Re: Potato Growing Methods

Goosegirl 1/12/2012, 2:00 pm

After reading through the entire thread (finally!) I am going to put my 2 half barrels to use with taters. I think I will do a blue or purple in one barrel and my fave Yukon Gold's in another. Not sure it fits anywhere with the 'testing' but you have all given me a great idea!

GG

**llama momma** 1/13/2012, 3:14 am

Sounds good goosegirl!

All Potato Growers

As we start planting our taters, please
1 keep track of how many starts you begin with
2 note the variety your're planting,
3 count the number of taters you pull. We won't be weighing them.

LittleGardener 1/13/2012, 3:41 am

Has this already been discussed: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2002347126_potatoes25.html - if it has, just Delete this post.

HillbillyBob 1/13/2012, 8:20 am

Well I guess my seed potates should be here tomorrow:Da: Very Happy

moon loks right on the 20th so it's time to spread a little compost in the garden potato experiments - Potato Growing Methods - Page 2 601593

seeing how I'm only using 20% of that space I'm only coving the rows where I plan to plant this year Razz

CarolynPhillips 1/13/2012, 11:44 am

thank you LM....I really do appreciate all the help with everything. Cool

I will join this project.

using Raised Bed 3x7 ft Red
using Raised Bed 4x4 Purple
using Raised Bed 4x4 Russet
and one hilled row 1x64 ft with shredded straw and compost mixed in the existing garden soil. (1/2 red and 1/2 russet)

The garden row potatoes won't be pulled all at once. I use the ground as my storage.

Question...I don't cut my seed potatoes. I use the small ones and leave them whole so they don't rot. I just like it better this way. Will this be a problem since most cut and cure their eyes for planting?
Even if used the SFG method, I never cut them and plant four per square. I leave them whole and plant one small potato per square. This works better for me. This is how I do it in the Raised square foot beds.

**llama momma** 1/13/2012, 2:00 pm

More participants, all right, we're moving along pretty well. CarolynPhillips, from what I understand (and I've got lots to learn) your little seed taters should count as one seed potato. Unless someone can explain to us differently.

**RoOsTeR** 1/13/2012, 4:36 pm

Genes and llama momma, this is my one and final warning. Any more negative remarks will result in a 3 week ban. That includes any negative response to this post. We are adults here and I have far better things to do with my time than deal with counter productive activity.

ashort 1/13/2012, 5:34 pm

Hey, I want to play... can I do the box thing? I have to research the best variety for my area based upon the choices presented. That would save me like 8 sq ft - if I plant Sweet taters in the front flower beds, I can save a whole 4x4....

**llama momma** 1/13/2012, 5:39 pm

Plant away Ashort Very Happy

glad to have your participation and input.

Ha-v-v 1/13/2012, 5:42 pm

I plan on planting and keeping notes about the taters Smile

just not sure of the "method" yet. I dont know if what Im doing will fit into the categories, but that wont keep me from sharing Smile

and sharing photos Smile

lolol

Tater seeds are pre ordered! Cant wait to begin. It is like "let the games begin" Very Happy

Ha-v-v

**llama momma** 1/13/2012, 6:13 pm

Ha-v-v wrote:I plan on planting and keeping notes about the taters just not sure of the "method" yet. I dont know if what Im doing will fit into the categories, but that wont keep me from sharing and sharing photos lolol

Tater seeds are pre ordered! Cant wait to begin. It is like "let the games begin"
Ha-v-v

Welcome - your notes will help. If you have a method that doesn't fit the catagories then we'll put you in a new catagory: Other Methods

januaryX 1/13/2012, 6:15 pm

This is great. I know how to row garden. Does anybody put bone meal in the bottom of their trench when they plant?

**camprn** 1/13/2012, 6:38 pm

januaryX wrote:This is great. I know how to row garden. Does anybody put bone meal in the bottom of their trench when they plant?

If I was planting in dirt I would, as I know the bone meal is helpful in root development, but I will not in the Mel's Mix.
potato experiments - Potato Growing Methods - Page 2 Potato

potato experiments - Potato Growing Methods - Page 2 Potato

http://greenasathistle.com/2008/01/19/you-say-potato-day-325/

januaryX 1/13/2012, 7:16 pm

Great picture. Did you take it?

Oops, sorry, I just saw the caption! Embarassed

**camprn** 1/13/2012, 7:20 pm

januaryX wrote:Great picture. Did you take it?

LOL, It IS a great picture and no I borrowed it from the web. No worries, for others that may not have noticed, the website is listed below the photo. What a Face

januaryX 1/13/2012, 7:28 pm

lol we crossed paths there. Say, I got the SFG book for Christmas, and I've just browsed through it, but I can't find how to figure how many squares of potatoes do I need to plant for 300lb of harvest?

**camprn** 1/13/2012, 7:40 pm

januaryX wrote:lol we crossed paths there. Say, I got the SFG book for Christmas, and I've just browsed through it, but I can't find how to figure how many squares of potatoes do I need to plant for 300lb of harvest?

Oh dear, I am so the wrong person to ask... Maybe Boffer can help, he grows a lot of potatoes in SFG. I would guess there are so many variables involved it would be hard to say. You know, things like variety, weather, watering... Someone else will chime in here, in a minute. But tell me, how much space do you need in a row garden and expect that much harvest?

januaryX 1/13/2012, 7:54 pm

All the factors you mention apply, but as a starting place we figure about 1.5 pounds of harvest per foot, so that's about 200 linear feet. In the area that we grow potatoes we have 5 forty foot rows. That fifth row looks like 400 feet by the time we get done. Very Happy

tomperrin 1/13/2012, 7:55 pm

Potato yields vary by type. My Wood Prairie catalog has a chart showing expected yields as light to very heavy. Last year my yield on Yukon Gold was light. I attribute that to my inexperience and the variety. While I didn't keep records, my sense is that i got back 4 or 5 lbs for every pound planted. But my gosh, they tasted good!

This year I will follow directions in Mel's book a bit more closely, use a much wider number of varieties, and be more attentive to detail.

Might be a good idea to plant much more than you need so that you can save some for next year's seed (if you have the right storage conditions).

Tom

http://www.woodprairie.com/

fiddleman 1/13/2012, 8:09 pm

tomperrin wrote:Potato yields vary by type. My Wood Prairie catalog has a chart showing expected yields as light to very heavy. Last year my yield on Yukon Gold was light. I attribute that to my inexperience and the variety. While I didn't keep records, my sense is that i got back 4 or 5 lbs for every pound planted. But my gosh, they tasted good!

This year I will follow directions in Mel's book a bit more closely, use a much wider number of varieties, and be more attentive to detail.

Might be a good idea to plant much more than you need so that you can save some for next year's seed (if you have the right storage conditions).

Tom

That was my experience with Yukon gold last year as well, I planted 5lbs of seed potatoes and got about 20-25 lbs back.

Mark

**llama momma** 1/13/2012, 8:13 pm

Tomperrin
I had the chance to look at the organic potato growing web site you mentioned -
http://cdn.woodprairie.com/downloads/Growing%20Guide.pdf
Some neat things in here everyone, if you get a chance I think you'll like it.
I especially liked what can be applied to SFG. "Seed warming" it is described in a box in the upper left hand side of the home page. If this technique really works then it would be a great way to encourage the best yield possible.

Januaryx the general explanation I have found was to expect 5-8 times more than whatever you planted. oops Fiddleman beat me to it Very Happy

januaryX 1/13/2012, 8:21 pm

I can work with 5-8. The problem I'm having is the book says to plant 4 seed potatoes per square. Does that mean I get 20-32 potatoes per square foot? If that's the case then I guess I can weigh 20 and then 32 potatoes to get an idea.

**llama momma** 1/13/2012, 8:55 pm

Januaryx
My understanding is 1 pound worth of seed potato in general could yield 5-8+ pounds. So when you plant four pieces in the square, the weight of those pieces will vary. Therefore you could not be guaranteed 20-32 potatoes from one square foot. It is a guideline that I would use like this - If I got maybe 2-3 pounds of taters from 1 pound of seed taters, I would take a look at my notes, read various sources(remember your local extension service is a good reference for varieties best suited to your area and method you want to use) and check this forum for hints to improve upon. Best thing is don't worry, relax, learn and enjoy the beauty of gardening.

CarolynPhillips 1/13/2012, 8:57 pm

I love a little extra bone meal for everything that produces below ground.

januaryX 1/13/2012, 9:08 pm

Gosh I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I was just trying to see if SFG would be feasible for growing the amount of potatoes I need to feed my family. I think I'll stick with rows for growing potatoes, and maybe try SFG for something else.

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