Harvesting 200 LBS of Potatoes | Gardening in Alaska
We look forward to our potato harvest every year and we were not disappointed with this season's yield. With some love and care from Mother Nature and of course our favorite amendment compost, we dig up 200 pounds of beautiful spuds grown from the 15 pounds of seed potato we planted in May.
Without the root cellar this winter we will have to store our potatoes indoors. The dry and warm conditions of the cabin are far from ideal to keep potatoes fresh which means even more canning in our near future.
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The tomato-looking fruit that grows on the potatoes are actually potato seeds. We'd heard that years ago so we saved some seeds and planted them this spring and we got potatoes! Not only where they potatoes, they were a mixed variety of potatoes, all different shapes and colours! So amazing.
Eric: Wow, look at the big worm, feed it to the chickens. Next shot is Ariel putting it back in the ground, and lovingly patting it,lol
@Nekotrekk
3 жыл бұрын
That was so cute!
@arnoldromppai5395
3 жыл бұрын
in the script
@arnoldromppai5395
3 жыл бұрын
@No Malice yes tky..
@connielikens3415
3 жыл бұрын
I heard that too! So funny. Very boy and very girl!!
@frahal2589
3 жыл бұрын
I laughed to. The banter between you two is so cute lol
Out in the middle of nowhere eating meals like that. I'm in the city eating cheese puffs with no elastic in my underwear. I've clearly made some bad choices in my life.
@loydeneward6613
3 жыл бұрын
You gave me a good laugh! I needed that today.
@torceridaho
3 жыл бұрын
yep, should have bought the underwear at Sears. well know you know and can start working on replacing those cheese puffs with celery sticks....
@haroldwilkerson2026
3 жыл бұрын
@@torceridaho you still have jc pennys
@alberteinstein9045
3 жыл бұрын
It's never to late to start....start by reading about permaculture, Joel Salitin. Watch Justin Rhoades....People are leaving the city's in droves
@TheStormisComing24
3 жыл бұрын
lol
Who would think that digging up potatoes would be so much fun? It's like digging up treasure. Thanks for sharing. :-)
@MS-hd8yq
3 жыл бұрын
Edible treasure 😉
@kristinfrancis7798
3 жыл бұрын
You’re right - it’s so fun harvesting potatoes!! We got a couple 5 gallon buckets full this year
@katrinar9310
3 жыл бұрын
I'm obsessed with potato harvests! BLESSINGS, -Kate
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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@bradpolmateer4965
3 жыл бұрын
Digging my potatoes is my favorite gardening chore You never know how good acrop till you dig unlike other crops that are visible
You two are the real thing! Most homesteaders talk big, but they don't have much to show for it, and they always seem to be eating Doritos, lol. Thanks for sharing!
I had some potatoes from the grocery store that sprouted, and because of your videos (and a couple other people who garden on KZread), I tried planting them in a bucket to see what would happen. I didn't get 10 pounds, but I got enough to cook and eat, and they were the most potato-tasting potatoes I've ever had.
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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@koliveira0712
3 жыл бұрын
I'm thinking about doing the same, just to learn before I dive deep into gardening. How long did it take for you to harvest them? And it was hard to take care of them?
@marktoldgardengnome4110
3 жыл бұрын
Check out Home Grown Veg A gentleman in the UK, that has numerous video's on growing potatoes, (and many other vegetables in 10 liter (about 3 gallon) buckets, Mostly from store bought potatoes.
I grew potatoes for the first time this year. Grew them in a 2ft x 2ft container and got 3 meals for the family out of it. Now that I know what I'm doing I plan on growing much more next year. A tip for people who like me couldn't find proper seed potatoes I learned online that you can buy organic potatoes from the store. Let them eye and then plant as you would a seed potato. Had great success with Yukon Golds. As always thanks for sharing your video's with all of us.
@OutdoorsandCountryLiving
3 жыл бұрын
Welcome to the potato growing family! Glad you took the first step into growing them. Doesn't it feel good to grow food for your family?? I know we sure love it and grew quite the harvest of potatoes this year. We've been planting spuds for at least 25 years now!! It's awesome that you want to make it bigger and better next season.
@tortron
3 жыл бұрын
cut the potato into chunks each with an eye, and then allow to dry for one day, then plant with the eye facing up. You now have several plants from each potato. you can get away with "thick peels" with eyes too (this is why people now days peel the skin off a lot thicker than they need, its a hold over from the old days where you would use it to grow new ones)
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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I have found myself watching your channel twice. Once with my granddaughter Zoe (5) and the second time alone. She asks way too many questions for me to understand what your doing. She shouts words of encouragement and lets you both know when you're doing something wrong, in the eyes of a 5 year old ...... lol When you were removing the mulch and Eric was piling mulch on another row of crops, she yelled at him to stop because you were taking it off. lol Poor Eric she was pissed! lol I'm sure he felt that abger!! lol Have a wonderful week.
You may want to check out Alaska the last Frontier. Eivan and Eve Kilcher use the crawl space under their house as a root cellar. They use big rubber totes and everything is above ground. Maybe you can contact them for suggestions. The house protects from the severe low temperatures without going below ground. Good luck.
Your vid reminds me of potato harvests in Germany when I was a kid. When the potato field was harvested - we made a bonfire and threw potatoes into the embers. Such a pleasure to pull the hot potatoes out of the ashes and to enjoy them. Forever the smell of potato fire is in my nose. Thank you so much for ur Video.! Greetings from bali, Indonesia😚❤
@prosoperousgarden1742
3 жыл бұрын
I can relate to that, I also had some of those fun as a kid growing up. Looking at this video is refreshing.
We don’t get a potatoe yield like that in Ireland and we are made of the stuff ! Congrats. Love your videos. Greetings from Ireland.
@lissyadams6497
2 жыл бұрын
lol x
That is probably the coolest potato harvest EVER! I (Brian) can remember when I had a sweet potato in Texas on the counter and then went on vacation for a couple weeks. When I came back, the little guy grew about five 12" runners. So I put that guy in the ground and after a short while, had 30 lbs of sweet potatoes from the one! So both Erin and I can see how you got such a haul off of those few seed poatoes! How do you know when to stop digging'em up? It seems like they just kept going and going! LOL! Thanks for sharing your journey! - Brian + Erin Currently converting an old school bus into our tiny home on wheels!
I remember going to a farm when I was only about 10 years old. There the farmer kept his potatoes over winter by keeping them covered with hay or straw. He would have an area covered with an old type canvas tarp surrounded by a double wall of straw bales, the potatoes were then covered with more bales and loose straw over that. This was in the sixties in the UK🇬🇧 when our winters were always in the minus. Out of about 24000 lbs/10 tons he lost very few during the winters. A thought for you to think about.
@MsK-xm7vw
3 жыл бұрын
My Grandparents used to layer them dry between beds of straw or sawdust, or a mixture of both, and keep them in the barn in a mound of straw, like you said, they lasted all winter. Thinking your storage container would do the trick. There's no reason to go without potatoes just because you lost your root cellar, there are other ways. Great harvest, love your varieties, and really hoping you don't can them all.
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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@stephaniewilson3955
2 жыл бұрын
The problem is that Alaska gets a lot colder than the UK. Frost can easily go through 3 feet.
@ColdToesNow
2 жыл бұрын
If Willow is anything like where I live in the Copper River region low temps can go (and stay for extended periods) down to -50 F / -45 C. Temps can stay below -30 F/-35 C at night for weeks on end. No amount of straw bales will withstand that.
The rooster would not miss the opportunity to make noise while you guys film. Lol
Every year as a child, my family was meeting up at my grandma's place and we were digging up for a day (a pretty big field of potatoes but with the help of a tractor) and having a picnic. Then, we would share the potatoes for the year. I didn't enjoy it so much when I got older but it's great memories and I'd love to do it again ! :) I love your videos by the way ! :)
I'm making those scalloped potatoes !! Looks awesome. Love your channel from here in New Hampshire.
Who else thought for a second that they were signing out without giving us a glimpse of the finished meal? Lol! Awesome video, guys!
@james_jr
3 жыл бұрын
You know they wouldn't do us dirty like that, wheres ye faith brethren...lol
I soooooo enjoyed watching you’ll dig up potatoes. I’m 69 years old and have never had that privilege. I’m enjoying the finer things thru you’ll!
I watch you from Ukraine. I really like your life, the way you treat everything positively. Thank you for the video and all the best to you
Wow! You can tell all that material you add to the beds is paying off, your soil looks so nice!
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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Seeing those taters come out of the ground was awesome... but that cream of mushroom concoction took the prize. MMMmmmm 😋
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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We dug our potatoes on Saturday, Yukon gold and german butterball did well this year but the reds didn't do real great. All the rain this summer meant I didn't have to water a lot, less work in the garden but it also meant the goats were in the barn more eating expensive hay. It's suppose to snow on Monday already, we still have to pull carrots and buy more hay then I'll feel ready. Thanks for posting I love to see what your up to just up the road. :)
That’s a nice potato harvest. The casserole looks very yummy. My grandmother made a white sauce then added potatoes and string beans, very tasty. Blessings to both of you, I always enjoy your videos.
AMAZINGLY HEALTHY DOWN TO EARTH COUPLE. THESE ONE'S WILL SURVIVE THE WAR. CONGRATULATIONS.
Really enjoyed watching Arielle and Eric's Christmas Potato Day 2020!
I love that you show the ebbs and flows of gardening. Not every crop will have a perfect year and that's part of the mystery and joy of the process. I lived in the Mat-Su for years and the one thing that you always learn is the weather will dictate your life regardless of your prep. Love your channel. Hope you get an HGTV series.
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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You both look so excited and ate having so much fun digging them up. Your videos brighten my day.
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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I came for the fishing and hunting. But honestly I stayed for the farming/canning and just simple living! Keep on keeping on guys 💕 *edit AND THE COOKING!! 😍
Ok you cant leave without a taste of the finished product lol.
@jennifersmith8151
3 жыл бұрын
lmao but i think thats true dear hope you doing good
FINALLY!! I've waited for this day! Thank you!!
@josh_watson
3 жыл бұрын
Same!
@fredquinn3919
3 жыл бұрын
@@josh_watson What he said!! lol
@seriouslyjoking2
3 жыл бұрын
SAME!!
@seriouslyjoking2
3 жыл бұрын
@@MrJustliketht Or she really likes this couple and looks forward to what they are doing next at their homestead. But it sounds like you are projecting.
I started gardening 2yrs. ago and I love it I grow everything I can. If more people had any sense they would start so they won't find themselves waiting in food lines miles long for a box of fruit and vegetables.
im falling behind on my chores watching yall do yours, but i still get some satisfaction doing it this way!
Awesome Harvest.... Some thing you should research.. I have read that it could be dangerous to store potatoes in such a large quantity in the house because, as they age, they put off cyanide gas.. you might look into that before you store long term in the cabin.... I would suggest store them in the long tunnel under a good cover of mounded straw/hay then dirt on top.. thats how my grandparents used to do it up in northern idaho in the corner of the barn, lots of good ventilation in the barn..{you could leave the ventilation open on your long tunnel just abit to help}.. fed 9 kids all winter long on a huge mound of potatoes and squash stored the same way..{edit/add...grandpa would put down a three to four inch layer of hay, then pile on the potatoes, then cover the mound with the same thickness of hay then about a two inch layer of dirt.. he would also leave a two foot space of no dirt at the very top of the mound to let the pile vent.. hope this helps.. }
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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You always have such interesting, colorful, flavor packed meals - good on you for not stopping with just having food to eat but making it magnificent food to relish.
I enjoy watching people dig potatoes, I can’t wait to plant and harvest my own. I was extra excited to see a second video this week.
I've read that you can make yourself a mini cold cellar by burying a trash can in the ground, put straw in it before adding the potatoes. Once you get a layer, place straw over those potatoes, then add more potatoes, straw, potatoes till you have 4 inches to the top of the can. Fill with straw. Put on the lid then place two bales over the top. If I remember correctly, I read this in Backwoods Home magazine about 4 years ago.
Every time I watch these I think "damn that looks like the dream" then I remember it gets to like -3000 and I immediately change my mind. Do love potatoes though.
Man, what gorgeous potatoes!! ❣️♥️❣️
We used to have an allotment and the best thing was digging up the first new potatoes of the season, butter and mint nothing nicer
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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Don't know potato can be so pretty. When you mixed them up in the bucket, they look like those pretty beach stones
Thirteen minutes in until the first rooster crow. I'd thought maybe you'd done some culling in your flock. Glad to hear him in the background!
@SimpleLivingAlaska
3 жыл бұрын
Mary P. Hall we have 3 at the moment. We love them 😃
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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I don't see yield like this in FL. My taters are half that size. I'll live vicariously through your videos. So fun!
The earth on the potatoes is their "coat" which is very important for the storage. Let them only dry for some days, but don't wash them. Industrial grown potatoes are treated with some chemical medicine, therefore the are washed before. I'm growing potatoes in my garden in Austria for more than 40 years and planting the little green seeds brings a type of potatoes, that fits perfectly to the special conditions of your soil, climate and special circumstances. Good luck!
I used to help in my grandparent's garden and my favourite time of year was when we could pick potatoes. That was such fun, just like a treasure hunt. And we always competed to see who had the biggest and which hill gave us the most. Great childhood memories.
Totally enjoyed yall's harvest de papas!🙂 Beautiful potatoes and such vibrant colors. Sweet recipe too.🙂
Without a doubt, the most colorful batch of spuds I've ever seen! Way to go on the harvest. Have you by chance given any thought to a root cellar alternative as of yet? As always thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see what happens next!
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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Wow! My husband and I have been looking forward to this video! Unveiling the potatoes is always great! We wanted to let you both know you are amazing! You’ve inspired and helped us so much with our homesteading and doing things for ourselves. Honestly please don’t stop sharing everything you two do, you truly don’t understand how much you’re both helping others. Helping us has been an understatement. Much love 💕💕
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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That meal at the end was enough to feed a family of four after a hard day out in the fields!! Looked really yummy!!!! Nice amount of potatoes again. I like the Purple one especially!!! 10/10 again guys.
Whoah that meal at the end looks delicious
Time to go digging for those treasures! Is this the harvesting moment that Arielle lives for? 😉
Thanks for sharing your wonderful video. It’s fun digging up & seeing your harvest. I grew sweet potatoes this year for the first time & I squealed every time I found a big one. 😂 The scalloped potatoes/creamy mushroom meal looks delicious. I grew some Golden Jubilee variety of tomatoes like that, sooo good. 😋😋
Thank God....a homesteading site that doesn't sound fake, scripted or make me feel inferior. Thank you.....
I started watching at last year's potato harvest 🤟 so happy for you guys
@labellavita992
3 жыл бұрын
Just came to comment this 😂
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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Eric, you cut those veggies awful fast. You’ve had some experience in a kitchen somewhere. Great job on the potatoes this year y’all!
@szabomarton8064
3 жыл бұрын
Dont think he did as pro chefs bend the end of their fingers and rest the knife on them to avoid cutting themselves accidentally.
WOW! Nice potato haul! The two of you are awesome farmers, hunters and KZreadrs! ❤
OH ALSO !!!! hold that dinner as my flight is delayed but will be there shortly- looks amazing guys. Cheers Denise
This video was a total delight! From harvest to table. You guys are living the life!! Would loved to have known how that food tasted!! Also kinda wish I had smellavision.
Yay the potato harvest!!!!it was when i started watchin you last yr!!!! Yay lots of taters!!!! I lov purple taters!!!!! Potato casserole looks yummy!!!!!!!💞💞💞💞😸😸😸😸 none the size of arielles head lolol inspector cat inspecting!!!!
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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I planted potatoes that i had forgotten this summer. It was the most fun thing i have done in months. I was looking forward to the harvest all summer, and it is like finding huge nuggets og gold and joy. Potato have never tasted better. Greetings from Norway
You two are an awesome team!
Also - you can dehydrate your potatoes in a variety of ways to make them shelf stable...
Y'all should get a luggage scale. They're very small, handheld, and go over 50 lbs.
Potato harvest is one of my favorite chores. Watching you two is such fun. This year we had our five grandchildren help with our potato harvest. They love “hunting” for potatoes. Dirt, grandkids and hidden treasure makes for a great day. Your fingerling potatoes are amazing. My largest was about the size of my thumb. I don’t have large hands!
Seeing you feed any/some/all of the worms you found to the chickens would have made this video one notch better on the coolness scale. Enjoy all those potatoes!
Gosh I wanna live off the gird now too, but I'm only 17...
@annevoigt6653
3 жыл бұрын
It’s a great time for you to start planning and researching!
@douglaseckstein5212
3 жыл бұрын
Do it before you fall into the trap of buying things you don't need, this makes you a slave. Going the route of these two provides a higher level of freedom. They are surviving in a minimalistic way and are happy.
So happy for your harvest! Ours was a bust this year, very disappointed, always glad to see when someone does great with spuds!! Also you guys should do a cooking channel! You have amazing looking recipes!!!
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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Lots of love to both of you.you guys did amazing work.Thanks for sharing .
I just love your cooking videos so much!!! I have learned to garden and cook by myself. Your simple yet flavorful recipes are so inspiring. Sadly, I really need some more variety when cooking from our garden bounty and these are just the ticket! Thank you!
Another potato harvest video! Here comes another million views haha!
It looks like Christmas in October!! You two are amazing! I would love to know more about your background. How did a such a young couple get to knowing so much? You have such a vast knowledge!! I'm 51 yrs old and just getting into gardening in my backyard (and side yards and front yard). Congrats on the harvest!! :)
Now I know why my grandmother always put on her apron to go to the garden before supper. She use it to haul all the things back to the house or wheelbarrow. Great crop.
Your scalloped potatoes looked phenomenal!!! I think you two are doing your videos in a way now that is warm, personal and endearing. Its really nice, well done. I have a partial row of potatoes to dig still and i'm gonna weigh them, but i'm also going back to watch how you did your planting, you method seems way better!
