Please always show ‘the boring’ part!!! I learned so much
@LifeUpAhead4 ай бұрын
As a new gardener I REALLY appreciate that you showed all the steps. Most say “prepare your beds” and I have no idea what that means. This was the best video. Please make more with other beds.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
You'll love gardening so much, been at it over 30 years and every year gets more exciting. Keep it simple too and intuitive to what nature does. Cover everything with shredded leaves and grass clippings before winter and let nature amend your soil. Shredded broken down aged leaves and a decent compost is pretty much all you need believe me. Buy a bag of dried beans at the grocery store and plant a ton of them in areas you're done with. They add a lot of nitrogen to the soil and turned under and left to decompose they really make your soil much better. It's all about the soil health and not NPK and chemicals. Feed your soil and your soil will feed your plants.
@LifeUpAhead
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith thank you for the suggestions! I live in the mountains so I don’t have access to grass clippings and leaves. Maybe straw? The beans is an idea I’ve never heard of. Very interesting.
@CottageontheCorner
4 ай бұрын
The great thing about gardening is that you can get as technical or as trial and error as you want. Sometimes I do a little research on what I’m planting and sometimes I just stick things in the ground and see what happens. I don’t really like doing a lot of research, so I get mixed but usually really good results
@amygriffith35984 ай бұрын
Thanks! It’s helpful to know if your potato varieties are determinate or indeterminate. Determinate (kennebec is one) produce tubers at only one level, so hilling isn’t helpful. Indeterminates are the ones that can produce at more levels so hilling may be beneficial. Slowly there’s more info coming out on this and you can find lists to see which varieties are which.
@BrendaBodwin3 ай бұрын
You might like this.. My potatoes are growing in the house right now. This year my potatoes will be grown in Amazon boxes, I have them in right now. My sweet potatoes are growing in very large pots already. 😳 They take up a lot of space, so I cant wait to be able to get them outside. Still way to cold here. My garden will be going on the road with me this year. I do road construction, and go on thecroad in May. Im going to grow around my camp trailer at the camp site. Yeppers, a traveling garden this year. But for now, my house has a trail in it that we walk through, between the boxes, pots, grow bags, buckets, and containers. Everything is growing very nicely though. 😁🤣😂
@Flowerfreak724 ай бұрын
Potatoes DON'T need acidic soil! I'm from Idaho the capital of potatoes! My father was an editor of an agricultural magazine. Almost all soil in Idaho is alkaline.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Exactly!!! They may prefer it under ideal lab conditions but they certainly don't require it to grow well. I grow excellent potatoes in nothing but seaweed and partially broken down leaves. Seaweed and leaves! No Trifecta or sulfur, seaweed and leaves and done. I hate knowing people will get bothered that they didn't acidify the soil and believe they screwed up. Good soil equals good potatoes, they don't need a calculator to do well.
@MadameCasper4 ай бұрын
Grew potatoes last year for the 1st time & saved about a dozen to plant this year. Love growing potatoes ❤
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
I've honed my garden selection to a lot of potatoes now and love it, planted so many today. April 15th and I still have one left in the basement from last summer perfectly good for eating, they're amazing!
@angusmcnaughton45704 ай бұрын
The rabbit food works best if you run it through the rabbits first ... rabbit farm tech tip 😎
@judywein3282
4 ай бұрын
Yep! 😁
@hydrolyzed_liquid_collagen
3 ай бұрын
Rabbit manure is excellent! It does not even have to age. I believe it’s a cool fertilizer rather than hot like cow manure (If I remember right lol) I just learned about that a few months ago. I am thinking about getting a few rabbits just for fertilizer lol plus my grandkids would love rabbits!
@jaytoney30074 ай бұрын
Here in central Alabama, the heat comes fast. Temperatures are already in the 80s. From my experience, planting time is critical to get in the best harvest. February is too Early, and April too late. The best time to plant in my area is the first week of March. I lost one plant to frost damage, but over planted with five extra plants, so no loss. My potatoes do very well with a soil PH close to neutral, 6.7. I expect to start harvesting in June.
@gregdoh4 ай бұрын
I bought some local, organic potatoes from the store just in time for planting this year. The week after I bought them the reds and russets were replaced with ones grown in California.
@stonefarmer30054 ай бұрын
Like everyone is saying, I like the full length of showing all the steps.
@dreamangelsgarden50784 ай бұрын
I was just going to plant mine, so I'm so happy you posted this now
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
Where u b?
@dreamangelsgarden5078
4 ай бұрын
@@jimmylarge1148 Texas
@angusmcnaughton4570
4 ай бұрын
Washington... N.E. 150# to plant .dont need a thousand 🥔.. wish I knew someone who needed some
@sueweathers3978
4 ай бұрын
@@angusmcnaughton4570I'm in NE Washington! What kind do you have? I'm just north of Spokane
@angusmcnaughton4570
4 ай бұрын
@@sueweathers3978 Yukon golds and Pontiac reds , they have long growth on them but they plant fine . I'm by kettle falls, my side hustle this year is rototilling gardens and s3lling he1rloom s33ds !
@jeannamcgregor99674 ай бұрын
If you have a farmer's market nearby you can trust those potatoes to make great inexpensive seed potatoes. ❤
@Peoniesandpinks4 ай бұрын
This video is perfect timing as I got my seed potatoes this weekend
@ndbg468814 ай бұрын
I have 4' X '8 foot raised beds and I use a bed preparation rake (from Johnny's seeds - Elliot Coleman design - bought a long time ago) to make trenches parallel to the long sides. I space my seed potatoes 1 foot apart with 2 rows 2' apart. Then tuck in a few seed potatoes in the middle. I find that this gives me more medium size potatoes rather than huge ones. I "hill" with Norfleet superfine soil conditioner which is a little acidic. It breaks down and adds depth to my beds after a year or so.
@northsidedork_30434 ай бұрын
I use the Ruth Stout method for potatoes and i absolutely love it. It is so simple, so simple, i dont have to worry about the back breaking planting or harvesting.
@kooltube1004 ай бұрын
never heard of making the soil acidic for the potaotes. I just put multipurpose compost down and bung them in, they grow really well in even the worst of soils.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Potatoes are so self sufficient, they seem to do well no matter what. Ideally they prefer an acidic soil but truth be told I just try to give them good soil as I'm able and they thrive. I just planted a LOT of potatoes today and some in containers with just leaf compost and seaweed and I bet they go crazy! It'd be awesome to have free seaweed and free leaves to grow excellent potatoes instead of all the fancy amending.
@kooltube100
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith first year they get really good soil just so I can get the amount of compost needed. After that I will just amend the soil for he year after. at the end of the day I use as little amendments as possible. Potatoes are cheap to buy so you kinda want to keep the costs down. Adding acidity seems like a waste of money to me
@JeanneKinland4 ай бұрын
Planting potatoes! That is what I'm doing today now that I finally received my grow bags that I ordered from MI Gardener. I'm planning to amend my soil with peat moss and compost. Teach me how to do it right Luke. I have some old wood chips that have been rotten down after sitting out for the past year.
