What needs staking?

Icemaiden 6/15/2010, 8:19 am

My broccoli plants were getting top-heavy so I staked each one. This is my first year of SFG and I can see that the plants are in a looser medium so some will need staking.
Now I'm wondering about the potatoes... they look a bit tall to me too and we do tend to get windy days at odd times. Do any of you support the potatoes, and if so how is it best to do that? Chicken wire maybe?

**WardinWake** 6/15/2010, 10:34 am

Icemaiden wrote:My broccoli plants were getting top-heavy so I staked each one. This is my first year of SFG and I can see that the plants are in a looser medium so some will need staking.
Now I'm wondering about the potatoes... they look a bit tall to me too and we do tend to get windy days at odd times. Do any of you support the potatoes, and if so how is it best to do that? Chicken wire maybe?

Icemaiden:

Unless your potatoes are very tall there should be no need to stake them. Most potatoes are going to bush and not grow to much in height. Have you used any fertilizer with your Mel's Mix? Excess nitrogen will cause potatoes to put on lush growth on top and very little production below ground.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

Icemaiden 6/15/2010, 11:16 am

Thanks Ward and Mary
I didn't add any fertilizer, no, but because I got started unusually early I had agricultural fleece over the beds and I think I left it over the potatoes just a little longer than I should have What needs staking? Icon_redface

I know my father in law did that once and said he would never do it again.
I've only got four squares of potatoes this year so it isn't a huge problem, perhaps I'll just put a couple of canes in and run some string round'

Sponsored content

What needs staking?

What needs staking?

Re: What needs staking?

Re: What needs staking?

Re: What needs staking?


	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.