When I am having a bad day, I know I can always count on a Roots and Refuge vid to lift my spirits! 😊

I have used tall laundry baskets for a couple yrs for our potatoes! Drilled holes in the bottom and lined with shade cloth, simply turn onto a tarp when ready to harvest!

@judithtucker6928

3 жыл бұрын

How tall are the baskets you use? I am going to try this method this year as an experiment even though I have my potatoes already planted ... who knows this may be a forever method from now on! It certainly seems very simple and I do like simple 😊

@brittewater

3 жыл бұрын

That's brilliant!

Would it be awful to ask for a blooper reel of you finding bugs in the garden? 😂 It definitely shows your gardening determination that you brave those creepy crawlies year after year!

Jess, I worked on a potato farm. I was a seed cutter. You can cut those potatoes a few times if you want to spread out for more potatoes and not over crowding. Of course you do need an eye for each new plant. Just FYI you your followers. ❤

I've got some great stories of my grandma spending time as a kid with her family cutting seed potatoes, planting and hand harvesting hundreds of acres on the potato farms in Northern Maine. Potato season is such a big deal that they don't even have a football team!

@jennifermckenzie7186

3 жыл бұрын

My father grew up in the county :)

@MrsDorr813

3 жыл бұрын

@@jennifermckenzie7186 it's a special place

@honeybee52000

2 жыл бұрын

The County!

My 14yr old is OBSESSED with potatoes! My goal is to teach her to grow her own and all the varieties 💚🥔

@jessicasakimae541

3 жыл бұрын

That is amazing! So great for teenagers to find something that takes time and such a great reward for their patience. And if it doesn’t work try again (as Jess says, you grow knowledge but don’t give up and try again). Good for you mama!

@caraoiler711

3 жыл бұрын

@@jessicasakimae541 my kids are all slowly starting to take an interest in the garden. My son is more focused on chickens tho 🤣 he’s currently made at me bc I said he can’t have 792 of them. He’s 6 but obviously has big dreams lol

@jessicasakimae541

3 жыл бұрын

@@caraoiler711 that is so sweet!! Your kids are going to look back and thank you for such a beautiful opportunity. 😁 keep it up!

@caraoiler711

3 жыл бұрын

@@jessicasakimae541 thanks 💖

Growing potatoes is one of those things that really gives back to the gardener for the work done during the growing season. The thrill of digging your own potatoes the first time each year... there's nothing else like it. And there's that element of surprise, too, especially when you dig up that "perfect" potato. I like that you planted them all mixed up, that adds to that fun at harvest time. 😁

I had NO IDEA that potatoes were determinate or indeterminate! Wow now I wish I had gotten German Butterball (indeterminate) rather than Yukon Gold (determinate)!

@catladycatlady7359

3 жыл бұрын

I've been growing potatoes for years and JUST learned that this year!

@bonnet1810

3 жыл бұрын

It's more of a interesting information rather than useful advice since most people harvest all of the potatoes at once. It can also be hard not to kill the plant when harvesting the potatoes. Unless you want to grew them in those towers that were mentioned, it's basically pointless.

@121hearc

3 жыл бұрын

theres pros and cons to determinate if you have a large garden of them its a lot less work to just plant and not have to keep adding to the mound

The phrase “Done is better than perfect” comes to mind. I’ve struggled to remember this for years, but it’s so much better to some result rather than NO result!

I just planted mine in 5gal buckets and huge planters. They are already growing great.

@kbjerke

3 жыл бұрын

I'm pleased with the results from my 5 gallon bucket garden I planted last year. Learned a few things, and *this* year's container garden will only be better!! Best wishes!

@MsKaty0311

3 жыл бұрын

Did you use straw after the first layer of dirt?

@mj9566

3 жыл бұрын

@@MsKaty0311 yes I did

@carolann1906

3 жыл бұрын

@@kbjerke I used a 10 gallon and 5 gallon, but missed the memo on straw! How do you use the straw?

