http://awaytogarden.com/planting-potatoes Organic gardening inspiration from Margaret Roach Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://awaytogarden.com/planting-potatoes/comment-page-1#comment-51517 Margaret Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:03:32 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/planting-potatoes/#comment-51517 Welcome, Lee. What a story! If you have read <a href="http://awaytogarden.com/book" rel="nofollow">my recent book</a> you will know that I have some "issues" with snakes...a.k.a., fear. So that sounds pretty freaky to me...not my idea of a good time at potato harvest! See you soon again. Welcome, Lee. What a story! If you have read my recent book you will know that I have some “issues” with snakes…a.k.a., fear. So that sounds pretty freaky to me…not my idea of a good time at potato harvest! See you soon again.

]]> http://awaytogarden.com/planting-potatoes/comment-page-1#comment-51504 Lee in Iowa Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:12:39 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/planting-potatoes/#comment-51504 One year I used straw to "hill up" my potatoes. Oops! The straw was full of baby snakes, come fall, and boy, were they mad to have their cozy nests disturbed. I've never seen so many tiny, hissing, striking snakes before or since! One year I used straw to “hill up” my potatoes. Oops! The straw was full of baby snakes, come fall, and boy, were they mad to have their cozy nests disturbed. I’ve never seen so many tiny, hissing, striking snakes before or since!

]]> http://awaytogarden.com/planting-potatoes/comment-page-1#comment-42053 Ron Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:55:22 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/planting-potatoes/#comment-42053 You say easy on the nitrogen, but my first experience growing potatoes (an accident) was when I cleaned out my chicken coup and buried some old soft, neglected white potatoes from the kitchen. When I say buried, I mean dig a ditch buried. Next summer I could not imagine what the plant was, growing where I had buried all that wonderful manure. Much to my surprise, big beautiful, brand new white potatoes that I had completely forgotten about. I still remember the breakfast I made of them over 30 yrs ago. I believe loose soil is even more important. The biggest potato I ever grew was in E. Washington (state) where the Cascade volcanos have been erupting ash that drifts east for millions of years. This red spud weighed 2 and 3/4 lbs. and was solid and sweet all the way through; better than buried treasure. Thanks for your site and all you do. RB You say easy on the nitrogen, but my first experience growing potatoes (an accident) was when I cleaned out my chicken coup and buried some old soft, neglected white potatoes from the kitchen. When I say buried, I mean dig a ditch buried. Next summer I could not imagine what the plant was, growing where I had buried all that wonderful manure. Much to my surprise, big beautiful, brand new white potatoes that I had completely forgotten about. I still remember the breakfast I made of them over 30 yrs ago. I believe loose soil is even more important. The biggest potato I ever grew was in E. Washington (state) where the Cascade volcanos have been erupting ash that drifts east for millions of years. This red spud weighed 2 and 3/4 lbs. and was solid and sweet all the way through; better than buried treasure.
Thanks for your site and all you do. RB

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