They are talking about having freezes and it was 100 where I live today 😭 beautiful potatoes.
@desertrat5543
3 жыл бұрын
Lmao, right? 106 over here. 🙄😂
The potato harvest is always approved by this Idaho girl. Those scalloped potatoes look beautiful!
It’s like digging for treasure!! I love digging- you never know how many you will get
@rebacarmack8335
Жыл бұрын
Love hearing the chickens
Yes, it's a lot of fun with what you are doing guys ❤
Great vid guys, but that shirt of Eric’s looks like he was attacked by a squid! Lol.
@johnmanning4577
3 жыл бұрын
That was a jolt when the camera cut to him, no?
@aesbj9228
3 жыл бұрын
I felt attacked too. Definitely a bit jarring visually.
@andrewgoodbody2121
3 жыл бұрын
I’ve been shocked to see him without a hat on! Still hella fine though
Could you build a lean-to on your cabin for storage that’s kept cooler than the house (adjustable vent between cabin and storage room)?
@Matt-qq2dd
3 жыл бұрын
I was thinking the same thing!!! I think its a great idea :)
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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Wonderful. You guys are CRUSHING 🌱❤️
I love growing potatoes, harvesting them is like going on a treasure hunt!!
Above ground root cellar? Just pile dirt and rocks on top.
@hermithillfarm1123
3 жыл бұрын
Did you forget that they live in Alaska?? That ain't gonna work
You sure eat well, chanterelle potatoes au gratin! My grandma had a “cellar that was above ground made of packed cinder blocks. I remember the super thick door. It froze every winter in Eastern Oregon, but her harvest and canned goods were safe. Do you have plans for a new cellar?
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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My father always insisted on growing the potatoes in the same place in WV every year. The first 2 years they were of normal size, the 3rd year they were 3 times the size of the "skipping rock potato", and then normal every year thereafter. My grandmother had never seen anything approaching those monsters. We have no idea what was different that year. We always grew only one variety, Kennebec. Those different varieties are certainly pretty, and I suppose the harder varieties would be better to store for later in the season. Love to see your cooking! Looks like the Lodge 12". that has to be one of the most useful cooking utensils known to mankind. We have 2 and just love them with the rest of our cast iron, both seasoned and enameled! Great video, always love to see two people who love each other working together in the old fashioned ways!
I live in Maine and I have found that I can store my potatoes, beets, carrots, leeks etc. in a large totes with wood shavings in the tote. Kind of like you did last year in your root cellar with your leeks. I bury them in my greenhouse in the center of the house and cover it with a piece of foam insulation and cover that with leaves or clean wood shavings. They last into spring. It is cold enough here for the ground to freeze on the sides of the greenhouse but not in the middle. If definitely helps they last all winter. Kevin
Did y'all use the _"One potato, two potato, three potato, four..."_ counting system? ;)
Why don’t you have the root cellar anymore?
man, that dish looked so so good!
What a great crop of potatoes! I'm WAY too lazy to dig potatoes, so I just plant mine in a huge number of barrels with holes all around them so when they are ready for harvest, I just kick the barrels over and pick up the potatoes. You guys REALLY love what you do! I'm pulling for you.
Those “tomato” looking fruit ,off the potatoes, may contain potato seeds! I know, sounds weird, but possible!
Why can't you put them In the hoop house in shavings
Oh encouraging.. we are just planting out ours.. NZ here!
Every year... during simple living Alaska's potato harvest...you know it's going to be a good video!
Is it possible to partially bury buckets of potatoes and cover with feet of straw? Might keep them moist and cool without freezing.
@user-jl9pk3bo7f
3 жыл бұрын
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Looks like 63 people (so far) who have watched this harvested less than 200 lbs of taters this year, lmao. Yall need some merch, I wanna rep SLA
I love digging potatoes!! Truly like digging treasure..
Reminds me when I use to help my dad harvest the potatoes 🥔 I also got excited when I saw 👀 big ones I miss that .
i have always seem "Never wash potatoes to store them"
@That1ufo
3 жыл бұрын
You can but you have to dry them! usual method is laying them out flat 1 layer on newspaper for a day or 2 in the dark. im pretty sure these will start to rot very fast!
I was today years old when I found out potatoes produce fruit.......
@Parrottscarrots
3 жыл бұрын
Not edible though!
@cogit8able
3 жыл бұрын
I read about how the guy who first cultivated the Burbank variety planted the seeds until he got a variety he liked to propagate.
I like watching potato harvesting and watching you just having a good harvest is much fun.
Well tonight I made the potato and mushroom leek dish. Changed the herbs a little added rosemary, no parsley. Omg, fantastic!!