@kbjerke

3 жыл бұрын

@@carolann1906 I actually didn't use straw last year. But certainly will *this* season! Probably need only one bale for my tiny garden! :-)

many years ago I had planted a few tomato plants in my garden bed and noticed that one of them had a) white flowers instead of typical yellow and b) a lot more white flies around it. I decided to pull it up because of the white flies and discovered potato tubers. I chose to replant it as a 'bait' plant to protect the tomatoes and when I finally harvested it I was surprised at the sublime taste of those potatoes.

Hi, Jess! We had a few (13!) sprouted potatoes that the Wife demanded I dispose of... so I planted them in the back corner of our property (it's pretty small) where the compost pile was. (I actually grew four potato plants there last year, with surprisingly good results!) THIS year, I will take much better care of the little plot. Right now I'm concentrating on how to get the moles out of my larger (12 x 12) garden plot. The rest will be in containers and planters. Thank you, Jess, and stay well!!

@Beecozz7

3 жыл бұрын

Whirly gigs for moles, send them to someone elses garden! LOL They really work, I use them!

@kbjerke

3 жыл бұрын

@@Beecozz7 I will try *anything* !!! I have no idea how many there are, but the dirt piles are *everywhere* !! They are such destructive little creatures! Thanks for the suggestion!

Chitting is actually letting the eyes sprout a few weeks before you plant them. Then cut and let them skin over before planting. Chitted potatoes give them a head start on the growing season.

@suellenw561

3 жыл бұрын

I was going to say this, too, but checked to see if someone else did.

The 10 Things you didn't know about Miah came up on my recommended today and it was much needed! Jess, you have such a lovely man at your side! And your boys have such a great Father. Bless you all

@Karamelk4

3 жыл бұрын

It did for me as well, and I watched it again. I wonder if that was their marketing? 🤔

Well, I have a mix of potatoes from the 2020 food giveaways in my town. They were from local organic farms. They have many eyes and I now have the courage to plant them. Thank you.

Hi Jess. Your keeping me going. I’m recovering from Covid and lost most of my plants and what I got left is rough. Poor babies. But I’m gonna buy what I need later. Thanks Jess because you show Ed me there’s always next year. I’m just happy to be out of the hospital and alive

I just love how Bear follows you around and just hangs on the farm with you 😭💗

We just planted potatoes in potato bags this weekend 🤞🏻Hopefully they do well.

@MsMelvira

3 жыл бұрын

same here planted mine out in bags over the weekend

@sarahshuman996

3 жыл бұрын

I have heard of people that have great luck with this method! Good luck 😊

Thank you. This is literally the first time I've heard that potatoes can be determinate or indeterminate.

I want to do this so bad. We are a meat and potatoes family too and it’s one food we have never tried to grow. You make it look so easy.

@melissasullivan1658

3 жыл бұрын

She does that for most. She’s very bad for my wallet and gardening space! 😂

@emilylong9887

3 жыл бұрын

@@melissasullivan1658 but in an inspirational way. Haha

Idahoan here. Fun to see how others grow spuds😃👍

I've been growing potatoes in 5 gallon buckets for the past two years. Drilled holes in the bottom for drainage. I doubled my buckets this year for a bigger harvest. Just dump the buckets over when it's time to harvest. So easy!

@earthisnotaball

3 жыл бұрын

How many potato seeds do you put in each bucket?

My son and I have been chitting our store bought organic potatoes (from Whole Foods) since 2-7-21. We'll be planting them in the fabric potato pots (with door at bottom) that we just got from Amazon this morning-this weekend in a heated low tunnel. We're in Chicago:)

My dad is handling the garden while I work my city’s Covid vaccine site. I’m so sad that work keeps me away 6 days a week, but so so glad my dad loves the garden as much as I do so he happily took it over until my hours go back to “normal”.

@archaprice3372

3 жыл бұрын

You are making it work, being of service to your community and gardening with the help of Dad. I love your spirit!

