Planting Taters

[2manyrocks]

Once the potatoes have been dug by the potato harvester, do you let them sit a bit and then pick them up by hand or is there some machinery for this part, too? Do you put them in a bag and then into storage at that point?

You're obviously growing potatoes on a much larger scale than our garden potato patch.

Thank you for posting the link to the potato harvester. I had been searching on the internet using the term "potato digger" and didn't have much success finding anything except digging forks and potato plows. Would you recommend a potato plow for smaller crops or is there some other implement to consider?

 

[DUMBDOG]

After the potatoes are dug, we go behind and pick them up by hand. They are either left in the picking tubs or are dumped into four by four foot crates, depending upon the time of the year. Usually the potatoes are picked the same day, either for the farmers market or later in the year when picking for seed, it is late in the year, they are also picked the same day to avoid the frost. When left out over night we have had the problem of those large four legged rats that range in weight from one hundred pounds and larger eating them.

I have no recommendations on the picking of the other crops as these we all do by hand. I have not found anything that is economical feasible for the carrots, etc. Growing up on the farm, many years ago, I do remember that Dad used a plow to dig the potatoes and we went along afterwords and dug them out of the loose soil.

 

[jinman]

Growing up on the farm, many years ago, I do remember that Dad used a plow to dig the potatoes and we went along afterwords and dug them out of the loose soil.

Exactly the way we did it, but we didn't have 6 acres. Luckily, we only did that for a half-acre or less.

Good to hear from you, David. I hadn't seen you post in quite awhile and was hoping you'd respond here with your expertise. Are you in ND or Florida right now?

 

[DUMBDOG]

Exactly the way we did it, but we didn't have 6 acres. Luckily, we only did that for a half-acre or less.

Good to hear from you, David. I hadn't seen you post in quite awhile and was hoping you'd respond here with your expertise. Are you in ND or Florida right now?

Still in North Dakota waiting a lease transaction to be completed before we head south. We have had more snow and cold up here than usual. By the time we get out of here, it will more than likely be warm up here.

Growing up, we had just a half acre or less of potatoes also.

 

[Stimw]

Here is my first attempt at tater growing. I had them tented last week when the temp got down to 26* on my thermometer. I had very little damage where the tent blew loose.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Growing up on the farm, many years ago, I do remember that Dad used a plow to dig the potatoes and we went along afterwords and dug them out of the loose soil.

That is how we did it when dad planted them. That is also how I will dig them this year.

A few years back my FIL always plowed and cultivated with a horse for the garden even though he had 2 tractors. It was the way he did it growing up and continued that until the horse got too old about 15 years ago.

One time he was plowing out potatoes with the horse and ask me if I wanted to try...it did not look that hard. I grabed the plow handles, wraped the harness around me and took off. He told me hoe to use the "gee" and "haw" for left and right. I "geed" and "hawed" that horse all over that garden. There is an art to plowing with a horse...or at least a lot of practice!

 

[WayneB]

Last year I had about an acre of potatoes. Down this way I have to dig, wash and bag the same day and we sold directly off from the farm stand. Most of the people won't buy them around here unless they are washed, drives me nuts at times so I add to the selling price.

Next year I plan on putting in about doubling the area for the potatoes and hope to be able to sell them the same way. Sort-of fun having people stop by and pick them up and put the money in the pail!

 

[DUMBDOG]

I have never used horses, unless you consider the ponies in the diesel engine.

Last year I had about an acre of potatoes. Down this way I have to dig, wash and bag the same day and we sold directly off from the farm stand. Most of the people won't buy them around here unless they are washed, drives me nuts at times so I add to the selling price.

Next year I plan on putting in about doubling the area for the potatoes and hope to be able to sell them the same way. Sort-of fun having people stop by and pick them up and put the money in the pail!

Clean and fresh are the rules in order to sell well at either the farmers market or at a roadside stand. The only time I do run the potatoes through the vegetable washer are the bulk ones in the fall, they will store better if they are not washed.

What do you charge for potatoes at the roadside stand?

 

[dooleysm]

The guy beside me at the farmer's market was selling potatoes in 1 gallon ziploc bags. I think he was getting $3.50/gallon and he sold out pretty quick. I'm planning a huge run of potatoes this year to cash in on that market.

No 6 acre or even half acre plot, but enough to yield several hundred pounds of potatoes. I've got a middle buster for planting and harvesting, a troy-bilt bronco for cultivating, and a hoe for hilling.

 

[WayneB]

I never wash the ones we keep, like you mentioned they do keep better if not washed, but to sell them to the city folk you have to wash them. I bag them in 5 lb potato sacks and charge 80 cents a pound. We will sell the odd small ones (as salt potatoes) for $3.50 a 5 lb sack.

I am sure we could have charged more for them, but it seemed to be slightly higher than the local stores and I thought I was making something on them anyway. Seed potato was selling for around 34 dollars a 100 weight. Sure if I was buying more seed potato I could get a better price.

When I was a kid we had about 100 acres of potatoes and I said then once I leave this farm I hope I never see another potato, forty some years later what am I doing but selling potatoes, go figure. We paid pickers back then 10 cents a bushel, wonder what they are making today?

I only plant Yukon Gold, Norland Reds and Superior Whites. Norlands are by far the best seller for us.