Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Potatoes:  Yes or No? Toplef10Potatoes:  Yes or No? 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Potatoes:  Yes or No? I22gcj10Potatoes:  Yes or No? 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]

Join the forum, it's quick and easy

Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Potatoes:  Yes or No? Toplef10Potatoes:  Yes or No? 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Potatoes:  Yes or No? I22gcj10Potatoes:  Yes or No? 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]
Square Foot Gardening Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
Search
 
 

Display results as :
 

 


Rechercher Advanced Search

Latest topics
» Joann's fabric bankruptcy
by has55 Yesterday at 9:13 pm

» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 12:11 pm

» Fire Ring / Round Raised Bed Planter
by donnainzone5 Yesterday at 11:47 am

» Galvanized Fire Ring for Rhubarb Raised Beds?
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 10:34 am

» Happy St. Patrick's Day
by Scorpio Rising 3/17/2024, 5:54 pm

» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by KiwiSFGnewbie 3/17/2024, 4:58 pm

» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 3/16/2024, 12:16 pm

» Prefab compost question
by sanderson 3/14/2024, 11:40 pm

» New gardener from Santa Fe NM
by Turan 3/14/2024, 2:06 pm

» Compost bins: Open vs. closed
by OhioGardener 3/13/2024, 5:48 pm

» Heat Mat Temperature Test
by sanderson 3/13/2024, 1:31 am

» Bokashi
by OhioGardener 3/12/2024, 5:37 pm

» Happy Birthday!!
by Scorpio Rising 3/11/2024, 10:28 am

» What are you eating from your garden today?
by Scorpio Rising 3/10/2024, 8:38 pm

» Why I love Oregano in the garden.
by OhioGardener 3/10/2024, 8:16 am

» Comfrey
by OhioGardener 3/9/2024, 6:07 pm

» Sealing Barrels Flowers Struggling-Need Ideas
by Turan 3/9/2024, 3:09 pm

» Hello again from a slightly different part of Central PA!
by sanderson 3/9/2024, 1:46 pm

» Chicken manure compost
by Oopsiedaisy 3/8/2024, 7:56 pm

» Chinese Broccoli
by sanderson 3/7/2024, 10:28 pm

» Heat Mat Lifespan
by Scorpio Rising 3/7/2024, 9:33 am

» Now is The Time To Take Seed Inventory
by OhioGardener 3/6/2024, 4:36 pm

» Mark's first SFG
by sanderson 3/5/2024, 10:55 pm

» Greetings from a haggard mom
by sanderson 3/5/2024, 2:32 am

» Drip Irrigation question
by HDNoviceGardener_CA 3/4/2024, 9:50 pm

» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson 3/2/2024, 8:20 pm

» raised bed quanders
by OhioGardener 3/1/2024, 7:32 pm

» N&C Midwest January & February 2024
by OhioGardener 3/1/2024, 7:15 am

» Seeds 'n Such Leap Year Sale
by sanderson 2/29/2024, 1:42 pm

» Horsey poop
by MrBooker 2/29/2024, 10:56 am

Google

Search SFG Forum

Potatoes: Yes or No?

+7
AtlantaMarie
Turan
crankyoldman
Scorpio Rising
countrynaturals
sanderson
farmersgranddaughter
11 posters

Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  farmersgranddaughter 2/25/2018, 7:50 pm

Does anyone plant potatoes in a square foot garden or container?  I planted some in a trash can a few years ago and, while I harvested some, I'm not sure the yield was worth the effort.  Maybe my expectations were too high.  Your thoughts?
farmersgranddaughter
farmersgranddaughter

Female Posts : 107
Join date : 2018-01-15
Age : 63
Location : Arkansas Zone 6b

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  farmersgranddaughter 2/25/2018, 7:52 pm

Yikes!  I just realized that I posted this in "Introduce Yourself."  Is there a way to move it?  I'm still learning my way around the forum.
farmersgranddaughter
farmersgranddaughter

Female Posts : 107
Join date : 2018-01-15
Age : 63
Location : Arkansas Zone 6b

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  sanderson 2/25/2018, 10:30 pm

A lot of us grow potatoes, in beds, buckets and other containers.  Very Happy   If you enter the word potatoes in the search box, you will see 214 threads.

Some potatoes produce in only one area. Others will produce all the way up the plant when buried higher.