@diannemiller47544 ай бұрын
Questions for you Luke. When will you plant your tomatoes and peppers? My area in Clare michigan last projected frost date is May 19th. I don't usually plant until 1st week of June for tomatoes and 2nd week for peppers. I will be growing them in raised beds for the first time.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
You're wise to wait for warmer weather for tomatoes and peppers. They make up for lost time and grow better than if they get stunted in cooler weather.
@Nikki-mx5my
3 ай бұрын
@cowboyblacksmit I agree! I plant my tomatoes and peppers once nighttime temperatures are consistently 50 or higher, especially the peppers which love heat even more than the tomatoes.
@shirelife_
3 ай бұрын
im in illinois. I plant may 15 or so. Been growing two pound heirloom tomatoes for years
@pager19624 ай бұрын
Mine are already pushed out in my grow bags. Central Indiana, probably a few weeks ahead of you folks in Michigan.
@1288samson4 ай бұрын
I was just about to go out and till my potato bed here in NE Ohio, can't plant most of my garden yet because I don't live on top of a magma chamber like you Michiganites. The middle of May is our earliest which I've learned the hard way. I plant mine a little deeper, about 6" maybe it's just the video illusion but yours look a little shallow, watch out for greening. I also use the trifecta along with sulpher, works well. Thanks for the update
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
We live on a magma chamber? Never heard such a claim b4.
@steve5013
4 ай бұрын
Gander's
@jacquelinelafay6474 ай бұрын
Serendipity! I just bought a set of purple seed potatoes yesterday. I'm going to try to grow them in 20 gal garden bags. Great video, thanks!
@debkincaid28914 ай бұрын
This was immensely helpful. I now recognize some of the mistakes I made with my potatoes last year. And my potatoes should be arriving soon. I'd better order some Trifecta! Thanks for the video. 😍
@susanolson44862 ай бұрын
Very helpful! Thank you!
@charmsurprise4 ай бұрын
as always, you are encouraging me to 'get out there' and do it. thanks for all your efforts.
@brokenmeats59284 ай бұрын
I love ALL MIgardener videos!
@Ps23524 ай бұрын
My concern is the alfalfa pellets. A lot of crops are grown commercially with spraying glyphosate which is a weed inhibitor. It doesn’t break down easily and can carryover into other plants. ???
@terigeorge5545
4 ай бұрын
I’ve been using alfalfa pellets from Tractor Supply for three years and have seen just the opposite, ‘Jurassic Park’ growth. 😊. But I apply it in late fall so the snow and rain break it down by spring planting.
@TheOnlyKontrol
4 ай бұрын
Just get it from a trusted source…also doesn’t need to be pellets. I get a bag of ground alfalfa meal and it works great.
@bobvolsario12244 ай бұрын
Thank you for the comments about crop rotation. I have a small garden so crop rotating isn’t really an option
@amyschmelzer6445
4 ай бұрын
My problem is that we love nightshades. Well over 50% of my garden each season is in nightshades. I couldn’t even do a two year rotation of nightshades with the rest of the crops much less the four or more years that people recommend.
@roelven1282
4 ай бұрын
use grow bags or containers... then rotation is no issue
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Nature never crop rotates, ever see a forest move? lol. Good healthy soil is the key to everything, tons of microbes and bacteria and fungi, yummy!
@TheOnlyKontrol
4 ай бұрын
@@roelven1282but rotation isn’t a issue to begin with as he mentions in the video 😅
@phungktk5334 ай бұрын
Just in time for planting our potato seeds for the first time. Thanks for the tip!!
@PorchGardeningWithPassion4 ай бұрын
Good stuff Luke! I had no idea they needed a PH that low. Thanks again for the daily tips 👊🏻🌻👊🏻
@leelaural
4 ай бұрын
me neither....
@soulseeker423884 ай бұрын
Thank you for finally discussing ph levels in your soil
@karen150614 ай бұрын
Truly appreciate your how to videos!
@austinlynn9664 ай бұрын
I wouldn’t worry too much about soil acidity. My potatoes did great with just compost
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Mine crank in compost! I have incredible potatoes with just leaf compost and seaweed believe it or not. Seaweed has so much great micro nutrients from the ocean and it is such an excellent green for making compost any time of the year. I'm lucky to only be 20 minutes from the ocean so always have a lot of seaweed to make fermented seaweed fertilizer, compost, and mulch. Seaweed and leaves, free and fantastic stuff for the dirt.
@ronaldclemons55204 ай бұрын
Nice job. We always hill our potatoes. Our yields are always really good. We have not put them in a raised bed. Maybe try that this year. Blessings
@whatnow83624 ай бұрын
Great tips! I think that’s why my potato haul wasnt as good last year. I didn’t lower the pH enough.
@terrivance87504 ай бұрын
Thank you, Luke. 😊
@PolyonthePrairie14 ай бұрын
Aleays coming in at the perfect time. Getting ready to plant potatoes this week!
@teebob214 ай бұрын
Trench cultivation is optimal in raised bed. In my in-ground beds where I am blessed with TOO MUCH room to grow, I find Herrick Kimball's mound cultivation method works best for me with our heavy native clay.
@ameliemorton98494 ай бұрын
thank you having grown potatoes for years, I find your instructive video so helpful...A volunteer potato last year produced an unusual number of potatoes, WARBA was the variety, the flavour of this potato was really good, as was texture..so soil was undisturbed, but clearly very healthy and nutritious, supporting a variety of flowers and vegetables in the preceding years...Pacific west coast salt spring island
@kathryncarty16294 ай бұрын
Thanks for this video on potatoes 🥔. This answered a few questions of mine.
@Kelly.A.4 ай бұрын
You are correct on the ‘hilling your potatoes will give you more’ is NOT true. Ive been growing potatoes for years in northern MN and we always hill ours half way through the season, but for only one reason. If any potatoe starts to pop out of the ground it turns green. Hilling them just covers them back up. Great video and I really enjoy your channel! Happy gardening
@nickcarroll8565
4 ай бұрын
Interesting thanks
@roelven1282
4 ай бұрын
depends on youre potato type ;)
@Kelly.A.
4 ай бұрын
Russets and Reds
@kooltube100
4 ай бұрын
the potatoes that don't benefit from hilling are the determinate potatoe varieties (potatoes grow in a single layer). If you want some benefits from hilling you need the inderterminate varieties (potatoes grow along stem)
@nickcarroll8565
4 ай бұрын
@@kooltube100 good info, apparently all mine are the long stem kind, and I’ve been hilling them
@mikemiller2094 ай бұрын
I prefer to plant when there's not going to be any rain for a few days so they'll take root before starting to rot with too much rain... and never plant in soil that's too wet to till
@MyGardenRetreat4 ай бұрын
Thank you for the tips! I just started my own vegetable garden channel.
