growing potatoes in leaves?

jbh29 4/11/2011, 10:42 pm

I have been reading posts about potatoes and found some that talked about using straw to cover the potato plants as they grow. (The first layer being compost) I then searched this in google and found one thing about a person using the leaves they raked in their yard. I have tons of oak leaves in the woods around our house and thought they might be a good (not to mention free) medium to grow potatoes in.

Anyone ever try leaves?

NaturesApprentice 4/11/2011, 10:58 pm

Watching this since I had the same exact question...don't think mine ever made it to the "out loud" phase, though.

*waits and watches*

boffer 4/11/2011, 11:32 pm

Here's what I know:

I've planted potatoes in compost/MM and covered them in straw or leaves to keep the new potatoes covered and protected from daylight. It works just fine.

I've planted potatoes in compost/MM and tried to high rise/garbage can the plants with straw or leaves but had no luck.

I've planted potatoes in leaf mulch along a fence line but had no luck.

If you have an idea, try it, ya just never know!

jbh29 4/12/2011, 10:12 pm

OK, since it seems experimenting is the name of the game, I'll plant with leaves in 1 wiskey barrel, with MM in another, and then try some in the ground - some with dirt and some with leaves.

I got seed potatoes today: reds and yukon golds. Can I mix them in plantings or do I have to keep them separate?

Also, when to plant? Will they do ok this early with freezing nights and days between 45 and 65?

rdkelsey 4/14/2013, 11:11 am

I see the postings here were from 2011. Well, it's 2013 now. What were your results? I'm particularly interested in what type of growing medium worked best in a barrel, or tower, to grow potatoes.

I'm thinking from what I'm reading that leaves mixed in with some compost, or other soil, is what is needed. Leaves themselves won't keep moisture steady, nor does straw, neither being rich in available nutrients for the growing plants.

--BK in CT

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