____________________________

Find more about Weather in Fresno, CA
Click for weather forecast
sanderson
sanderson

Forum Administrator

Female Posts : 21487
Join date : 2013-04-21
Age : 75
Location : Fresno CA Zone 8-9

https://connect.xfinity.com/appsuite/#!!&app=io.ox/mail&

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  countrynaturals 2/26/2018, 12:11 pm

I've tried them with moderate success, but they take so long, and aren't really that good for us (unless compared to a Snickers bar) so I don't give them any prime real estate. If you have room and aren't concerned with appearance, you can make a "planter" of hay bales, by just laying them out in a square. Lay the seed potatoes on the ground inside the frame of bales, then layer more hay or leaves to cover the potatoes about 2-3 inches and let them grow, adding more material as needed. I lost mine to grasshoppers last year, so you might need to cover the bed with bridal tulle.
countrynaturals
countrynaturals

Female Posts : 5704
Join date : 2016-04-12
Location : Redding, CA

http://countrynaturals.com

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  Scorpio Rising 2/26/2018, 6:43 pm

I have had great luck with them.  I love YukonGold, and they are easy, too.
Scorpio Rising
Scorpio Rising

Female Posts : 8682
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty I grow potatoes in SFG.

Post  crankyoldman 3/16/2018, 3:48 pm

I grow potatoes in my SFG beds, Small potatoes I plant 5 to a square, larger potatoes I plant 2 to 4 per square. I get small red potatoes in about 80 days, medium Russets take 90 to 100 days.

While potatoes do take a bit of time to grow they are like everything from the veggie garden, much better than store bought.
crankyoldman
crankyoldman

Posts : 21
Join date : 2014-07-14
Location : Phoenix, AZ

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  Turan 3/16/2018, 4:14 pm

I do love to grow potatoes. I try to grow varieties that are super expensive in the stores, both for the fun of novelty and to tell myself that it is cost effective. So I grow fingerlings usually. This year DH petitioned for 'All Blue', they are a long season type. I am sorely tempted to over plant them with an early season like 'Yukon' just to see if it would work. I plant a big grower like French red fingerling 1 per sq. This double layer idea I would do the same, but at the first hilling plant the second layer. Maybe.

____________________________

Find more about Weather in Belgrade, MT
Click for weather forecast
Turan
Turan

Female Posts : 2616
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  Scorpio Rising 3/16/2018, 8:54 pm

Yes, do that, Turan!  Super great idea,,,and keep us posted!!!

As for potatoes in general, ther are very happy in SFG!!!

I ❤️ Yukon gold.  Some varieties need depth, so you need to see what you want to grow.  Most can be grown comfortably in your standard SFG set up.  Loves me spuds.
Scorpio Rising
Scorpio Rising

Female Posts : 8682
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  farmersgranddaughter 3/16/2018, 10:37 pm

Yesterday I read a preview of Mel's answer book.  There was a mention about growing potatoes in SFG with a box placed on top of the square so that you can add more soil as the plant grows.  Has anyone tried that?
farmersgranddaughter
farmersgranddaughter

Female Posts : 107
Join date : 2018-01-15
Age : 63
Location : Arkansas Zone 6b

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  farmersgranddaughter 3/16/2018, 10:46 pm

Immediately after hitting "send" it occurred to me to use the Search feature.  I found some threads about the boxes (called top hats), including photos.  So just disregard my previous post.  I have so much to learn.
farmersgranddaughter
farmersgranddaughter

Female Posts : 107
Join date : 2018-01-15
Age : 63
Location : Arkansas Zone 6b

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  AtlantaMarie 3/17/2018, 7:13 am

Just remember, FGD, it's all a process... Wink
AtlantaMarie
AtlantaMarie

Certified SFG Instructor

Female Posts : 5600
Join date : 2014-03-18
Age : 60
Location : Buford, GA - Zones 7B/8A

http://www.defensivespecialties.com

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  Sunsanvil 5/15/2018, 6:49 am

Old thread I know but rather than start a new one...

Our book is a few editions back, no mention of Potatoes. Can someone give me the CliffsNotes? Going to try one per square for fun. Just wondering how deep to plant/bury the seed potato and if we have to "build up" around it as it grows like the row-gardeners do. Also, is there anything we should avoid planting in adjacent squares?

Thx!
Sunsanvil
Sunsanvil

Posts : 76
Join date : 2012-05-19
Location : Atlantic Canada

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  BlackjackWidow 5/15/2018, 11:13 am

Sunsanvil wrote:Old thread I know but rather than start a new one...

Our book is a few editions back, no mention of Potatoes. Can someone give me the CliffsNotes? Going to try one per square for fun. Just wondering how deep to plant/bury the seed potato and if we have to "build up" around it as it grows like the row-gardeners do. Also, is there anything we should avoid planting in adjacent squares?

Thx!