@marktoldgardengnome41103 ай бұрын
Whether you hill or not, a healthy amount of straw mulch will keep your spuds, growing near the surface, from turning green from sun exposure. Also, that mulch will help with keeping your soil damp between watering. From what I've read, potatoes require an inch of water per week. Including rain.
@robertcotrell98104 ай бұрын
You should try to track what you put in vs what you get out. It's so interesting to see all the different methods utilized throughout KZread. I think potatoes are a bit divisive in that way.
@lisawarren86664 ай бұрын
I’m so glad you posted this video because I’m getting ready to start planting my garden and I’m growing potatoes and I never knew you didn’t have to hill them up and I’m going to use one of my raised beds for them. I normally plant them in the ground or in 5 gallon buckets.
@SilverSaabArc4 ай бұрын
Almost all of my veggies are prone to the same types of blight because they are all from the nightshade family (peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant). I have very limited full sun exposure so the greens are always grown in the partial shade, and the nightshade always stay in the in full sun beds. I haven't experienced much blight, and I'm glad.
@melissagoodwin26024 ай бұрын
Right on time!
@lauriebieda44984 ай бұрын
Please keep going through the season,what state you are in,so we know for our area when it’s time,please,you’re so helpful
@sherry2836
4 ай бұрын
The MI in MIgardener stands for Michigan.
@lindyconner79984 ай бұрын
Question: I used the method you showed of cutting the potato eyes and using honey and putting in egg cartons for 2 weeks. I also used store bought potatoes.🤷♀️ I may have messed up. Also, its a new raised bed and I used peat moss and sulfer. Is that ok? Thanks. Learning process!
@crazy8skml4 ай бұрын
Something told me to throw that rabbit food into my garden. 😂 Absolutely LOVE this content. Can’t wait to get my last set of seeds for the year today.
@mikegriffin34372 ай бұрын
I am seeing videos on cutting the flowers off of the tops of potato plants. Is this good what is your take on this
@rambette65803 ай бұрын
Ok, so you water them in well after planting. After that, approx how often would you water them?
@christophergetchell64904 ай бұрын
Got my 'taders in a couple of weeks ago, just waiting for them all to sprout now! I did Yukon Gold, Pontiac Red, and Adirondack Blue! I did rotate my garden, it's just something I've always been taught. I also like having no two gardens being quite the same year to year!
@cheryllariccia23324 ай бұрын
This is my first year planting just the potato eyes. I came across a few videos saying this was possible (who would have thunk? 😂) and so far my 14 eyes are growing really well! I still need to move them into their summer homes but I’m liking this experiment and the potatoes I snagged them from are already producing me a second set of eyes!
@debrak.64304 ай бұрын
Also....how often do you water And fertilize? Just one fertilization at planting??
@K_Rich_19834 ай бұрын
I’m in central Michigan. Just put some raised beds in. Getting my soil and compost this weekend. Ordered seed potatoes awhile ago but still waiting to receive them. Holand bulb farm ships based on zone and I am 5B so I would bet them the ground soon.
@jimmylarge11484 ай бұрын
Luke im in traverse city Should I plant my potatoes yet too!!????
@ladyapprentice7095
4 ай бұрын
I'm in Traverse City too and wondering the same thing.
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
@@ladyapprentice7095I talked to mcgoughs and they said to wait till end of month but I don’t wanna!! 😂😂
@ladyapprentice7095
4 ай бұрын
@@jimmylarge1148 Funny, I got my potato seeds from them. I love McGoughs!
@acoastalrv4582
4 ай бұрын
I'm in Alpena and wondering the same
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
@@acoastalrv4582 looks like Luke’s not gonna talk to us 😂
@brucegarrison49994 ай бұрын
Thank you Luke
@kathrynam14 ай бұрын
Thank you for the great information! :) What other crops would we want to add alfalfa to the Trifecta? (Just nightshade family?)
@user-bl8zd1cn3x2 ай бұрын
Should I plant small shriveled seed potatoes? They are feeling kind of hard. Or could I soak them to help rehydrate them a bit. Then dry them off and plant them? Wondering what everyone thinks?!
@sandrabitting68213 ай бұрын
Just checking in to see if you will be open on Friday the 24th of May?
@CottageontheCorner4 ай бұрын
Random question, I have a small outdoor pond with goldfish that I’m going to empty, clean and put new water in, but I know that kind of green water has a lot of nutrients. Which plants do you think would benefit from them. I don’t even know exactly what nutrients would be in a pond that has goldfish and some algae
@user-wi7ck5zf7yАй бұрын
very useful
@sandrafletcher51793 ай бұрын
I planted my potatoes 8" deep on good friday and they have not started coming up yet at least that I can see How long will it take for them to come How long will it take for them to come up above ground thank you
@PepperplacewithShawna4 ай бұрын
Great video. Thanks!
@ilovemichigan-11114 ай бұрын
I planted my potatoes yesterday. Go figure now I get to see all of the things I did wrong 😂😅
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
Where u located in mi?
@ilovemichigan-1111
4 ай бұрын
@@jimmylarge1148 I am in the Atlanta area.
@jenniferrescott1149
4 ай бұрын
I was going to plant yesterday fortunately it rained😂
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Potatoes are so forgiving, they just grow. Ideal soil, ph, amendments and all that are nice and all but I swear they just grow no matter what.
@vickycollins66564 ай бұрын
How much water do potatoes? When to apply sulfur?
@timothyshanley11324 ай бұрын
Hey Luke, how do you like that Vulcan wheel barrow? I picked up similar from Ace hardware and the tub broke second season. They do t sell replacement tub, so I have to replace.thx Tim
@traceybier11284 ай бұрын
Can you tell me when is the best time to plant in Zone 6a? I'd love to try potatoes soon.
@TheNakidGardeners
4 ай бұрын
After your last frost and when your soil is above 55 degrees. At least that is what we go by
@colleenbow7774 ай бұрын
What happened with the potatoes you planted in the grow bag?
@amandaforgie8047
4 ай бұрын
He posted it like last week. I think.
@leelaural4 ай бұрын
mistake I have made is I don't think I had enough soil under the potatoes...someone on you tube said you only need 6 inches or so but this year I made sure there was a foot of soil under them....
@markspann4 ай бұрын
How far apart were you planting them Luke? Looked to be somewhere between 8 and 10 inches, but hard to tell from the video.
@deltorres21004 ай бұрын
Yes I really don’t crop rotation either.. so I’m on my third batch of potatoes and I will be getting another one started soon fingerlings but I don’t want to say I crop rotate, but I cause I do my potatoes in those big massive buckets and they’re very big there for trees so I will do actually a good double layer of them and they work out good potatoes
@brucewilliams3594 ай бұрын
Hello from Hersey, MI What about Japanese beetles and potatoes? We cover our 25' bed with netting. Is that all we can do? Love the channel.
