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I planted my potatoes in fabric pots the other day. The pots themselves are Potato Bins from Gardener's Supply but they can also be purchased directly from the manufacturer, Smart Pots. These bins are 15 gallons and should hold 10-13 pounds of potatoes by season's end. We will see. This is my first year growing potatoes and I was unable to get the ones I wanted. No one ships to Idaho, funny as this is often called the potato state. But apparently Idaho doesn't want any new diseases for their main crop. I guess I can't blame them, it just puts a crimp in my ordering plans.
I planted:
- Red LaSoda
- Yukon Gold
- Red Norland
I guess every state is different, but I can't say that I blame them either. Goodluck with your crop. Have a great weekend
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with the potatoes. That's one thing I have no experience with so this will be interesting to follow. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteWe don't eat a whole lot of potatoes, so just for fun, I planted some Russian fingerling spuds. I was wondering if mine had rotted away, so yesterday I CAREFULLY dig down and found some shoots. YAY!
ReplyDeleteThat is the perfect spot for plants. I like those bins. I will be interested in seeing how they come up and do.
ReplyDeleteThought I'd add a little bit of trivia.
ReplyDeleteSPUD:
The Society for the Prevention of an Unwholesome Diet.
Supposedly this was a real organization in Britain. Not sure of the date but late 18 century probably. Potatoes had a hard time being accepted in Europe when they were first introduced.
Potatoes my downfall - love 'em. Be sure and keep us posted on how they do - and taste. Have a nice (hopefully for you too sunny) weekend! Linda
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for including the link to the pots. I have been looking for more affordable large pots - but didn't even know where to begin. These smart pots are exactly what I am looking for. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am interested in trying these...let us know how they work for you.
ReplyDeleteYukon Gold is one of my faves, along with Yellow Finn.
I'm going to be saying "potato" tomorrow when I plant mine, Heather! (And I always plant my seed potatoes whole, too.) I have an earlier incarnation of your Gardener's Supply pots. Mine are sheets of heavy black plastic with circles punched throughout. You set them up like circular compost bins, fill them, and plant as you go. It's a good way to get a crop of potatoes without taking up precious bed space!
ReplyDeleteHeather, I say "Potato" too! Sharon Lovejoy's book Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots has the "recipe" for Tub-o-Spuds which uses the same concept. You add a bit more soil as the tops grow, if I'm not mistaken. I did this with my kids when they were young although I used a large galvanized washtub. Worked beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI hope the wind takes a complete hiatus for several weeks to allow you time on that now infamous IGA (Intimidating Garden Area). More photos please. :)
We're trying the Red LaSoda for fun this year. I don't think we'll get much but my girls wanted to try. I wonder if there are potato smugglers that can bring you some from Washington? :)
ReplyDeleteWe've grown lots of things in our garden, but I haven't tried potatoes yet.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this year!!
I like those. I was snooping around Home Depot today looking for just that sort of thing. I want to plant my five little purple potatoes tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had room for potatoes. I guess we would if we bought some of those fabric pots!
ReplyDeleteThose pots are neat! My potatoes got hit with two freezes after they'd started putting up sprouts, so we'll see how we do this year.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I have never seen this before...please keep us updated on this method. I'm thinking harvest will be easier that when they are planted deeply in the ground.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually grow potatoes (or any food crops,) mostly because of space. I am, this year, going to plant some Tancook Long Blues, which are blue-skinned, blue-fleshed taters, and one of my favourites since I was a wee child. Tancook Island is an inhabited island off the Nova Scotian south shore, and my father's people came from the south shore--the first thing I ever planted was a blue potato in my grandfather's sawdust pile, when I was about 6. So I hope your taters do very well.
ReplyDeleteIt is kind of funny about your state and potatoes as all of the potatoes we buy are "Idaho Potatoes."
ReplyDeleteGreetings from another potato state, Heather! Last year was my first year planting spuds, and I used the potato bags from Gardeners' Supply. Loved them. And the kids loved them at harvest time--tip over and scrabble!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I learned was to fold down the top, then roll it up as you load soil in around the growing potato tops. Helps the little plants get every bit of sunshine.
Can't wait to see updates on yours. We're doing fingerlings again.
I've planted Yukons in years past and have enjoyed them. I think the plants are beautiful, too! As much as I would like to be, I am NOT a fan of fingerlings. Don't know why
ReplyDeleteThose look nice. Hope you post on how they do. I saw them for sale and decided to try making one myself out of some landscaping fabric.
ReplyDelete