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Garden Gate:  Seed Potatoes!  |
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Dorinda
True Blue Farmgirl
1023 Posts
Dorinda
St. Cloud
Florida
USA
1023 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 1:51:58 PM
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Yes I picked up my seed potatoes today. My tomato seeds I planted are now about 2 inches tall. When they reach another couple of inches I will be able to plant them. Probably the first week of March. Happy to be gardening again. That's for sure!!
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
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dprovence
True Blue Farmgirl
55 Posts
Debbie
Little Rock
AR
USA
55 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 5:20:29 PM
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Hi Dorinda,
My tomato plants are about that tall!! This is the first time I have grown them from seed and they sprouted!!! woooo hooo I also started Bell Pepper plants and they are starting to sprout also. I am so excited. We are trying to plant a big garden this year so I am doing all I can to save some costs up front. Of course all my seeds are organic. this is gonna be great. I am gonna learn to can and I can't wait for that either. I am getting very excited to get going.
Huggs and Smyles,
Debbie
Farmgirl Sister #2636 |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 8:37:56 PM
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Lucky You Dorinda...here on Long Island we can finally see some grass and gardens again after being buried under several feet of snow! Next few days are due to be "unseasonably warm" so hopefully the rest of the snow will be GONE!
I am going to try and grow potatoes this year for the first time. I was thinking of doing them in containers...any tips and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Happy Planting!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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Dorinda
True Blue Farmgirl
1023 Posts
Dorinda
St. Cloud
Florida
USA
1023 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2011 : 09:16:18 AM
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Okay Laurie,
I grow potatoes every year. I love the red ones (Red Norlands). I like to grow them because I can get 2 crops out of them. You can dig them when they are little.(New Potatoes) ( 3 inches around) Then by the time I am at the end of the rows. You can circle back in a couple of weeks and dig some more. Then leave some for the main crop. After the tops of the plants die the potato will still keep growing. I have always planted mine like my Grandparents did. Start out with flat rows and as the plant starts growing hill dirt around them being careful not to hit the tubers. Keep the dirt hilled up around them because you do not want to let the sun light hit any of the potatoes that will cause them to green. Which then can cause poisoning if eating can make you sick. Also don't forget the plants them selves are very poison. If you have goats or any animals that might get into the garden. Last year I had a few seed potatoes left over so I threw them in a large container I had near by. I noticed that the plants did not yeild as many as potatoes as when they are grown in ground in rows. But you can grow them in containers just basically you will do them the same way keep dirt hilled around the plants. I have never used fertilizer on mine. I know you do not have to have perfect soil to grow potatoes. There is nothing better than a fresh cooked potatoe right out of the ground. And kept in a cool place they will keep for a long time.
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
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homsteddinmom
True Blue Farmgirl
441 Posts
Brandee
bullard
tx
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2011 : 07:01:32 AM
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We built a potato bin to plant ours in. It is 3 feet wide and 20 ft long. We put weed barrier on the ground then a layer of soil then set the potatoes where we wanted them then covered then with soil. As they grow we will add more soil over the top and can go as high as we want!
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2011 : 07:15:47 AM
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I really love planting potatoes. Just make sure you don't plant them near your tomatoes! They are both members of the nightshade family and cross polinate. I had a few "volunteer" potatoes from the year prior when I'd rotated my bed patterns, and I ended up with a couple of green Potato-Tomatoes!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2011 : 11:32:41 AM
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Dorinda,
Thanks for the tips...I think I will plant them in the garden as opposed to containers..seems to make more sense. I was just thinking that I could save room by doing containers...Who knows maybe I'll experiment and try both!
I appreciate your advice. Today is beautiful here on Long Island- 60 degrees! Oh how it makes me ache for spring even more!
Happy Planting..
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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henlady35904
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Kim
Gadsden
Alabama
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2011 : 07:44:07 AM
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| Has anyone grown potatoes in straw bales? I am courious to how this works and would love to try it. |
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Dorinda
True Blue Farmgirl
1023 Posts
Dorinda
St. Cloud
Florida
USA
1023 Posts |
Posted - Feb 24 2011 : 6:17:21 PM
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I think I saw a Martha Stewart show a couple of years ago. She planted potatoes in straw rows. I think that might be a little of the same thing. She dug trenches in the ground an planted her potato seeds(eyes). When they started coming up she would place a layer of straw to keep her tubers covered. As the plant grew she would add more straw until the trench was full of straw. I quess that is an alternative to hoeing dirt up around the plant. The show never really said how the potatoes turned out.
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
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henlady35904
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Kim
Gadsden
Alabama
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Feb 25 2011 : 07:16:46 AM
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| Thanks Dorinda! I'm going to check that out. |
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Garden Gate: Seed Potatoes! |
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Seed Potatoes!
