#29590
May 9th, 2005 at 11:17 AM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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OP
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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I would love to have potatoes in my garden. But the directions for growning them have me completely confused. (Not difficult to do, I know ) Would someone be willing to give the growing potatoes for dummies directions to me, Please?
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#29591
May 9th, 2005 at 12:51 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2004
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TK, I'm taking a stab at potatoes myself this year. But, since my yard space is limited, I'm growing them in a half whiskey barrel! You must remember to put drainage holes in the bottom, and tho it didn't say so.. I put a few strategically placed rocks to help with draining. Some compost & topsoil, but not too much.. you want your barrel to be kinda low starting out. This is because as the potatoes grow, they will pop up from underneath the soil, and you need to keep adding more soil to keep them buried until they are ready. I used a couple of potatoes with a bunch of "eyes" on them, and cut them into a couple of sections, and just popped them in. This was all I was told I needed to do. Likely, I'm only going to grow more bugs.. but I hope to see something else there too..lol. The directions said to put about 5-6 pieces in with the eyes, and then the plants will multiply.. should get a good little bit for a little container. *fingers crossed* Meg
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#29592
May 9th, 2005 at 01:55 PM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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OP
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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I got lost. Do you mind if I ask some questions? Do I just cut up the potato and stick it in the ground or do I need to let it dry out first? How much compost to how much top soil? Ratio? How deep should it be buried if the potato piece is one cubic inch is that 4 inches deep for sowing to begin with? 5 or 6 pieces of potato with the eyes on them in the same hole? or say within a couple of inches of one another? I've seen beds of potatoes on t.v. programs, it shows them covered in straw. What is that all about? How much water do they require? I heard something and I can be very wrong. That if the plant gets light it won't produce potatoes? Am I off my rocker on that one? And last but not least how do you know when they are ready to harvest? Sorry I have so many questions.
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#29593
May 9th, 2005 at 01:59 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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Spuds are great to grow. The amount of produce you get for the input can be huge. I planted 15 spuds a bit bigger than a squash ball last season and got just under 30 KG of potatoes in a bed about 8' x 5'. Bargain. Here's a link to how to do it. Note the potatoes under straw method. I've used that too and it's a cracker. http://home.vtown.com.au/dbellamy/vegetables/spuds1.html Also note that while it's ok to use potatoes from the pantry, if you buy certified disease free seed potatoes you are gauranteed not to bring any new diseases into your garden with them. They cost roughly the same as regular eating potatoes and are normally available from produce or feed n grain stores at planting time for your area.
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#29594
May 9th, 2005 at 02:13 PM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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OP
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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Thanks longy that is a great link. I definitely will be going with the soil/traditional method. Hope I haven't missed the growing season this year. But if so it just means I have more time to prepare the bed for next year. It's always good as a friend keeps telling me.
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#29595
May 9th, 2005 at 03:13 PM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I decided to try potatoes this year and am amazed at how well they are growing I have them growing in the dirt and have straw piled around them. They are 10-14 inches tall. It was driving Missy nuts wanting to dig them up so I let her dig one yesterday. Apparently they weren't ready cause we only had a few potatoes on it. She was tickled though and that's what counts I'll be cooking them and my green beans I harvested tonight! According to what I found out you don't harvest the potatoes until the top plant dies down. I can't wait to see how many we get when they are really ready to dig up! G-Mom
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#29596
May 9th, 2005 at 03:18 PM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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OP
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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I'm excited by the prospect now that I have the facts in hand. I think I may need to invest in a cow or horse with all the manure I need. Going to have to go on a diet to pay for it all. Food budget is going to be close to nil this spring.
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#29597
May 9th, 2005 at 03:56 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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Hey TK. Don't invest in a cow or horse. (Unless you really want to). Invest in a cow or horse owner and tell 'em to give you a call when the stables have been cleaned out and they wanna get rid of it. People who have racehorses etc are often very happy to get rid of the stuff. A dairy nearby maybe?? When i was a kid my dad had a trailer parked at a local stables. The owner either gave him a call when it was full or towed it round and parked it in the backyard. Bewdy. Dad fed a family of nine kids from his vege patch for many years. I recently went to the ag show in the town i live in. I actually didn't go till the next day after it finished though and i filled a pickup with manure. It's all tucked in at home now composting away for when i get back to plant my potatoes. Yummo:)
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#29598
May 9th, 2005 at 04:36 PM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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OP
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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God Bless you Longy,
...but I don't think the taxi drivers or my neighbors would put up with that. I live in the city and can't drive anymore. So I don't own a vehicle.