I can give you the Cliff's Notes version from 2nd edition ANSFG:

Location: Full sun Spacing: 4/square
Plant in spring when soil has warmed to 45F degrees. Use only certified disease-free seed potatoes, sprout a week before planting by placing in a tray where they will receive light (not sun) & temps around 65F degrees. A day or two before, cut into about 1-1/2" squares with at least one sprouted eye per section, to let them skin over on the cut side.
Remove most of the MM from the square so there's about an inch of soil. Plant the seed pieces with eyes up and barely cover. When sprouts appear, add enough MM to cover the leaves. Keep doing that until the hole is filled back up to the top.
For an extra harvest, build a "top hat" box (1'x1' thin-walled box either 6", 9" or 12" tall) to place over and keep filling. Harvest after plants finish flowering.
BlackjackWidow
BlackjackWidow

Female Posts : 173
Join date : 2018-05-07
Age : 61
Location : SW Michigan, on the coast of Lake MI; Zone 6a/b

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  Sunsanvil 5/15/2018, 11:23 am

Thanks for that.

What would happen if one didnt cut them up and just put a whole seed potato in the ground?
Sunsanvil
Sunsanvil

Posts : 76
Join date : 2012-05-19
Location : Atlantic Canada

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  BlackjackWidow 5/15/2018, 11:33 am

With all that being said, this is the first year I've tried potatoes in my SFG. I planted several squares this spring of Norland Red and Russet Burbank seed potatoes, and a square of store-bought reds that had sprouted in my pantry. I followed Mel's directions, and the seed potatoes have taken off and look great; the store-bought reds haven't come up yet. They were probably treated with something, but I thought since they had sprouted already, I'd have better success.

After I planted them, I found out (from reading the forum) that there are both determinate and indeterminate potatoes. So, the russets will apparently benefit from the mounding because they will grow potatoes all along the buried stem/vine as they're hilled. The reds will only produce potatoes in a single layer at the bottom, and since I planted them with only about an inch of soil underneath, I fear I may not have much of a harvest. Sad I'm just going to hill the red ones up as planned and see what happens, since it's already done. Maybe I can harvest a few little baby "new potatoes" at a time and get a few servings? At this point, it's another new learning experiment for me.

As far as what not to plant near them, I've heard not to plant tomatoes or other heavy feeders near potatoes (they're all from the same nightshade family). But it's also my understanding that SFG is supposed to eliminate those issues since you're replacing the nutrients fully every time you replant something. I'm sure there are others with a better understanding and more history who can help us both out with that.
BlackjackWidow
BlackjackWidow

Female Posts : 173
Join date : 2018-05-07
Age : 61
Location : SW Michigan, on the coast of Lake MI; Zone 6a/b

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  BlackjackWidow 5/15/2018, 11:37 am

Sunsanvil wrote:Thanks for that.

What would happen if one didnt cut them up and just put a whole seed potato in the ground?

I think you just get a lot more plants at that spot. Maybe go with just 1/square in that case?
BlackjackWidow
BlackjackWidow

Female Posts : 173
Join date : 2018-05-07
Age : 61
Location : SW Michigan, on the coast of Lake MI; Zone 6a/b

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  Turan 5/15/2018, 11:39 am

Planting a whole potato gives a bushier denser planting there.  Though that depends on the size of the potato and how many eyes it has.

The business about 4/ square and harvesting after finishing flowering suggests new potato harvest  and only a couple eyes per plant.  It also suggests varieties known to be small plants like Yukon Gold.

We prefer the resurrection of old threads, rather than constantly making new threads asking the same questions.  Read back in this thread for more information and use the search engine. Here is another good thread to read through~
 https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t21361p50-potato-growing

I plant 1 per square and I select small seed potatoes to avoid cutting them.  I usually grow very rambunctious growers like French Fingerling that need at least that amount of space.  

What varieties are you planting?

____________________________

Find more about Weather in Belgrade, MT
Click for weather forecast
Turan
Turan

Female Posts : 2616
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  yolos 5/15/2018, 12:06 pm

I also only plant one per square but I am predominately planting Russet Norkotaka (sp) which can get to fairly good enough baking size.  The more room you give them, the potential to grow bigger.  I have read that if you crowd them they will not grow as big but I do not know if that is true.  We get early diseases on our foliage so we plant them a little apart.
yolos
yolos

Female Posts : 4152
Join date : 2011-11-20
Age : 74
Location : Brooks, Ga Zone 7B/8A

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  jimmy cee 5/16/2018, 11:38 pm

I made a wired basket. stitched weed barrier to side and used it for yukon golds. Used all Mel's Mix and they came out fine, the next season I did them in a 4x4 bed and had nice potatoe's.

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Potato10
Potatoes:  Yes or No? Potato11
Potatoes:  Yes or No? Monday11
Potatoes:  Yes or No? Monday10
Potatoes:  Yes or No? Sunday12
Potatoes:  Yes or No? Sunday11
Potatoes:  Yes or No? Sunday10
jimmy cee
jimmy cee

Certified SFG Instructor

Male Posts : 2215
Join date : 2013-02-16
Age : 88
Location : Hatfield PA. zone 6b

Back to top Go down

Potatoes:  Yes or No? Empty Re: Potatoes: Yes or No?

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum