Reply
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,976
Registered: ‎12-27-2010

Re: Potato Planting Time

[ Edited ]

@cheriere wrote:

@LizzieInSRQ wrote:

@cheriere this is so fscinating! What size is your potato...patch (is that what its called)?


It's about an acre and a half, maybe bigger.  I remember when my grandparents were still alive it was even bigger than now.  Sounds like a lot, but we're essentially growing enough for at least three families.  My aunts grown kids all have enough too.  Potatoes are one thing we don't run out of lol.😂

 

Yes, potato patch is right.😃


Woah,  that is MUCH larger than i anticipating you saying! I thought youd say 20ft x 20ft or something!! Lotta work. Post photod of your treasures when you get them im sure some of us urbanites, or  non-gardeners as well as the other talented gardeners would love to see stuff like potatoes which i imagine are not so commonly homegrown!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,835
Registered: ‎03-19-2010

@cheriere wrote:

@candys mine   I've never seen that way of planting potatoes before.  What a genius idea!  

I always love pulling up the pants and finding all those good looking potatoes too!  We always separate those especially large, big enough for baking from the rest of the bunch.

 

I hope you're able to find some so you can grow again.  Because my dad and uncle basically have an entire garden of nothing but potatoes, they always make sure we save some from the year prior.

 


@cheriere I was under the impression that practice (saving and planting potatoes from the previous year) was what caused the disease that caused the potato famine in Ireland.  I could be wrong though.  I know they recommend buying seed pototoes that have been treated to prevent disease though. 

 

I only have a less than an acre yard, and it's mostly shade.  So, I don't have a place even for a garden.  I usually try and grow a few veggies in containers.  I'm always on the hunt for dwarf varieties.  I'm trying some potatoes this year in the fabric grow bags, which are sorta like heavy felt.  I just planted them about a week ago.  According to my extension office, mid-February to Mid March is the proper time for my area. 

 

I currently have shallots I planted last fall growing in some of those grow bags out along my front sidewalk.  It's all one big experiment for me.  It's a chance to see if I can grow things and to be able to grow varieties not available in the grocery store.  No way am I saving money.  

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,050
Registered: ‎03-15-2021

@cheriere I am going a bit off subject. Have you planted pinto beans in past years? We picked them before they developed the bean. They are flat, but they are the best green bean. I thought of them with the new potatoes.

 

Most of the pinto beans were allowed to mature. A fresh shelled pinto bean is soooo good. More work for Dad and Uncle. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,708
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

Re: Potato Planting Time

[ Edited ]

@LizzieInSRQ wrote:

@cheriere wrote:

@LizzieInSRQ wrote:

@cheriere this is so fscinating! What size is your potato...patch (is that what its called)?


It's about an acre and a half, maybe bigger.  I remember when my grandparents were still alive it was even bigger than now.  Sounds like a lot, but we're essentially growing enough for at least three families.  My aunts grown kids all have enough too.  Potatoes are one thing we don't run out of lol.😂

 

Yes, potato patch is right.😃


Woah,  that is MUCH larger than i anticipating you saying! I thought youd say 20ft x 20ft or something!! Lotta work. Post photod of your treasures when you get them im sure some of us urbanites, or  non-gardeners as well as the other talented gardeners would love to see stuff like potatoes which i imagine are not so commonly homegrown!


Sure, I don't mind at all.  However, our potatoes are pretty much just your common variety Irish Potatoes, at least that's what we've always called them.  

The new potatoes that come in first are very small and have such a thin skin it can essentially be wiped off with a paper towel, but really there's no need to.  It's that thin.  They're pretty small, but taste so good.

 

Sometimes, we pan fry them in just a little oil and butter.  You don't even need to cut the smallest and usually just half any that are bigger.💝🌸

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,708
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

@Icegoddess wrote:

@cheriere wrote:

@candys mine   I've never seen that way of planting potatoes before.  What a genius idea!  

I always love pulling up the pants and finding all those good looking potatoes too!  We always separate those especially large, big enough for baking from the rest of the bunch.

 

I hope you're able to find some so you can grow again.  Because my dad and uncle basically have an entire garden of nothing but potatoes, they always make sure we save some from the year prior.

 


@cheriere I was under the impression that practice (saving and planting potatoes from the previous year) was what caused the disease that caused the potato famine in Ireland.  I could be wrong though.  I know they recommend buying seed pototoes that have been treated to prevent disease though. 

 

I only have a less than an acre yard, and it's mostly shade.  So, I don't have a place even for a garden.  I usually try and grow a few veggies in containers.  I'm always on the hunt for dwarf varieties.  I'm trying some potatoes this year in the fabric grow bags, which are sorta like heavy felt.  I just planted them about a week ago.  According to my extension office, mid-February to Mid March is the proper time for my area. 

 

I currently have shallots I planted last fall growing in some of those grow bags out along my front sidewalk.  It's all one big experiment for me.  It's a chance to see if I can grow things and to be able to grow varieties not available in the grocery store.  No way am I saving money.  


I don't think, but I could be wrong, we've ever bought seed potatoes.  They've never given us a problem either.  We always have a bumper crop.  All the people I know who grow them in my area use their own potatoes to plant.  I didn't know that's what caused the potato famine though.

 

I like the idea of being able to grow vegetables using the bags.  If it were just me, that might even be something I'd consider doing.  I hope your shallots do well.💝

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,708
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

Re: Potato Planting Time

[ Edited ]

@On It wrote:

@cheriere I am going a bit off subject. Have you planted pinto beans in past years? We picked them before they developed the bean. They are flat, but they are the best green bean. I thought of them with the new potatoes.

 

Most of the pinto beans were allowed to mature. A fresh shelled pinto bean is soooo good. More work for Dad and Uncle. 


 

Now that's one thing I don't ever recall planting.  I'm surprised too considering my dad loves them so much!  I'll definitely have to mention this to him at dinner tonight.  I'd love to try a few and see how it goes.  

Thank you for this idea.  And please, feel free to talk about things other than just potatoes.  I should've given this thread a better title.💝🌸

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,669
Registered: ‎10-09-2023

I love home grown potatoes. They taste so much better than store bought. Here potato planting occurs in April at the earliest. @cheriere  Good luck with your crop this year!

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,708
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

@SaveTheTurtles wrote:

I love home grown potatoes. They taste so much better than store bought. Here potato planting occurs in April at the earliest. @cheriere  Good luck with your crop this year!


 

Thy do taste great, don't they?  My mom likes to take the smallest of the new potatoes and cook them by making a white gravy on them.  I prefer them fried, but she loves the other way lol.

 

Thanks for the good luck wishes.💝🌸. I hope your garden turns out great too.😃

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,708
Registered: ‎12-01-2023

@On It wrote:

@cheriere I am going a bit off subject. Have you planted pinto beans in past years? We picked them before they developed the bean. They are flat, but they are the best green bean. I thought of them with the new potatoes.

 

Most of the pinto beans were allowed to mature. A fresh shelled pinto bean is soooo good. More work for Dad and Uncle. 


No, we haven't tried the pinto beans. I mentioned it to dad at dinner and I think it may have got him interested.  He recalled many, many years ago his dad grown some.  I'll bet they do taste great!😃

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,127
Registered: ‎03-02-2016
Still too early to plant potato’s in my area. Soil has not reached 50 degrees yet. Just had a Nor’Easter blow through on Thursday. We have been planting in bottomless buckets the last few years. A lot easier for me than row planting.