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#29599
May 9th, 2005 at 08:14 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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So I don't own a vehicle.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
So is that why you wanna get a horse? Where you gonna put it?
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#29600
May 9th, 2005 at 10:16 PM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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OP
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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It was just a joke. Everytime I turn around I'm buying potting soil because the local wal-mart (only store near by) doesn't carry compost at this location.
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#29601
May 10th, 2005 at 03:24 AM
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Snow Bunny
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Snow Bunny
Joined: Apr 2005
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I think you just need to make friends with the owner of a manure producer. I have horses myself and 4 put out more than I need. While I don't have a rig to deliver to my friends (my b-i-l is using my beatup pickup while his is being fixed) and you live just a mite far away, maybe your soon to be friend would be able to deliver to you. Call around to some local stables or dairies....it doesn's hurt to ask that is for sure. The worst they can say is no.
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#29602
May 11th, 2005 at 04:12 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Feb 2005
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Let me add my 2 cent here. When the potato plants start making flowers they are making potatos. I don't plant mine to deep so the water can drain away. I normally plant them 4 inches deep, then as the plant grow take a hoe and rake the dirt onto the plants. Potatos will never grow deeper then where you planted them, but can grow higher, that is why I rake the dirt up on to the plants. But it is a little late for potato planting the magic date is St. Patricks day.
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#29603
May 11th, 2005 at 04:15 AM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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OP
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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Thank you for the time line. I need all the help I can get. That gives me lots of time to get the rest of the garden in good shape.
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#29604
May 13th, 2005 at 07:03 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Apr 2005
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tk...I've been meaning to get back with you on the composting in containers idea, and now is the perfect time. I've heard of people getting a really late start with potatoes by planting in a big container, then adding leaves, clippings, straw or whatever as the plants grew. They were able to get a good harvest, and the material in the containers undoubtedly broke down a fair bit. They say never to plant potatoes in the same spot 2 years in a row, so after you harvest, you could use the stuff (with some fresh soil on top) for growing lettuce, spinach, whatever, and then next summer, peppers or whatever (not tomatoes, a nightshade like potatoes). I have some other ideas on making compost, let me know if you want me to keep rambling.
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#29605
May 13th, 2005 at 07:14 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Mar 2005
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can you start potatos just be sticking one that has "eyes" all over it in the dirt?
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#29606
May 13th, 2005 at 08:15 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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Sure can Phoenix. In fact if there are enough eyes you can cut the spud up. Make sure each piece has at least 2 eyes. You could ven stick a single potato in a pot if lack of space was a factor.
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#29607
May 13th, 2005 at 08:23 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Mar 2005
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thanx longy, the ones i tried in the ground were rather small,a little smaller than an egg. i hope it works. i might have to move them (knowing it works) to a different spot i don't really like where i put them thanx again
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#29608
May 13th, 2005 at 09:17 PM
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The Garden Helper
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The Garden Helper
Joined: Aug 2002
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#29609
May 13th, 2005 at 10:06 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Mar 2005
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thanks bill, i don't know why,but i tell some of the "newbies" to use the forum search. can't really rekon why i don't use it
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#29610
May 14th, 2005 at 11:19 AM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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OP
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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Hey Phoenix,
I do that time and time again. I'm not very good with search engines I guess that's why.
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#29611
May 15th, 2005 at 02:27 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Apr 2005
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Are you useing potatos you buy at the store or seed planting ones the seed pototas are best they produce much better I grow them every year.
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#29612
May 16th, 2005 at 05:59 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Feb 2005
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LoL, I throw my dried up potatos that are starting to sprout (remove the sprouts) into the ground whole. Later I mound the dirt around them and that's all I do.
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