@daylethmarie4008

3 жыл бұрын

@@archaprice3372 Thank you! I got lucky that gardening is a passion very much shared by both sides of my family. It skipped my mom and brother though, so more fun for dad and I!

@gwengwen4535

3 жыл бұрын

Yikes😰

@daylethmarie4008

3 жыл бұрын

@@gwengwen4535 It’s not too bad. Healthcare is my passion and I’m okay putting the garden down to help my community 😌

I used to work with Ben 😁 it always makes me smile when I see him on yout channel

Chalkboard....Normally, I hate puns… But I always loved this one when I would wake my children up in the morning as the morning glories grew up and around the trellises and shutters outside of their windows as I lifted the blinds. ❤️ “Good Morning, Glory!” 🙏 You this video out just as I was heading out to my garden to plant my potatoes! ❤️

Excellent timing! I’m putting out my potatoes a couple of weeks late, too, and this is my first time growing them. I had forgotten that they were either determinate or indeterminate and did a quick check. Thank you, Jess, for saving me from doing it the wrong way!

I just planted mine out last weekend! :) Also trying some potato from true seed just for fun!

@elizabethdowney3412

3 жыл бұрын

I have planted chitted potatoes and potatoes from seeds in separate buckets a few days ago. I’m so excited to see the outcome of both.

Cuteness overload right there! Blessings to you all!!

I just planted my potatoes yesterday too. I was worried that I was way too late. This gives me hope that it’s all gonna be good.

This is my first time actually buying seed potatoes and using grow bags. La Soda Red, Yukon Gold and Superior White . Super excited 😁

I just went back and watched your video of last season's potato harvest. It was so funny! You and the creepy crawly things...I can relate to! Thanks for all you do to encourage us (new gardeners).

@Jo_mommah

3 жыл бұрын

New and seasoned, young and old! I think anyone can benefit from some R&R!! 😁😁

I planted determinate potatoes this year because I couldn't find any indeterminate ones. I did find a method online that is a bit similar to the potato tower...Because determinate potatoes generally only grow in a horizontal way, using about 4-6" of soil, I placed 6" of soil in a grow bag, then placed 2 seed potatoes at opposite sides, then layered in 4" of soil and laid 2 more potatoes opposite each other, and equidistant from the 2 below (so that if you drew lines between the potatoes in the layers, it would form a cross). After that I put 4 more inches of soil and watered them in well. So far they are growing great!

I planted Potatoes in some containers this year for the first time. Excited to see how they do. I will plant some in ground late this summer

I bought a furminator. Thanks for the tip! I love it! I’ve planted potatoes in 10 gallon pots and bags. Fingers crossed

Hey Jess! I just got your book delivered and am already halfway through my first read. This is definitely gonna be a book I pick up to reference again and again. I’ve learned so much already. I got my seeds at the ready and am ready to sow as soon as I finish your book. I’m so excited to grow food for the first time ever!!!! Much love from Liverpool, UK.

Miah is my new encourager. I had a really bad episode with blood clots and have to wear a compression stocking. I was not going to do much this summer because I didn't want to wear one with my shorts. I see Miah does and that stinks this encouraged me to just go ahead and do it. It's the little this to some that mean big things to others. Please thank him for the encouragement. Love all that you do and pay often for you all. God Bless.

We just planted our potatoes yesterday! We did a video on it also! I love planting potatoes! They are so rewarding when harvesting!

Love the Video, I have been planting potatoes for more than 12 years and I plant in containers and in the garden. I plant them every year. I usually split the seeds to get more.

i live in georgia i planted my potatoes on valentines day and some of them are already showing signs of blooms cant wait for fresh potatoes

Love planting Potatoes. I'm trying to plant some Linseeds around them this year to help for partout Bugs. A friend of mine said it really helps keep them away. Will keep you posted.

