Potatoes

yosoypanadero 4/29/2011, 9:08 am

Is anyone in here growing potatoes in an SFG? I have (4) 4x4 (1x6's) potato boxes each with 1 potato per square. I am going to stack more 4x4 boxes on top of them, any idea how deep I am going to have to go?

staf74 4/29/2011, 10:34 am

I planted 4 spuds mid march in my SFG. one per sq.ft. They were in a 12 inch box and i "hilled" with mulch for another 6-8 inches. That's as deep as I could go without adding more height with another box. They are all flowering but I've yet to dig down and inspect the tubers. I don't think you need more than two feet for a good harvest.

boffer 4/29/2011, 12:55 pm

Staf, I think you have magic weather at your house! I swear your stuff grows twice as fast as mine.

yosoypanadero wrote:Is anyone in here growing potatoes in an SFG? I have (4) 4x4 (1x6's) potato boxes each with 1 potato per square. I am going to stack more 4x4 boxes on top of them, any idea how deep I am going to have to go?

For the purpose of easy hilling, then one box would be plenty.

If you want to tower them, then 4-6. At some point you have to stop adding on in order to give the plants time to develop before the end of the growing season.

Here's four boxes stacked. At this point, I usually get bored and quit adding!
Potatoes 100_1214

staf74 4/29/2011, 1:36 pm

boffer wrote:Staf, I think you have magic weather at your house! I swear your stuff grows twice as fast as mine.

I don't know about that but my SFG has been surprisingly prolific for sure. However, looking at your pics, my spud plants are not as big as that by any stretch. Bushy yes.... but only about 18 inches to two feet and already flowering. We had almost 90 for a few days. Perhaps this is a sign that they bolted too early and my harvest will be small Sad

dizzygardener 4/29/2011, 1:40 pm

Staf,

What kinds of 'taters did you plant?

I'm growing Yukon Golds. I started my in mid-march as well, but I don't expect them to flower for another month or so.

If you planted an early variety you should be fine. You can always dig around the plants to feel for the size of the spuds.

boffer 4/29/2011, 1:42 pm

Sorry to mislead. My picture was from July 2009. Embarassed

My intent was to show the boxes, not so much the plants!

staf74 4/29/2011, 2:03 pm

Actually Boffer, I should clarify. I actually was assuming that is a previous season pic but my assumption regarding eventual plant size comes from the habits of other plants growth. My first time doing spuds is this !

The onset of flowering usually limits vegetative growth and so I'm guessing that my top growth has peaked at around two feet which means yours will be still much bigger than mine. My guess is that the tubers will begin to swell at the onset of flowering. I'm usually more of a planner and perhaps should already know what to expect but for some reason, I'm taking this as a sign of a small harvest. I hope to be wrong !!!

Dizzie - just checked my planting calender and they went in the First week of March (5/6th to be precise). My 3 types were Yukon Gold, Russet and Red Norland.

dizzygardener 4/29/2011, 2:24 pm

Flowering only means that the new potatoes are ready. If you leave the potatoes in the ground they will continue to swell. When the vines die back that is a sign that they are done.

yosoypanadero 4/30/2011, 8:58 am

Thanks for all of the good info - I am growing All Blue Potatoes, Yukon Gold, and Red Norland. I figure I have planted about 90 + potato plants so I am hoping for a descent harvest.

**camprn** 4/30/2011, 10:02 am

yosoypanadero wrote:Thanks for all of the good info - I am growing All Blue Potatoes, Yukon Gold, and Red Norland. I figure I have planted about 90 + potato plants so I am hoping for a descent harvest.

That's alotta spuds :!:

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