8 Pacific Russet's
4 Purple Viking's
4 Alaska Sweetheart'sThere will be a total of 16 potato plants this season. They will be grown in real soil from the yard, with a little amending and traditionally hilled. No potato bins again! Given a conservative yield of 1.5lbs per plant the potatoes will cost $0.66 cents per pound, I am hoping for better yields though. Also with any hope this growing season will be blight free so next season my potato seed will be free.
We grew potatoes for the first time last year and the yield was really surprising. We'll definitely do it again and I think we'll go with a more interesting variety like the ones pictured here.
ReplyDeleteHey Dan...just curious...but by the sounds of it you weren't thrilled with the potato boxes? Did they not produce for you? It is my understanding that only certain potatoes are suited for this method...is that true? I was going to give it a try this next season but maybe not if it's not worth it. Btw... the purple potatoes are nice...
ReplyDeleteI really, really want to try to grow other varieties of potatoes, but I think I'll stick with the sweet potatoes one more year. I'm going to do those in containers instead of in the garden itself, so we'll see how it works. Maybe then I'll get my brave up for next year!
ReplyDeleteGreat selection ! The purple Vikings are so pretty ! Not sure if I'm doing potatoes again this year. I can't decide.
ReplyDeleteAerelonian - The variety in potatoes is pretty amazing and they are a great crop to grow. The only ones I really don't like are the purple fleshed ones, they are just to mealy for me.
ReplyDeleteSunny - The bins can only be planted with late season potatoes. They are the only ones that will produce more clutches of potatoes up the stem. With that said, I think the constant filling of the bin stresses the plants out and reduces yields. I planted late seasons in my bin last season and only harvested 6lb 10oz from a huge bin! The bin is now a composter.....
Ribbit - Potatoes are really easy to grow, you can even plant the sprouted ones from your fridge. They grow well in pots too, even in compost bags with holes punched in the bottom. The potato bins on the other hand do not work.
Miss M - I have thought of not growing potatoes a few times. The fresh ones tastes so good though I always end up planting them.
That looks like a nice mix/variety of potatoes that you have selected. Like you, I had to purchase my potato seed this year - because of the late blight last year. Don't want to take chances with this important crop for our us. Always grow a big patch to feed us for the coming winter and it would be miserable to have the whole crop fail due to carry over disease problems. I am going to do a more intense planting of the potatoes this year - but only do the one large bed section and pass on the second medium size bed I typically also plant in potatoes. We are still eating on our harvest from 2009 and have about 2/3rds of a big box left. Been pacing myself through them so I don't run out too early.
ReplyDeleteI don't know a thing about growing potatoes, but wish you success and hope your potatoes will be as pretty as the ones in these photos.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.
donna
Good luck with the spuds - I can't imagine not growing a few earlies here. I will have a couple of rows on my allotment and some of my own breed in the garden. (My own are purple fleshed but I selected those that were waxy - here's hoping!)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking I'd save my potatoes too, but that didn't happen. I still haven't made up my mind if I'm going to have room to plant them anywhere. Maybe. I love the look of the Alaska Sweethearts. I wonder if they cook up pink.
ReplyDeleteI am growing potatoes for the first time this year. Mine too will be grown in the ground with traditional hilling. I thought about the potato towers, but learned from the failures of yours and others last year.
ReplyDeleteYour selections are so pretty. I am looking forward to seeing the results.
This will be my first year growing potatoes as well. I am VERY excited. I ordered early, mid and fingerling varieties from Fedco. I think I'll plant most of them in traditional trenches but save a few to grow in pots just for fun.
ReplyDeleteGreat choices Dan!
Dan, I would love to get my hands on some seed potatoes. I'm hoping to get some soon but I can't afford an order right now. Thinking of going to a farmers market to pick up a few.
ReplyDeleteHi Dan good luck with the blight. I had it also, no tomatoes and had to harvest the potatoes early, small harvest. Hoplefully we are over that. John
ReplyDeleteKitsapFG - I am hoping for a good potato harvest this year. The first time I grew them just in the yards soil and they did get. Then I grew them in a raised bed with rich soil and they didn't do so well, lots of leaves. Then last year I tried the bin thing which was a disaster. So its been two years without a good potato harvest, it is time for a change!
ReplyDeleteDonna - Thanks! Nothing better then fresh potatoes.
Veg Heaven - I have only ever had mealy purple fleshed ones, maybe I should keep tasting. Although I boiled the purple ones, maybe that made them mealy.
Daphne - They say the alaska sweetheart stays pink when cooked. Should be interesting.
123 123 - No problem.
GrafixMuse - Those towers are way to much work and cost. I find the good ol' way is usually the best!
Thomas - Fingerlings are so good, especially in potato salad or roasted, yum. I didn't order any of them this year. I have a few in the crisper though that didn't come down with blight.
Kalena Michele - I have planted potatoes from the store a few times, they work just as well. Now would be a good time to pick them up so they have time to start sprouting.
John - I hope we are over blight as well! This coming season has to be better then last.
Dan - I hear ya on not using bins again. Personally, I think the bin method is a joke. I may try growing spuds one more time, but the jury's still out.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like fun, growing some coloured and unusual varieties. Do you have access to blight-resistant varieties over there? there are a few new ones here called 'Sarpo' which have excellent resistance to blight.
ReplyDeleteI"ve tried the bin / tire method and it didn't really work for me. Or at least I had better yields just planted directly in garden soil. As for your potatoes, cool looking and yes I hope there isn't blight this year too.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard of Tom Wagner's blight resistant breeding program?