Thank you for making this video and sharing what has worked for you! First time gardener here in zone 6b. I thought it might be too late to plant potatoes and onions, but your videos have encouraged me to plant them anyway. The worst that would happen is they won't grow at all. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and positive outlook. I look forward to your garden devotionals! Blessings to you and your family. -Claire

For those who are tight on space, another great idea that we use every year is 5 gallon buckets. We get far more potatoes than we can use using this method so we share with our neighbors.

I’m doing potatoes soon! ❤️🇨🇦

There are two types of potatoes indeterminate and determinate. Indeterminate are the ones that you would grow in towers or potato boxes. To maximize yield. As they grow they produce tubers all the way up as they grow. Determinate you can grow in containers or garden bed. They produce tubers below seed potato and 4-6 inches above. These are your early varieties.

Absolutely love Roots and refuge !

I planted a couple gold a few weeks ago and just put 10 russet in a tub last night. First year planting any food and the gold are all already coming up! I was so excited to see them as I wasn’t sure if any would 😄

@gwengwen4535

3 жыл бұрын

You’re going to love it!! Growing potatoes is SO rewarding for some reason🥰🙌🏻

My grandfather (born in 1900) always kept the bigger potatoes for seed for the next year. He said "if you plant larger potatoes cut into smaller pieces (no more than about 4), you'll harvest larger ones." I don't know if this is actually true, but we still plant larger ones when possible. I also found bare feet are necessary for harvesting ... to kick down the banks on each side of the row after plowing. Harvesting was never done in full until after the tops died off. Before that, we'd steal a few out from under the "hen" -- mother plant.

“Oh Bear! What did you get into? Where did you go?!” Love watching the farm life so much.

thank you for you real was! it’s so easy as a new gardener to feel like i’m late so give up or I didn’t do step one (cutting up the potatoes and letting them dry) so now I can’t do step 2... thank you!

This will be my first time growing potatoes thanks to you, Jess!

I can't wait to meet you Saturday!!!! We love you and get so much information from every single video.

I am planting way more potatoes than we could ever eat, for sharing....similar method.....

I'm going to try potatoes in a breathable feed bag.. here in upstate S.C. Love your videos, I have learned alot..Thank you and God bless..

Jess, your gardening videos and the knowledge you lend to us, me especially, is fantastic and has truly inspired me to try all kinds of things on the 5 acres we recently bought. However, your God breathed devotional videos have touched my heart, made me weep, and have been extremely relatable to a girl who grew up dreaming of her own farm and finally achieved that dream, given by Christ and Christ alone. Thank you for being faithful to the calling Hes placed on your heart and in your life. Grow a garden and teach people to grow food.

Ha ha!! Watched the other video. I am 54 years old and I just made my husband get rid of the spider on my ceiling. I scream like a 5 year old if they surprise me. We have a deal... They stay outside they can live. They come inside they die. If they touch me... It's every man for themselves. 🤣Be well from Canada🇨🇦

So interesting . . . I've never heard of potato plants producing fruit. Something to watch for. Thanks Jess!

We actually repurpose all the old tires we have laying around and stack them up as we add dirt or old hay from our horses. We usually get 3 high and then when its time to harvest we just kick off the top 2 and gather the potatoes. It's much like the bag theory but less product to spend money on. I also ordered my MIgardener seeds and am anxiously awaiting them even tho they are for next year.

Love your patch. I'm growing my reds and golds in an old 4' water trough that rusted out. My russets are in grow bags. I crowded the hell out of them and planted them whole lol

Remarkable timing! I was just reading up on harvesting potatoes last night.

Thank you so much for giving me and my husband the inspiration and strength to start our little homestead!

Q: WILL BENTERN STILL BE AN INTERN ON YOUR FARM ONCE YOUR FAMILY MOVES? Hope so 👍🏻

@Jo_mommah

3 жыл бұрын

That’s a good question! Didn’t even think of that!