@ericawhitfield9289
4 ай бұрын
Ever tried one of those Japanese beetle bag catchers. It attracts and traps them. The bag fills up fast!
@hybridhomestead25224 ай бұрын
What about Indian Trail Compost, would you still suggest getting compost from them?
@mandyglynn15384 ай бұрын
Do you have a suggestion for a substitution for peat moss? I have used coconut husk before, does that help contribute to soil acidity like peat moss?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Coconut isn't acidic like peat moss is. Honestly, don't fret over the acidity of your soil for potatoes. As long as you add good stuff like compost they'll do great. Way too much emphasis on KZread for the exact ideal conditions for plants and not enough emphasis on building microbial rich living soil.
@IAMGiftbearer4 ай бұрын
Good information! I hope you will be selling seed potatoes this year! I can't find them here.
@marycountry4 ай бұрын
Good Morning Luke😊
@mflynnnj13 ай бұрын
Question: My seed potatoes are green, can I use them? Thanks
@GrownsFamilyFarm4 ай бұрын
Luke! You’re a day late! I just planted my potatoes this morning 😂😂. Awesome info as always!
@DJCharlesworth4 ай бұрын
OMG...thank you about crop rotation!!! I've grown tomatoes and peppers along my garage for 13 years and have never had a problem. Every year, add some new soil to the bed, mix it in and you're done. Of course I don't get down to the science you have but I've never had an issue.
@moniquewendt52664 ай бұрын
Question: I have potatoes that are sprouting from last years hatvest that were in storage.Like really sprouting. Some over 12 inches, I'm just now able to plant potatoes in my zone. Can I plant these and if so how? Do I bury that long sprout? Do I leave it sticking out? Help?
@onceuponagal4 ай бұрын
Is aluminum sulphate equivalent to sulphur to bring down pH?
@sirpainter14 ай бұрын
Actually I've learned a lot from you. & Not just potatoes which I love growing. But there seems to be a food shortage in my favorite dumpster. That's where I got my potatoes. So I bought some organics. Desperate times=Desperate measures.
@meganwhite76523 ай бұрын
Where did you purchase the seed potatoes from?
@debrak.64304 ай бұрын
Can you grow potatoes in a raised hugelculture bed?
@pinehavenhomestead4 ай бұрын
I’m trying to figure out where you’ve found that potatoes like “acidic” soil?
@marymccue84554 ай бұрын
Any advice for container potatoes? I'm growing Kennebecs in 15 gallon growbags.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
I just planted a bunch of grow bag Kennebec’s today and a 33 foot row as well. I mix 50/50 soil and peat moss and throw in some good compost if it's ready and a handful of alfalfa horse feed pellets I always have on hand. I put about four inches of "soil" in the bag, then two or three potatoes and add a small handful of Epsoma granular "Tomato-tone" organic fertilizer and bone meal and tickle that in. Then fill the bag almost all the way up and put some shredded leaves or some kind of mulch and water them in. Grow bags are great but one thing you have to be aware of is watering them enough, they tend to dry out but I just love them. I grew potatoes in mine last year and peppers this year.
@marymccue8455
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith do you then add more soil as they leaf out?
@not1moreinch3324 ай бұрын
Some gardeners believe with every ounce of their being that you have to hill your potatoes or your harvest will be lackluster. In my soil and climate in NE Oklahoma i cant tell any difference between hilling or not hilling. For every pound of seed potatoes i plant i get 10-12 pounds of potatoes depending on the variety but hilling has zero effect
@beverlyr81524 ай бұрын
Yikes. The soil I already planted my wee potatoes in is 7.0. How can I make it more acidic now??? Thanks love this video. 😊
@MIgardener
4 ай бұрын
Just add some powdered sulfur on top.
@beverlyr8152
4 ай бұрын
@@MIgardener will do, thanks!
@goodnessineverybite23784 ай бұрын
Is it the same alfalfa pellets you feed rabbits? If not what are you using?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
I get mine at Tractor supply in a big bag and it's horse feed- pellets not cubes though. Cover them with water and they quickly turn to powder and are so much better to add to soil that way. They're great to scatter in late fall and early spring to break down and just be ready.
@ronalddavis59054 ай бұрын
Luke, I forgot do you get bigger potatoes from whole ones or cut ones?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
It's more about how many eyes they have. Each eye will generate one stalk so two to three eyes is best per potato or potato piece. Some people will even remove sprouts if there's more than three. Bigger yield potatoes have more to do with ample room. Fewer potatoes in a grow bag will give you bigger ones but not as many. More potatoes in a grow bag will give you more potatoes but smaller new potato sized ones. Same thing in the ground, more space equals bigger potatoes but not as many and more closely spaced potatoes will give you more but smaller potatoes. Cutting won't make potatoes smaller for yields but they just need to have a few chits and a decent amount of raw potato for the energy to get going.
@79PoisonBreaker4 ай бұрын
Just like tomatoes, potatoes are determinant or indeterminant. some potatoes will produce more when hilled if they are indeterminant. most varieties are determinant and do not need extra hilling.
@debbiemusgrove6764 ай бұрын
What if my potatoes have a 12 inch growth. Can I just pinch them back and plant them?
@brianmoore42994 ай бұрын
Thank you for including that potatoes like acidic soil. Mine is always closer to neutral. I use a lot of compost. With the thought being towards nutrition. I'll give more thought to that in my next planting of potatoes.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
I added some of the acidifier fertilizer from Epsoma last year but truth be told, didn’t notice any change. Sulfur is an easy addition but just takes a while to break down. Lots of good compost and you can’t go wrong.
@brianmoore4299
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith I'm with you on that. I've never been really disappointed with my harvest either. I just thought maybe next planting in one of my beds I'd try it his way and another my way and see if it differs in any way. Kind of like what you did. I've never done it so at least once can't hurt. I will be growing others. Thanks for your comment.
@msmelody56414 ай бұрын
What if I’ve already planted my potatoes and they are coming up. Should I add some sulfur powder at this point? Or is it too late?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
The sulfur actually takes a while to break down to acidify soil and/or become plant uptake available, longer than what takes the potatoes to grow. If your soil is decent no worries. I mean realistically you may only be talking about a meal or two more anyway. Ideal everything is great in a lab, but in nature it's not the end all. If you add sulphur early spring well before you could plant it'd be better, and the best is to add sulphur in the fall to let it break down completely over the winter. Potatoes may ideally prefer an acidic soil, prefer and not require. If your soil is decent they'll do great. Better to build a healthy living soil rich in microbial goodness than fret over the exact ph. I have grown great potatoes without ever knowing anything about soil acidity for them.
@msmelody5641
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith thank you!
@danadeaton95964 ай бұрын
Luke which is best to use the pellets or the grass?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Pellets are great and you can cover them with water and they turn to powder for even mixing in the soil. I buy mine in a big bag at Tractor supply as horse feed.
@bwayne400044 ай бұрын
I haven't watched the video yet but will in a second. I planted my potatoes yesterday so I am dreading watching to find out what I screwed up! Oh well! There's next year!
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
You didn't screw up if you just put potatoes in the ground, they take care of themselves. They're probably the hardiest crop you can grow, For all the emphasis on adding this and that you might get a few more pounds? I've grown potatoes in nothing buy seaweed and broken down leaves and they did amazing. No chemical trifecta and this and that. Leaves, seaweed, potatoes and done.
@loveandlavender114 ай бұрын
The monsters inc reference cracked me up!😂 Wasn’t it Mike who sang that though? Anyway, helpful and funny video.
@angusmcnaughton45704 ай бұрын
What about "long eyes" i have 6-8" long growth on last years spuds , yukons & Pontiacs
@markspann
4 ай бұрын
I had same issue because I had a very late start to potato planting season this year (wife broke her leg) and by the time I got 'em in the ground, most had grown the same long white legs with super shriveled seed tuber. Just wondering if that will impact how the potato roots and tubers will grow. I'm more concerned about the hot weather - I'm in Zone 7b in central AL.
@angusmcnaughton4570
4 ай бұрын
@@markspann I've been just planting them like that out of the walk in cooler every spring for the last 20 years, same potatoes. 1 just lay them down sideways and bury them , they do fine. I was just looking for some more/better information. I don't need a thousand pounds of potatoes... but I just keep planting them anyway. Someday it will be important... maybe
@samanthaw1419
4 ай бұрын
It's because you have let them sprout in the dark, always put them in the light (not a paper bag) to chit. You can still plant yours, just do it quickly. You could move the longest shoots if that leaves two or three shorter ones.
@angusmcnaughton4570
4 ай бұрын
@@samanthaw1419 it's because I have 400+ pounds of them in boxes in my walk in cooler , closed system. I don't buy potatoes. Same spuds for 20 years. It's just what they do in 7 months.
@markspann
4 ай бұрын
@@samanthaw1419 Thanks for the tips Samantha. I'll certainly keep in mind about storing in light if we have a delayed planting season again - hopefully we don't.
Пікірлер: 219
Please always show ‘the boring’ part!!! I learned so much
As a new gardener I REALLY appreciate that you showed all the steps. Most say “prepare your beds” and I have no idea what that means. This was the best video. Please make more with other beds.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
You'll love gardening so much, been at it over 30 years and every year gets more exciting. Keep it simple too and intuitive to what nature does. Cover everything with shredded leaves and grass clippings before winter and let nature amend your soil. Shredded broken down aged leaves and a decent compost is pretty much all you need believe me. Buy a bag of dried beans at the grocery store and plant a ton of them in areas you're done with. They add a lot of nitrogen to the soil and turned under and left to decompose they really make your soil much better. It's all about the soil health and not NPK and chemicals. Feed your soil and your soil will feed your plants.
@LifeUpAhead
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith thank you for the suggestions! I live in the mountains so I don’t have access to grass clippings and leaves. Maybe straw? The beans is an idea I’ve never heard of. Very interesting.
@CottageontheCorner
4 ай бұрын
The great thing about gardening is that you can get as technical or as trial and error as you want. Sometimes I do a little research on what I’m planting and sometimes I just stick things in the ground and see what happens. I don’t really like doing a lot of research, so I get mixed but usually really good results
Thanks! It’s helpful to know if your potato varieties are determinate or indeterminate. Determinate (kennebec is one) produce tubers at only one level, so hilling isn’t helpful. Indeterminates are the ones that can produce at more levels so hilling may be beneficial. Slowly there’s more info coming out on this and you can find lists to see which varieties are which.
You might like this.. My potatoes are growing in the house right now. This year my potatoes will be grown in Amazon boxes, I have them in right now. My sweet potatoes are growing in very large pots already. 😳 They take up a lot of space, so I cant wait to be able to get them outside. Still way to cold here. My garden will be going on the road with me this year. I do road construction, and go on thecroad in May. Im going to grow around my camp trailer at the camp site. Yeppers, a traveling garden this year. But for now, my house has a trail in it that we walk through, between the boxes, pots, grow bags, buckets, and containers. Everything is growing very nicely though. 😁🤣😂
Potatoes DON'T need acidic soil! I'm from Idaho the capital of potatoes! My father was an editor of an agricultural magazine. Almost all soil in Idaho is alkaline.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Exactly!!! They may prefer it under ideal lab conditions but they certainly don't require it to grow well. I grow excellent potatoes in nothing but seaweed and partially broken down leaves. Seaweed and leaves! No Trifecta or sulfur, seaweed and leaves and done. I hate knowing people will get bothered that they didn't acidify the soil and believe they screwed up. Good soil equals good potatoes, they don't need a calculator to do well.
Grew potatoes last year for the 1st time & saved about a dozen to plant this year. Love growing potatoes ❤
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
I've honed my garden selection to a lot of potatoes now and love it, planted so many today. April 15th and I still have one left in the basement from last summer perfectly good for eating, they're amazing!
The rabbit food works best if you run it through the rabbits first ... rabbit farm tech tip 😎
@judywein3282
4 ай бұрын
Yep! 😁
@hydrolyzed_liquid_collagen
3 ай бұрын
Rabbit manure is excellent! It does not even have to age. I believe it’s a cool fertilizer rather than hot like cow manure (If I remember right lol) I just learned about that a few months ago. I am thinking about getting a few rabbits just for fertilizer lol plus my grandkids would love rabbits!
Here in central Alabama, the heat comes fast. Temperatures are already in the 80s. From my experience, planting time is critical to get in the best harvest. February is too Early, and April too late. The best time to plant in my area is the first week of March. I lost one plant to frost damage, but over planted with five extra plants, so no loss. My potatoes do very well with a soil PH close to neutral, 6.7. I expect to start harvesting in June.
I bought some local, organic potatoes from the store just in time for planting this year. The week after I bought them the reds and russets were replaced with ones grown in California.
Like everyone is saying, I like the full length of showing all the steps.
I was just going to plant mine, so I'm so happy you posted this now
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
Where u b?
@dreamangelsgarden5078
4 ай бұрын
@@jimmylarge1148 Texas
@angusmcnaughton4570
4 ай бұрын
Washington... N.E. 150# to plant .dont need a thousand 🥔.. wish I knew someone who needed some
@sueweathers3978
4 ай бұрын
@@angusmcnaughton4570I'm in NE Washington! What kind do you have? I'm just north of Spokane
@angusmcnaughton4570
4 ай бұрын
@@sueweathers3978 Yukon golds and Pontiac reds , they have long growth on them but they plant fine . I'm by kettle falls, my side hustle this year is rototilling gardens and s3lling he1rloom s33ds !
If you have a farmer's market nearby you can trust those potatoes to make great inexpensive seed potatoes. ❤
This video is perfect timing as I got my seed potatoes this weekend
I have 4' X '8 foot raised beds and I use a bed preparation rake (from Johnny's seeds - Elliot Coleman design - bought a long time ago) to make trenches parallel to the long sides. I space my seed potatoes 1 foot apart with 2 rows 2' apart. Then tuck in a few seed potatoes in the middle. I find that this gives me more medium size potatoes rather than huge ones. I "hill" with Norfleet superfine soil conditioner which is a little acidic. It breaks down and adds depth to my beds after a year or so.
I use the Ruth Stout method for potatoes and i absolutely love it. It is so simple, so simple, i dont have to worry about the back breaking planting or harvesting.
never heard of making the soil acidic for the potaotes. I just put multipurpose compost down and bung them in, they grow really well in even the worst of soils.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Potatoes are so self sufficient, they seem to do well no matter what. Ideally they prefer an acidic soil but truth be told I just try to give them good soil as I'm able and they thrive. I just planted a LOT of potatoes today and some in containers with just leaf compost and seaweed and I bet they go crazy! It'd be awesome to have free seaweed and free leaves to grow excellent potatoes instead of all the fancy amending.
@kooltube100
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith first year they get really good soil just so I can get the amount of compost needed. After that I will just amend the soil for he year after. at the end of the day I use as little amendments as possible. Potatoes are cheap to buy so you kinda want to keep the costs down. Adding acidity seems like a waste of money to me
Planting potatoes! That is what I'm doing today now that I finally received my grow bags that I ordered from MI Gardener. I'm planning to amend my soil with peat moss and compost. Teach me how to do it right Luke. I have some old wood chips that have been rotten down after sitting out for the past year.
Questions for you Luke. When will you plant your tomatoes and peppers? My area in Clare michigan last projected frost date is May 19th. I don't usually plant until 1st week of June for tomatoes and 2nd week for peppers. I will be growing them in raised beds for the first time.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
You're wise to wait for warmer weather for tomatoes and peppers. They make up for lost time and grow better than if they get stunted in cooler weather.
@Nikki-mx5my
3 ай бұрын
@cowboyblacksmit I agree! I plant my tomatoes and peppers once nighttime temperatures are consistently 50 or higher, especially the peppers which love heat even more than the tomatoes.
@shirelife_
3 ай бұрын
im in illinois. I plant may 15 or so. Been growing two pound heirloom tomatoes for years
Mine are already pushed out in my grow bags. Central Indiana, probably a few weeks ahead of you folks in Michigan.
I was just about to go out and till my potato bed here in NE Ohio, can't plant most of my garden yet because I don't live on top of a magma chamber like you Michiganites. The middle of May is our earliest which I've learned the hard way. I plant mine a little deeper, about 6" maybe it's just the video illusion but yours look a little shallow, watch out for greening. I also use the trifecta along with sulpher, works well. Thanks for the update
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
We live on a magma chamber? Never heard such a claim b4.
@steve5013
4 ай бұрын
Gander's
Serendipity! I just bought a set of purple seed potatoes yesterday. I'm going to try to grow them in 20 gal garden bags. Great video, thanks!
This was immensely helpful. I now recognize some of the mistakes I made with my potatoes last year. And my potatoes should be arriving soon. I'd better order some Trifecta! Thanks for the video. 😍
Very helpful! Thank you!
as always, you are encouraging me to 'get out there' and do it. thanks for all your efforts.
I love ALL MIgardener videos!
My concern is the alfalfa pellets. A lot of crops are grown commercially with spraying glyphosate which is a weed inhibitor. It doesn’t break down easily and can carryover into other plants. ???
@terigeorge5545
4 ай бұрын
I’ve been using alfalfa pellets from Tractor Supply for three years and have seen just the opposite, ‘Jurassic Park’ growth. 😊. But I apply it in late fall so the snow and rain break it down by spring planting.
@TheOnlyKontrol
4 ай бұрын
Just get it from a trusted source…also doesn’t need to be pellets. I get a bag of ground alfalfa meal and it works great.
Thank you for the comments about crop rotation. I have a small garden so crop rotating isn’t really an option
@amyschmelzer6445
4 ай бұрын
My problem is that we love nightshades. Well over 50% of my garden each season is in nightshades. I couldn’t even do a two year rotation of nightshades with the rest of the crops much less the four or more years that people recommend.
@roelven1282
4 ай бұрын
use grow bags or containers... then rotation is no issue
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Nature never crop rotates, ever see a forest move? lol. Good healthy soil is the key to everything, tons of microbes and bacteria and fungi, yummy!
@TheOnlyKontrol
4 ай бұрын
@@roelven1282but rotation isn’t a issue to begin with as he mentions in the video 😅
Just in time for planting our potato seeds for the first time. Thanks for the tip!!
Good stuff Luke! I had no idea they needed a PH that low. Thanks again for the daily tips 👊🏻🌻👊🏻
@leelaural
4 ай бұрын
me neither....
Thank you for finally discussing ph levels in your soil
Truly appreciate your how to videos!
I wouldn’t worry too much about soil acidity. My potatoes did great with just compost
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Mine crank in compost! I have incredible potatoes with just leaf compost and seaweed believe it or not. Seaweed has so much great micro nutrients from the ocean and it is such an excellent green for making compost any time of the year. I'm lucky to only be 20 minutes from the ocean so always have a lot of seaweed to make fermented seaweed fertilizer, compost, and mulch. Seaweed and leaves, free and fantastic stuff for the dirt.
Nice job. We always hill our potatoes. Our yields are always really good. We have not put them in a raised bed. Maybe try that this year. Blessings
Great tips! I think that’s why my potato haul wasnt as good last year. I didn’t lower the pH enough.
Thank you, Luke. 😊
Aleays coming in at the perfect time. Getting ready to plant potatoes this week!
Trench cultivation is optimal in raised bed. In my in-ground beds where I am blessed with TOO MUCH room to grow, I find Herrick Kimball's mound cultivation method works best for me with our heavy native clay.
thank you having grown potatoes for years, I find your instructive video so helpful...A volunteer potato last year produced an unusual number of potatoes, WARBA was the variety, the flavour of this potato was really good, as was texture..so soil was undisturbed, but clearly very healthy and nutritious, supporting a variety of flowers and vegetables in the preceding years...Pacific west coast salt spring island
Thanks for this video on potatoes 🥔. This answered a few questions of mine.
You are correct on the ‘hilling your potatoes will give you more’ is NOT true. Ive been growing potatoes for years in northern MN and we always hill ours half way through the season, but for only one reason. If any potatoe starts to pop out of the ground it turns green. Hilling them just covers them back up. Great video and I really enjoy your channel! Happy gardening
@nickcarroll8565
4 ай бұрын
Interesting thanks
@roelven1282
4 ай бұрын
depends on youre potato type ;)
@Kelly.A.
4 ай бұрын
Russets and Reds
@kooltube100
4 ай бұрын
the potatoes that don't benefit from hilling are the determinate potatoe varieties (potatoes grow in a single layer). If you want some benefits from hilling you need the inderterminate varieties (potatoes grow along stem)
@nickcarroll8565
4 ай бұрын
@@kooltube100 good info, apparently all mine are the long stem kind, and I’ve been hilling them
I prefer to plant when there's not going to be any rain for a few days so they'll take root before starting to rot with too much rain... and never plant in soil that's too wet to till
Thank you for the tips! I just started my own vegetable garden channel.
Whether you hill or not, a healthy amount of straw mulch will keep your spuds, growing near the surface, from turning green from sun exposure. Also, that mulch will help with keeping your soil damp between watering. From what I've read, potatoes require an inch of water per week. Including rain.
You should try to track what you put in vs what you get out. It's so interesting to see all the different methods utilized throughout KZread. I think potatoes are a bit divisive in that way.
I’m so glad you posted this video because I’m getting ready to start planting my garden and I’m growing potatoes and I never knew you didn’t have to hill them up and I’m going to use one of my raised beds for them. I normally plant them in the ground or in 5 gallon buckets.
Almost all of my veggies are prone to the same types of blight because they are all from the nightshade family (peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant). I have very limited full sun exposure so the greens are always grown in the partial shade, and the nightshade always stay in the in full sun beds. I haven't experienced much blight, and I'm glad.
Right on time!
Please keep going through the season,what state you are in,so we know for our area when it’s time,please,you’re so helpful
@sherry2836
4 ай бұрын
The MI in MIgardener stands for Michigan.
Question: I used the method you showed of cutting the potato eyes and using honey and putting in egg cartons for 2 weeks. I also used store bought potatoes.🤷♀️ I may have messed up. Also, its a new raised bed and I used peat moss and sulfer. Is that ok? Thanks. Learning process!
Something told me to throw that rabbit food into my garden. 😂 Absolutely LOVE this content. Can’t wait to get my last set of seeds for the year today.
I am seeing videos on cutting the flowers off of the tops of potato plants. Is this good what is your take on this
Ok, so you water them in well after planting. After that, approx how often would you water them?
Got my 'taders in a couple of weeks ago, just waiting for them all to sprout now! I did Yukon Gold, Pontiac Red, and Adirondack Blue! I did rotate my garden, it's just something I've always been taught. I also like having no two gardens being quite the same year to year!
This is my first year planting just the potato eyes. I came across a few videos saying this was possible (who would have thunk? 😂) and so far my 14 eyes are growing really well! I still need to move them into their summer homes but I’m liking this experiment and the potatoes I snagged them from are already producing me a second set of eyes!
Also....how often do you water And fertilize? Just one fertilization at planting??
I’m in central Michigan. Just put some raised beds in. Getting my soil and compost this weekend. Ordered seed potatoes awhile ago but still waiting to receive them. Holand bulb farm ships based on zone and I am 5B so I would bet them the ground soon.
Luke im in traverse city Should I plant my potatoes yet too!!????
@ladyapprentice7095
4 ай бұрын
I'm in Traverse City too and wondering the same thing.
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
@@ladyapprentice7095I talked to mcgoughs and they said to wait till end of month but I don’t wanna!! 😂😂
@ladyapprentice7095
4 ай бұрын
@@jimmylarge1148 Funny, I got my potato seeds from them. I love McGoughs!
@acoastalrv4582
4 ай бұрын
I'm in Alpena and wondering the same
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
@@acoastalrv4582 looks like Luke’s not gonna talk to us 😂
Thank you Luke
Thank you for the great information! :) What other crops would we want to add alfalfa to the Trifecta? (Just nightshade family?)
Should I plant small shriveled seed potatoes? They are feeling kind of hard. Or could I soak them to help rehydrate them a bit. Then dry them off and plant them? Wondering what everyone thinks?!
Just checking in to see if you will be open on Friday the 24th of May?
Random question, I have a small outdoor pond with goldfish that I’m going to empty, clean and put new water in, but I know that kind of green water has a lot of nutrients. Which plants do you think would benefit from them. I don’t even know exactly what nutrients would be in a pond that has goldfish and some algae
very useful
I planted my potatoes 8" deep on good friday and they have not started coming up yet at least that I can see How long will it take for them to come How long will it take for them to come up above ground thank you
Great video. Thanks!
I planted my potatoes yesterday. Go figure now I get to see all of the things I did wrong 😂😅
@jimmylarge1148
4 ай бұрын
Where u located in mi?
@ilovemichigan-1111
4 ай бұрын
@@jimmylarge1148 I am in the Atlanta area.
@jenniferrescott1149
4 ай бұрын
I was going to plant yesterday fortunately it rained😂
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Potatoes are so forgiving, they just grow. Ideal soil, ph, amendments and all that are nice and all but I swear they just grow no matter what.
How much water do potatoes? When to apply sulfur?
Hey Luke, how do you like that Vulcan wheel barrow? I picked up similar from Ace hardware and the tub broke second season. They do t sell replacement tub, so I have to replace.thx Tim
Can you tell me when is the best time to plant in Zone 6a? I'd love to try potatoes soon.
@TheNakidGardeners
4 ай бұрын
After your last frost and when your soil is above 55 degrees. At least that is what we go by
What happened with the potatoes you planted in the grow bag?
@amandaforgie8047
4 ай бұрын
He posted it like last week. I think.
mistake I have made is I don't think I had enough soil under the potatoes...someone on you tube said you only need 6 inches or so but this year I made sure there was a foot of soil under them....
How far apart were you planting them Luke? Looked to be somewhere between 8 and 10 inches, but hard to tell from the video.
Yes I really don’t crop rotation either.. so I’m on my third batch of potatoes and I will be getting another one started soon fingerlings but I don’t want to say I crop rotate, but I cause I do my potatoes in those big massive buckets and they’re very big there for trees so I will do actually a good double layer of them and they work out good potatoes
Hello from Hersey, MI What about Japanese beetles and potatoes? We cover our 25' bed with netting. Is that all we can do? Love the channel.
@ericawhitfield9289
4 ай бұрын
Ever tried one of those Japanese beetle bag catchers. It attracts and traps them. The bag fills up fast!
What about Indian Trail Compost, would you still suggest getting compost from them?
Do you have a suggestion for a substitution for peat moss? I have used coconut husk before, does that help contribute to soil acidity like peat moss?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Coconut isn't acidic like peat moss is. Honestly, don't fret over the acidity of your soil for potatoes. As long as you add good stuff like compost they'll do great. Way too much emphasis on KZread for the exact ideal conditions for plants and not enough emphasis on building microbial rich living soil.
Good information! I hope you will be selling seed potatoes this year! I can't find them here.
Good Morning Luke😊
Question: My seed potatoes are green, can I use them? Thanks
Luke! You’re a day late! I just planted my potatoes this morning 😂😂. Awesome info as always!
OMG...thank you about crop rotation!!! I've grown tomatoes and peppers along my garage for 13 years and have never had a problem. Every year, add some new soil to the bed, mix it in and you're done. Of course I don't get down to the science you have but I've never had an issue.
