when to hill potatoes?

daugen · May 27, 2012

thanks again for the help. Potatoes, like tomatoes, grow more roots if the stems are buried. More roots = more potatoes (in theory at least).

Now I get it, because I already bury my tomatoes at least an inch or two to both support the stem and create more roots. So it would seem the first overlay/hilling ought to be done with dirt or compost, something that will promote the rooting, and perhaps the top layer could just be lighter material like hay.

thanks, very helpful.

tcreeley · May 27, 2012

I don't hill my potatoes. They do well. Potato bugs is what I have to worry about- and what controls the quality of my crop. Picking them off and spraying with bulls eye of sevin if I run out.

rsewill · May 27, 2012

tcreeley said:
I don't hill my potatoes. They do well. Potato bugs is what I have to worry about- and what controls the quality of my crop. Picking them off and spraying with bulls eye of sevin if I run out.

I thought Maine was built on potatoes. They push up like rocks do in other states.

case245 · May 27, 2012

10'' inches to a 12'' inches of dirt is all you need i grew 1/4 acre patatos they did find i dont plant them anymore

daugen · May 28, 2012

Potato bugs...I keep hearing about potato bugs...Hmmmm. Ok, in an all organic garden where I can't spray Ortho or Monsanto's best on them, anything else I can use? Anything potato bugs don't like? Would netting the plants work? (a real hassle...)
Geez, I better Google this; I don't even know what the bug looks like, but I'm sure going to be on the lookout.

Do potato bugs "come from somewhere" like a neighbors potato field, or are they there already? This is not potato country for sure, so I'm hoping the local bug population might be small. Thoughts? Japanese beetles we've got, at least locally, and any of those I see are history.

DJ54 · May 28, 2012

Several years back I read where some organic gardeners wanting to get away from harsh chemicals were mixing I believe 1 TBS of dish washing detergent/soap, to 1 gallon of water. Seems some prefer Ivory brand.

I just Googled it again, and this spray is mostly a direct contact bug killer. Theories why it kills them is either it cuts through their waxy exoskeleton, or neurlogical breakdown.

Haven't tried it myself, but once I have time to care for a garden again, I'm definitely going to try it.

zonta223 · May 28, 2012

DKCDKC said:
My daughter plants two potatoes in some soft earth in an old tire. As the potato plant grows, she adds another tire and packs in compost or hay so that the plant is almost covered, then does it again with a third tire. She lets it grow until it dies back and usually gets a peck or more of potatoes from each set of tires.

.

It has been found that this is not a good idea......toxins are released from the tires and enter the potatoes. Lab tests confirm it

bp fick · May 28, 2012

daugen said:
Potato bugs...I keep hearing about potato bugs...Hmmmm. Ok, in an all organic garden where I can't spray Ortho or Monsanto's best on them, anything else I can use? Anything potato bugs don't like? Would netting the plants work? (a real hassle...)
Geez, I better Google this; I don't even know what the bug looks like, but I'm sure going to be on the lookout.

Do potato bugs "come from somewhere" like a neighbors potato field, or are they there already? This is not potato country for sure, so I'm hoping the local bug population might be small. Thoughts? Japanese beetles we've got, at least locally, and any of those I see are history.

There are naturally occurring or naturally produced insecticides. I know, it sounds strange, but true. Certain flowers and other things produce a "fluid/oil" that is very effective as an insecticide.

Permethrins (sp) are chemical copy-cats of the natural kinds of plant oils, flower oils that are insecticides. You can buy either the completely natural, flower oil kind or the chemically "copied" kind.

BTW, they are extremely effective. In our experience, however, the staying power isn't as long, requiring more frequent spraying. Johnny's Seeds is just one source for such products, but a recommended source. FWIW

Duffster · May 28, 2012

daugen said:
Potato bugs...I keep hearing about potato bugs...Hmmmm. Ok, in an all organic garden where I can't spray Ortho or Monsanto's best on them, anything else I can use? Anything potato bugs don't like? Would netting the plants work? (a real hassle...)
Geez, I better Google this; I don't even know what the bug looks like, but I'm sure going to be on the lookout.

Do potato bugs "come from somewhere" like a neighbors potato field, or are they there already? This is not potato country for sure, so I'm hoping the local bug population might be small. Thoughts? Japanese beetles we've got, at least locally, and any of those I see are history.

You can cover them with row cover. the beetles will just show up. You cna pick them off by hand every day if you can be there it doesn't take that long.

zonta223 said:
It has been found that this is not a good idea......toxins are released from the tires and enter the potatoes. Lab tests confirm it

Got a link LOL?

tcreeley · May 28, 2012

Bull's-Eye Bioinsecticide

I use: Bull's-Eye Bioinsecticide and hand pick the bugs and dump into a small bucket of water. I crush the orange masses of eggs under the leaves. They come in cycles. I think they overwinter in the ground. It is good to move your potatoes around to avoid that. Commercial operations just spray the killing chemicals- but they also use herbicide to harvest. Spray a few days before harvest- all the green dies, dries up and doesn't gum up the machinery. It is something to see a truck being filled by conveyor belt driving alongside the harvestor.

Soap and water helped a little, but wasn't strong enough.

Rocks and stones are still a primary crop for many Mainers - never a shortage. :laughing: