www.sausagemaking.org

For a laugh, I took a couple of store bought potatoes (Desiree), and put them in the ground. They seem to have grown quite well, and some of them are even starting to pop up from the soil.

I've read that you should add extra soil on top to keep the potatoes from going green - I shall do that. I'm just wondering when I know it is time to lift them.

I have no idea what i'll find, or what size - it was just an experiment. The green bits which grow on top are quite large, and there are flowers. We've been getting alot of rain, so they have been watered well.

Any other tips? Is it ever too early or too late to dig them up?

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles09 ... tatoes.asp

Desiree are a main crop so are generally lifted in September, or so I gather, I'm a noobie grower myself this year.

You can lift them once they flower but if you want jacket sized leave them until later.

I bunged some anjas ( or however they are spelt ) in a potato barrel which I then earthed up each time the shoots got to 9"or so.

One house I moved into I discovered potatoes growing and I lifted new potatoes on Christmas day

Dave

Leave them in the ground for 2 weeks after the plant dies off if possible. This will harden the skin and they will store better. just don't expose the dug tubers to any frost. We had a lot of rain this year and all my potatoes drowned and rotted. I replanted June 23 with my left over seed potatoes and they are now flowering nicely. I grow 4 rows (50 meters each) of desire, Kennebec, Shepody and Agria. I like my Agria the best.

That looks great. How many kilos of potato do you get out of 200m of plants?

Lots I have never really weighed them but I get 5-8 75# bags from each row I guess it works out to about a ton on average. I select the best and biggest for my storage cellar the rest go to family and friends. I save the small eggsized potatoes for seed next year. One year I had a total crop failure and had to rely on store bought. I never knew how good my own taters were until I had to buy the crap they sell .

Ok Big Guy,

Next time I head up to grand bend, I'm jumpin on the 21 highway and stoppin by your garden under the cover of darkness!!

Chris

The coons and deer did a real number on my corn. I did get one feed before they did. One more robber in the night won't make much difference. LOL Seroiusly if you are in the area stop in. PM me for my phone # and address.

Too bad about the corn, Big Guy. Nothing I like better than Canadian corn. My brother in law in Ottawa always has some Peaces and Cream variety ready when we visit.

We lost most of our spuds this year to Wireworm.
We managed to cut some out but lost about 2/3rds of the crop. Im digging the plot up bit by bit and leaving the chickens in there in the hope they will get them

Don't know how I missed this thread...

I have had a large garden up until a few years ago when I decided it was getting too wet to look after it.

I cut the garden down in size, went deep no dig beds and they are working great.





Tyres for potatoes



Tyre close up...




Tyres mid season...





Harvest of Navan's...




And some more of Aran Victory's...

I've found this system to work great in our now so so wet climate.

Cheers

How do you find the tyres Porker, I was thinking of keeping my cast offs for a similar project as I'm due to change mine soon,

Dave

Dave, the tyres were a great success ... the secret I believe is to make sure you get low profile tyres, I got 12 x 18'' dia tyres.

I'm certainly gonna get more for next spring, these 12 I'll probably grow peas in ... easy to put wire around.

Cheers

Excellent stuff, Does any body know if I could grow these in the tropics? I am in the Philippines and it is hot all year round in the part where I am.
thanks in advance

I was going to post that I thought you'd be OK, but I see Jenn has given a comprehensive answer in the other thread

Dave

You would be in a perfect spot to grow sweet potatoes.