Tater Time

[workinonit]

Got the hedge row cleared Thursday and my potatoes planted Friday. Next to get my electric fence up. Just a pic to show where the 140 laid out the rows.

 

[oldballs]

Looks off to a good start......It'll be another month here before planting....St Patrick's Day that is....thereabout.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Moxie 15]

15 degrees and about 18 inches of snow on the ground here. Will need a bigger shovel to plant my garden for a few months.

 

[Thomas]

Yup as Moxie wrote and their mud season also.

 

[workinonit]

It's been pretty nice here the last few days.

 

[ruffdog]

Last year my tater plant growth was froze off by a late frost. The taters did come back okay but it took a while. What is the normal rule-of-thumb for the time to plant? Just so the soil is warming and workable?

 

[workinonit]

Yea, generally around here late January through mid Feb. It's time right now and will soon move into late.

 

[workinonit]

I planted yellow, white and red. 7 pounds each I think.

 

[ruffdog]

I planted yellow, white and red. 7 pounds each I think.

Do you have any of the Colorado potato beetles down there?

 

[workinonit]

Not that I am aware of.

 

[workinonit]

Just looked them up and yes we do have them. Didn't know they were called Colorado beetles.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I used to grow potatoes, but when farmers here sell 40-pound sacks, for 5 bucks, I won't work that hard to raise them!

SR

 

[Doofy]

I used to grow potatoes, but when farmers here sell 40-pound sacks, for 5 bucks, I won't work that hard to raise them!

SR

Wish I could buy Taters that cheap. We can't even buy 5# for $5.

 

[ruffdog]

Just looked them up and yes we do have them. Didn't know they were called Colorado beetles.

Two years ago we started getting a few beetles and so I powdered the plants (didn't seem to kill them). Last year I read up on the beetles and it seems they are hard to control so I just picked and squished the bugs. I just have a small garden so it is easy to keep up with them. I looked at the neighbor's garden and they had hundreds of beetles and they didn't seemed concerned. I had a much better crop and many were bigger than I ever had.

 

[arizona98tj]

With about 2 1/2 feet of snow on the ground and -31F this morning, I'm holding off on planting my potatoes for a few more weeks. That being said, I do need to go snap off the eyes on my potatoes in the cold room. We get the Colorado beetles up here too. I use a diatomaceous earth solution mixed with water and spot-spray my plants. It does a very good job. Been using the same bottle for the past 6 years.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Wish I could buy Taters that cheap. We can't even buy 5# for $5.

Over all the years I lived in Alaska, I grew and sold potatoes, they are easy to grow there.

I never had any problem selling them either. lol

SR

 

[Doofy]

Last summer we tried Yukon Gold in Grow Bags. Worked surprisingly well, no muss,no fuss. The rodents didn't get to them and to harvest, just dump the bags in to the wheel barrow and scoop them out. Taters almost lasted the entire winter.

 

[workinonit]

First time planting golds.

 

[ruffdog]

We had good luck with Kennebec potatoes.

 

[jyoutz]

Last year my tater plant growth was froze off by a late frost. The taters did come back okay but it took a while. What is the normal rule-of-thumb for the time to plant? Just so the soil is warming and workable?

I always plant a month before the last frost. They don’t sprout above ground for at least two-three weeks and they can handle light late season frosts. Only you have a good idea on what calendar date that is for you.