Panic

[Martin]

This weekend I must do something about potatoes, I keep hearing that now is the time, though I'm not exactly sure what now is the time for (if you see what I mean?).

Guess this needs more research. This is my first year as an urban farmer, so much to learn!

Now back to my 'real' work

p.s.

anyone else here on Twitter? if so, I'm at www.twitter.com/martinxo

[Martin]

Hey Kati, thanks so much for these tips, and I'll make sure to check out the website. Best, Martin

[Kati]

Ooops, sorry!!! I meant Martin, not Matt.

[Kati]

Hey Matt, I've got a Brit friend (Peter) who's taught me a bit about potatoes (from British lips to Alaskan ears *grin*). His website is: http://environmentalideas.blogspot.com/ He might have some insights for ya from a little closer to home.

Honestly, last summer was my first attempt with potatoes, and I had great success (for a first try, anyway). I made chicken-wire "barrels" (the width of the wire was the depth of the barrel) and each about 2 and a half feet in diameter (could have gone a little bigger, I think). Planted each with an "eye" from a seed potato, eye up. Covered over with a bit of dirt. Tried to surround them with a bit of plastic (tarp, leftover from painting my daughter's room), but it didn't stay in place very well. Anyway, keep them moist, not drenched. When the plant finally grows up through the bit of soil you've topped over the plant with, pour more soil around the plant as it grows. Try hard to stay on top of keeping the dirt up around the plant. This allows you to grow potatoes "up" instead of "out". As the plant grows, sending out more shoots, you're adding dirt, it keeps growing up, you keep adding dirt, it keeps sending out side shoots that become potatoes, and growing taller, and you keep adding dirt.

My Brit-friend has these big pallet-built boxes that he uses, just removes the side when harvest time comes and allows the dirt to fall out, and pulls the potatoes out of it. He said he plants 2 or 3 per pallet-box. I only planted 1 plant in each of my two barrels. I ran out of soil to keep adding to the "barrels" long before I could have fun stopped adding more, if I'd had it.

A coworker recommended partially mulched leaves from the previous year for potatoes. Said that in the past she's kept the potato plants buried in leaves from the previous year, and had a fantastic growth.

Oh, and another thing. DON'T pack down the soil! The "rows" we did over at my inlaw's house with potatoes got packed down, and produced (plant for plant) only about 1/4th the potatoes my 2 plants produced for me. Just put the potato-eye in, cover it lightly over with dirt, and keep it moist. Best of luck!

[Martin]

Chris: Hiyah! See you on Twitter
Matt: I'm in the Fens of East England
Edson: Yes, you're right, ordering seeds is what I need to do, cheers!
Karen: Well done on getting yr seeds in!

Onwards and upwards...

[Karen]

I live in Wash DC and I just ordered my potatoes to be delivered in mid March from Seedsavers. They ran out last year by April

[Edson]

I think what you may be hearing is that it's time to *order* seed potatoes. Just to make sure you get some. I think a few places are concerned about seed potatoes selling out earlier than usual.

I actually just placed my order with Wood Prairie, to be delivered in April...

[Matt Mayer]

Martin--Where do you farm at? It seems awfully early to plant potatoes, even in the deep south.

[Chris]

Martin welcome to The Barnyard! - twitter.com/chris_welch