potatoes and similar red potato varieties have purplish flowers FYI
Yes they do
oh, what a dream to dig potatoes by hand - most Saskatchewan prairie high clay soil wouldn't allow for this! Great video!!
The original soil here was clay and rock. Adding Horse manure and keeping it constantly mulched brought the soil to this level of looseness over time.
Thank you!
save the potato berries and harvest the seed, plant them inside 6 to 8 weeks before outdoor planting. They will definitely not come true to the variety you planted that the berries came from but you might find you get something very interesting that you like and if that happens you can save some and plant them for several years.
I had a serious bumble bee nest that settled in under the straw/hay when I planted potatoes this way.
My potatoes being grown in plastic 20 gal containers are tall, have formed flowers that have not bloomed. Some appear to have been nipped off. The plants look good, some leaves turning yellow. Guess I'll have to just wait a little longer to harvest.
I grow mine in plastic tubs and garbage bins with grandkids, they paint them and we gold butter potatoes , so delicious and nice experience for them
Bumble bees are native to north america and are beneficial! They don’t usually bring harm to humans
I keep ants and love my garden ☺️ the ants are actually protecting the potato. They keep the larvae close to the potato because of the moisture content required for that stage of growth. Like you say the only time they can be a nuisance is when protecting and farming aphids ( easy enough to stop ) great video my friend
hey, God bless y'all, love from Sooke!!
@@Anonymous-km5pj right on! 🤙
@@Anonymous-km5pj god bless you as well ☺️
Your soil looks amazing !
Thanks :)
rain coast One of the best compliments a gardener can get!
Thank you, good info. I planted potatoes this tear for the first time and was wondering - what next. I planted in a big galvanized wash tub, and the tops are about a foot tall and bushy. Here’s hoping. Thanks again.
Glad it was helpful!
I hope you drilled drain holes in the bottom of the wash tub for drainage . If not you will have a stinky gooey slimy mess of rotten potatoes
I had the same experience so far with ants. The only time it got unfavorable was when they started to remove enough soil to start making divots/hills and disturb the plants. I think that’s only because the broccoli there before it started to not do so well so the ants took more space from the decaying shallow root system. Balanced out eventually. I will only use any type of pesticide (even organic “safe” ones) as a last resort
Feel the same way - pesticides are a last resort, but I will resort to them if its the only way to get results
It's nice that you didn't feel the need to hurt the ants. 😊
Yup, ants are our friends!
Damn ants keep eating my strawberries! Hate those little buggers.
@@Calibri57 are the ants eating a track around the strawberry?
Only problem I had was when they had a nest all round the roots of an aubergine. Otherwise they’re no problem.
Always informative and entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it
The friuts of flower can plant... because inside have seed... but the trees will small than you plant with potato...
So happy look beautifull potatos..
Kenebec is our favorite
Cool I planted for the first time and look forward to harvesting them soon good video. God bless
Good luck!
Nicely done thanks for posting this.
Glad you enjoyed it
norlands are the best, sweet, hold the moisture, just a delicious tator for everything, thanks for the great videos
Agreed!
Thanks for this video - first time potato grower here and was wondering when to harvest. I think I can leave mine for a little longer - got them in late and the plants are still kind of green so - now I know!
By all means wait till they're good and dead on top!
I always have issue with storms knocking my corn over right before the tassels pop up and then I really don't get much corn and what I do get are only partial ears. It seems like the stalks never get very big around they stay fairly spindly. I know I've got plenty of nutrients in the soil and nitrogen isn't an issue. Pumpkins require a lot of that and last year I had pumping plants that stood nearly 6 feet tall. Never in my life have I seen pumpkin plants that tall. Between corn, cantaloupe, and watermelon I don't know what I have the hardest time growing.
I once had my gourds pumpkins cantaloupe etc grow over the top of a 7 ft fence reach over to my two and a half ton truck tangle on the mirrors the bed and work all the way to the other side underneath this canopy of gorge I found pumpkins with hard stems over four and five feet long hanging from 7 to 8 ft up it was quite an amazing structure so now I've gotten the idea to take hog fence the 5-foot by 12-ft panels and create a grid dome The plant them around the dome with various other climbing plants and sunflower border latent the summer it will be a great place to go underneath sit in my lawn chair and have a smoke
You have invested a lot of time getting that soil to be amazing!
The worms did all the work - I just provided the mulch
Excellent tutorial video I'm growing potatoes and needed to know most of this info so thank you so much...(I'm a practicing gardener) 😂
Glad it was helpful!
How about putting a wood chips walking path on the outside edge of your fence? That would help keep the weeds at bay and maybe you could eventually have some perennials there, too😉
Not a bad idea, I'll give it some thought - but man, that's 200 ft of fence! A good project for when I need MORE garden space - which always seems to be the case! :) Thanks
Ants devoured the roots on my cabbage this year. They also help protect aphids because they consume their poo or extractions.
Good job. Love your videos. Seems to work on the Vancouver Island too
Cool, thanks
Thank you for the ant info.
my potato plants are now 48 inches to 72 inches tall with flowers on them !
Awesome!
"Wow, look at that big badass potato"
- It's not a potato, that's a granite rock"
cream cheese? ooo! i have to try!
This is good information. One thing that I think I missed, was about was when should I stop watering my potatoes? I have no idea. Do I keep watering them or should I stop and let them die? Thank you for sharing. This is my first year growing a garden since I was 13, we never grew potatoes though.
That depends on how much rain you get - I don't water mine at all; but regardless, I'd say that once you see the flowers begin to die - stop watering them.
Maritime Gardening oh dear that was about 2-3 weeks ago. I’m in California. Also I have some plants that didn’t flower at all, that I saw.
I also had a problem with horned worms. We picked them off then sprayed with an essential oil spray. Will those produce potatoes? Some of those plants started regrowing leaves.
My parents gave me the task of planning, growing, and selling veggies when I was a little kid. Thank you for your help.
Fresh new potatoes are sooooo good
This is my first year for growing potatoes in a bucket, thank you for all the good information on when to harvest. I have one question for you or another viewer, can I store the soil that is in the buckets and use it for next year? It’s not that I’m trying to be cheap, I just thought maybe it would be a better soil then starting over with the compost, planting soil, etc. Thank you again for the great video!
You can re-use the soil, but you have to replenish the nutrients in it - either by adding compost, or fertilizer, etc.
@@maritimegardening4887 thank you so much!!
@@thefeatheredhag4279 That is good advice.
I garden in pure compost that is made from a combination of horse manure & hay.
I do not use any fertilizer, I just water using compost tea & plain well water.
It is vital to restore the nutrients into the soil every year.
I had a friend in Florida that was teaching me how to plant potatoes.
Well I brought store bought potatoes that started growing. He said they wouldn't produce because of the inhibitor they spray on them. I said they're growing now so we planted them. They did real good lol
One thing I didn't like was the ants. I put my hand in to dig up the potatoes and pulled up a bunch of fire ants 🤯
Those fire ants are a problem - be careful :)
@@maritimegardening4887 yep those acidic ants n the pants! But they can b like spud guard! Just give m scraps n old cake n bread from any waste that's not going to pig feed
That granite rock got me a little excited for a split second, i must admit lol
That one would have been a bit too crunchy :)
@@maritimegardening4887 i'm paying attention from the UK fella...thanks for all the info you give us even though you are on the otherside of the Pond...cheers
Cool! I can imagine having issues with stinging ants like in the Southern parts of North American. Ants actually pollinate. It looks like you do the permaculture thing. The garden looks great. I planted store bought potatoes in the fall according to the back to Eden method. I didn't prepare the potatoes or anything, just threw them in the ground and covered with hay and wood chips. Eleven plants popped up and have flowered. I'm trying to make myself wait to pull the taters.
Thanks, and yes, it's a permaculture garden. Now, regarding your potatoes - be patient! :)
Ur soil is amazing, I m from Manipur,india
Keep the soil mulched, and it gradually improves. All these beds were started with rocky clay soil at the beginning.
Love the video my son and I have a garden going greens green beans corn red peppers cabbage. But it's hard to grow in Nevada desert. I absolutely love where you live so green and nice peaceful. Nice garden. What state do you live in.
Marc and Gio Troyer Henderson NV
I live in Nova Scotia, Canada. Glad you like my channel :)
Fantástico. 🇵🇹
Very instructive. Thank you 🙏🥰
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hurrah!
Thanks!
Awesome video Thanks :)
Glad you liked it!
Hi, I too live in N.S. Last Fall I added a top layer of seaweed to all of my vegetable gardens. I read recently, you should rinse the salt off before laying it on the beds??? My potatoes (Ruth Stout method) are doing great but not much else. Mind you, that could be related to my compost ... perhaps the chicken manure even though aged, perhaps not aged enough. Sadly the veggies were just about all a flop. Thankfully my greenhouse plants are doing well. Gardening - frustrating and thrilling at the same time!
thats a bummer, I had one year where I had a similar situation iv only been doin the backyard garden for a few years so deffinatly not a pro yet and sometimes you gota learn the hard way lol. good luck next year
Left coast seaweed user here. Over 50 years of not rinsing seaweed. Your ocean is saltier than the Pacific though. Theory is, spread in the fall, and the fall and winter precipitation leaches the salt out. Cheers!
Great video, thank you so much. Quick question, how often do you water for potatoes? I heard you say you don’t and I’m having a hard time processing no watering🤦🏻♀️😂
I cover them with about 8" of mulch and don't water them - you heard right!
Been a subscriber few months, enjoy yr videos, full of good info, thankyou. I was wonderng tho, if you say 120days for some varirties, is that when you plant chit or when the green leaf actually breaks thru the top soil?? Because iv noticed green leaf breaking thru can take weeks. So im thinking it must be from when breaks thru, but would like confirmation if you can please.
From Western Australia ( we have crappy sandy soil here, always need to build up first. West aussies are called " sand groppers", lol)
I think that's from planting - though I'm sure chitting can probably shave off at least a week
My goal for next spring is to plant potatoes. Not sure as how to do them, some ppl cut them in cubes where the eye's are, and some plant them whole. so I wil have to do some researching on it. just one thing, why are most of the video's I see are on raised bed's or grow pot's or just 5 gallon pot's. I had to go to that method this year only because I couldn't find anyone to till my large fenced in garden. an I must say it cost me a fortune. too much soil and amendment's. and container's. I suppose if you are limited to space it's okay, but if you have enough space for a garden, why not plant the crop's directly into the ground??? guess I'm just from the old school. but I do enjoy your video's, thank's for the tip on the hay or straw, whichever you used. and you must be somewhere near the ocean to get seawead, or can you purchace it????thank's again Nicky from Michigan
Thanks Nicky - yes, I'm about a 10 min drive from the ocean, so seaweed is free. Of course, I'm about 2 minutes from a horse stable so I use mostly spoiled hay because I get that for free. I also use a lot of leaves because I get them for free. Notice a theme here? Close, easy + free :) I'm with you in the bucket thing. Makes no sense if you have soil. Regarding you're tilling problem, get a good mulch on you soil and you will not need to mulch. My garden has never been mulched. Research "no till gardening". It works great!
Containers are great for some things. Self wicking saves moisture evaporation. & allows vacations. If they are tall- they save your back. & help deter pests. If they are not getting enough sun- they can be moved. Same with too strong sunlight. If you are elderly- they help with getting a nice variety in a small space without getting overly ambitious with a tiller. You don't have to fight clay. You don't have to fight sand. They can be brought in if the weather drops. Or if the neighbors get to helping themselves. Amendments are generally needed with all or most soil types not just containers. So the cost is generally the same. Also you can control the pH for specific crops like blueberries. & keep aggressive coriander & mint in check. Containers are especially good for things like potatoes because you can just dump them onto a tarp- scoop your soil back in to reuse & voila! Potatoes are left. Carrots come out without breaking. Containers just offer a higher level of control for specific situations. I consider them as basically adding another value & an extra flexibility to an existing garden bed.
Thanks. Subscribed.
Thanks for the sub!
Really helpful.
Thanks :)
Have tried planting potatoes in a container twice but have not had luck with bigger size even leaving them after leaves are dead
with container gardening you really have to choose good soil, you need to fertilize regularly, and water regularity. By contrast, when they are in the ground, you mulch, and then do nothing. It's not impossible with containers, just more tricky. Keep trying man :)
I left my containers of potatoes for a week while I was on vacation. My plants were brown when I got back.
Great video and just what I was looking for. Your garden is heavenly! I love your true forest around the garden also - northwest?