Question: I have potatoes that are sprouting from last years hatvest that were in storage.Like really sprouting. Some over 12 inches, I'm just now able to plant potatoes in my zone. Can I plant these and if so how? Do I bury that long sprout? Do I leave it sticking out? Help?
Is aluminum sulphate equivalent to sulphur to bring down pH?
Actually I've learned a lot from you. & Not just potatoes which I love growing. But there seems to be a food shortage in my favorite dumpster. That's where I got my potatoes. So I bought some organics. Desperate times=Desperate measures.
Where did you purchase the seed potatoes from?
Can you grow potatoes in a raised hugelculture bed?
I’m trying to figure out where you’ve found that potatoes like “acidic” soil?
Any advice for container potatoes? I'm growing Kennebecs in 15 gallon growbags.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
I just planted a bunch of grow bag Kennebec’s today and a 33 foot row as well. I mix 50/50 soil and peat moss and throw in some good compost if it's ready and a handful of alfalfa horse feed pellets I always have on hand. I put about four inches of "soil" in the bag, then two or three potatoes and add a small handful of Epsoma granular "Tomato-tone" organic fertilizer and bone meal and tickle that in. Then fill the bag almost all the way up and put some shredded leaves or some kind of mulch and water them in. Grow bags are great but one thing you have to be aware of is watering them enough, they tend to dry out but I just love them. I grew potatoes in mine last year and peppers this year.
@marymccue8455
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith do you then add more soil as they leaf out?
Some gardeners believe with every ounce of their being that you have to hill your potatoes or your harvest will be lackluster. In my soil and climate in NE Oklahoma i cant tell any difference between hilling or not hilling. For every pound of seed potatoes i plant i get 10-12 pounds of potatoes depending on the variety but hilling has zero effect
Yikes. The soil I already planted my wee potatoes in is 7.0. How can I make it more acidic now??? Thanks love this video. 😊
@MIgardener
4 ай бұрын
Just add some powdered sulfur on top.
@beverlyr8152
4 ай бұрын
@@MIgardener will do, thanks!
Is it the same alfalfa pellets you feed rabbits? If not what are you using?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
I get mine at Tractor supply in a big bag and it's horse feed- pellets not cubes though. Cover them with water and they quickly turn to powder and are so much better to add to soil that way. They're great to scatter in late fall and early spring to break down and just be ready.
Luke, I forgot do you get bigger potatoes from whole ones or cut ones?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
It's more about how many eyes they have. Each eye will generate one stalk so two to three eyes is best per potato or potato piece. Some people will even remove sprouts if there's more than three. Bigger yield potatoes have more to do with ample room. Fewer potatoes in a grow bag will give you bigger ones but not as many. More potatoes in a grow bag will give you more potatoes but smaller new potato sized ones. Same thing in the ground, more space equals bigger potatoes but not as many and more closely spaced potatoes will give you more but smaller potatoes. Cutting won't make potatoes smaller for yields but they just need to have a few chits and a decent amount of raw potato for the energy to get going.
Just like tomatoes, potatoes are determinant or indeterminant. some potatoes will produce more when hilled if they are indeterminant. most varieties are determinant and do not need extra hilling.
What if my potatoes have a 12 inch growth. Can I just pinch them back and plant them?
Thank you for including that potatoes like acidic soil. Mine is always closer to neutral. I use a lot of compost. With the thought being towards nutrition. I'll give more thought to that in my next planting of potatoes.
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
I added some of the acidifier fertilizer from Epsoma last year but truth be told, didn’t notice any change. Sulfur is an easy addition but just takes a while to break down. Lots of good compost and you can’t go wrong.
@brianmoore4299
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith I'm with you on that. I've never been really disappointed with my harvest either. I just thought maybe next planting in one of my beds I'd try it his way and another my way and see if it differs in any way. Kind of like what you did. I've never done it so at least once can't hurt. I will be growing others. Thanks for your comment.
What if I’ve already planted my potatoes and they are coming up. Should I add some sulfur powder at this point? Or is it too late?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
The sulfur actually takes a while to break down to acidify soil and/or become plant uptake available, longer than what takes the potatoes to grow. If your soil is decent no worries. I mean realistically you may only be talking about a meal or two more anyway. Ideal everything is great in a lab, but in nature it's not the end all. If you add sulphur early spring well before you could plant it'd be better, and the best is to add sulphur in the fall to let it break down completely over the winter. Potatoes may ideally prefer an acidic soil, prefer and not require. If your soil is decent they'll do great. Better to build a healthy living soil rich in microbial goodness than fret over the exact ph. I have grown great potatoes without ever knowing anything about soil acidity for them.
@msmelody5641
4 ай бұрын
@@cowboyblacksmith thank you!
Luke which is best to use the pellets or the grass?
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
Pellets are great and you can cover them with water and they turn to powder for even mixing in the soil. I buy mine in a big bag at Tractor supply as horse feed.
I haven't watched the video yet but will in a second. I planted my potatoes yesterday so I am dreading watching to find out what I screwed up! Oh well! There's next year!
@cowboyblacksmith
4 ай бұрын
You didn't screw up if you just put potatoes in the ground, they take care of themselves. They're probably the hardiest crop you can grow, For all the emphasis on adding this and that you might get a few more pounds? I've grown potatoes in nothing buy seaweed and broken down leaves and they did amazing. No chemical trifecta and this and that. Leaves, seaweed, potatoes and done.
The monsters inc reference cracked me up!😂 Wasn’t it Mike who sang that though? Anyway, helpful and funny video.
What about "long eyes" i have 6-8" long growth on last years spuds , yukons & Pontiacs
@markspann
4 ай бұрын
I had same issue because I had a very late start to potato planting season this year (wife broke her leg) and by the time I got 'em in the ground, most had grown the same long white legs with super shriveled seed tuber. Just wondering if that will impact how the potato roots and tubers will grow. I'm more concerned about the hot weather - I'm in Zone 7b in central AL.
@angusmcnaughton4570
4 ай бұрын
@@markspann I've been just planting them like that out of the walk in cooler every spring for the last 20 years, same potatoes. 1 just lay them down sideways and bury them , they do fine. I was just looking for some more/better information. I don't need a thousand pounds of potatoes... but I just keep planting them anyway. Someday it will be important... maybe
@samanthaw1419
4 ай бұрын
It's because you have let them sprout in the dark, always put them in the light (not a paper bag) to chit. You can still plant yours, just do it quickly. You could move the longest shoots if that leaves two or three shorter ones.
@angusmcnaughton4570
4 ай бұрын
@@samanthaw1419 it's because I have 400+ pounds of them in boxes in my walk in cooler , closed system. I don't buy potatoes. Same spuds for 20 years. It's just what they do in 7 months.
@markspann
4 ай бұрын
@@samanthaw1419 Thanks for the tips Samantha. I'll certainly keep in mind about storing in light if we have a delayed planting season again - hopefully we don't.