Nova Scotia - Canada
Maritime Gardening ...it’s beautiful.
I am told that planting Comfrey along borders keeps weeds from invading into Gardens Beds.
Could be worth trying.
comfrey is very invasive as well, at least what I've experienced...
I tried it. It didn't work very well
@@dantucker124 So did I and while it wasn't perfect it did stop a lot.
“Tilling withdrawal” LOL!!!
It's real :)
lol yeah the first few years i tilled the hell outa my spot, then after reading you dont really need to do it I still wanted to or thought i should be doin it especially after watching my neighbor do his twice in the spring. But when i look out and see my garden compared to his, think I wont be tilling anymore lol.
Have you considered a second planting of potatoes? Perhaps planting an early variety in late April and a second planting of an early variety in early August?
August is too late for them here. We get frost in September
I'm getting ready to plant my first potatoes ever.... How often should I water them & when is the best time to water them? (I am in Aberdeen, Washington State.... Near the ocean & it rains here on avg. 193 days a year & 73in.! If that helps gives me a better "Watering" answer. 👍😁) Thank you
Like me - if you use the same heavy mulch method - you'll probably not have to water them at all. Just plant and walk away
How many pounds do you think you get out of those beds? MIGardener advises planting whole potatoes 6” deep and then put the fertilizer right on top of the potato. He said after trying both ways whole potatoes bring a better yield. So I tried this for the first time this year. I hilled only once (lazy I guess) ) If the plants are any indication, I should have a good yield this year. I had the extra space so I even planted some organic grocery store potatoes that were too far gone to eat which I have grown before as a test. So far they look great too! Your potatoes look nice general eating size and clean. I too used lots of straw mulch this year. I think it helps keep them covered well, absorbs moisture and keeps the light out. Thanks for sharing! You should have a great harvest. TFS!
I don't buy potatoes. I get all I want from my garden - and we eat them a lot. Have never weighed my total yei8d- but my stored potatoes last until May - and then we take a break from potatoes in June & July - enjoying all the other wonderful starches in the world - and then sometime in late July I pull some of my potatoes up - and we go back to having them often, every week (family of four).
I always thought ants were ok in the garden but last year I had 2 or 3 different types of plants that were affected by ants. Yard long beans wouldn't produce because the ants ate their blossoms. When I figured out what was happening and got the ants under control the beans started to put on fruit but by then it was too late in the season to harvest any beans. My tomatillos closest to the ant population were also covered in ants. The ants didn't eat their flowers but somehow prevented pollination. Once the ants were reduced I started to get fruit. I suspect they did the same thing to my winter squash that were near the tomatillos. Now I don't tolerate any large ant populations. Borax and sugar paste is enough to keep them under control
Greg, I’m getting flowers on my potatoes. Do you pull the flowers off the potatoes? Like you do for garlic scapes? Or do you leave the potato flowers alone?
I've never done a good comparison myself - but it is recommended by some good sources
I harvested mine this year when the gophers started tunneling through. Luckily I planted them so early that the vines were pretty much done by that point (may- june). Only reason I planted them in February is because it was 80F at the time.
I'm so glad I don't have gophers!
👍👍
I have a question unrelated to potatoes... through the course of the summer I’ve been gathering yard waste: branches I’ve been pruning, thick flower stalks, and weeds, some that have gone to seed. What’s your process for dealing with this stuff? I’ve been throwing them in a pile, I could burn them this fall, but I need mulch for my beds, I can’t use all that bulky stuff as mulch can I? Should I just compost them and spread it on the beds? Thanks!
Run over it with the lawn mower and cove your beds with it
The flowers can be purple, pink or even yellow. It depends on the variety.
Fields of purple potato flowers are quite pretty. I don't remember what kind of potato they are but I have some volunteers from last year's planting growing in my garden with purple flowers.
How deep in the dirt do you plant the potatoes before you put the hay down
Just put the seed potatoes on loose soil and cover with a layer of straw that they can grow through, keep covering with straw a few times as they grow through. When you see flowers, you can easily fish a some new potatoes out if needed.
The best way to grow Spuds is in sacks .add blood fish and bone. IM growing spuds for years and the biggest harvest is this way . save you ground for other crops. Use your own compost as well good luck.
I'm confused....