@SuffolkSusie

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe he'll purchase their current farm and start a youtube channel 👍

@colleencaffarelli6946

3 жыл бұрын

I was thinking he might be the buyer

@metalmartha2571

3 жыл бұрын

Oh course! They said they knew who the buyer was. You’re probably right.

Ruth Stout just dumped the potatoes (on the ground) and threw straw over them. She most definitly did not prepare the beds as you did.. I did that last year, it was fun. This year I will put a little bit more loose soil under then. Not as much as you but a bit more then Ruth Stout did. It's great watching how you do it..

I love planting/picking/pulling potatoes!

Hi Jess... I finished your wonderful book. Thank you for pouring your gardening heart and soul into it.😊

Very informative and helpful.

My kids love harvesting potatoes - buried treasure! Great video Jess :) mine are in buckets this year. Maybe when i have my own farm...

I'm planting potatoes today as well! Tis my first time! Super excited, but also a bit nervous.🤞

Great video, thank you Jess👩🏼‍🌾

Small garden here. My potatoes went in pots on 2-21. They are getting going pretty good. Gpa always started his in February during the waning 🌙 in S. Illinois. I'm in Florida so ... We'll see how it goes. Lol

@Jack8888.

3 жыл бұрын

During the waning moon in February!! I love that !!!

So many questions were answered while watching this video thanks

Thanks for all the info Jess. I am planting mine in bags this week. I've planted in the ground before when I lived somewhere else and it was sandy soil. I had a few old tires that I put over them to help me remember where to dig. It was a good harvest then, so I am hoping the bags work this time. As always, Bless You and Yours.

I've had great success using bone meal and earthworm castings in my potato beds

Thank You so much for explaining this process. I tried to grow some potatoes last year and didn’t do so well. I did however order seed potatoes for this year because I didn’t want to give up. My Dad was my best source of information for gardening but I lost him 5 years ago so a lot of questions I have had have gone unanswered. This video just cleared a lot of things up about potatoes. Again Thank You you are more of a blessing than you realize 🙂

Great info that answered so many questions. Thank you!!

I have to tell you a funny, true story. I had an old video of yours up early (5:00) this morning and was lulled back to sleep by your voice. I dreamed you and I were big friends and we were at a garden and you were telling myself and the owner all about the plants there. You asked me if I had heard that y'all were moving and I replied, yes, but I didn't know where. You shared with me that y'all were moving to AUSTRALIA. WHAT?!?!? I started crying because I thought I'd never see my friend again. ❤❤❤ I know, I'm weird and my dreams make no sense. Thanks for another great video, I love potatoes.

Chitting potatoes is helping break dormancy and forcing sprouts by putting in a very warm location. This will cause an earlier harvest.

I got your book today! So excited. I’ve got little potato plants beginning to poke their heads out of the ground. 😊

I’m glad your potatoes from last year were looking pretty wrinkled with straggly roots too. I thought I’d done something wrong with mine and was amazed when they actually began to grow, I so very nearly threw them in compost bin.

@RootsandRefugeFarm

3 жыл бұрын

You’d have had a a compost bin full of potato plants lol

THANK YOU for saying you are afraid of bugs! I am too, but I LOVE to garden. Im always saying summer would be so great if there werent any bugs!😂

@briannatuttle1028

3 жыл бұрын

That is me with snakes!!!!! I saw one in my garden last year and panicked!! Full. Blown. Panic! I screamed and ran in the house and didnt go out to the garden again until two days later, and only after i had my husband weed whip the already pretty short grass around my raised beds 😅 I feel like such a wuss but seriously, i cant!!

@MarciesWhimsySoaps

3 жыл бұрын

@@briannatuttle1028 😂 Love it!

I finally am having some success with container potatoes. Can hardly wait.

Since we are moving to our forever home 1st week of May..I'm not planting potatoes this year. My local grocery store had 20# bags of russet potatoes for $8.26..i bought 60#'s.. canned 88 pints & quarts of potatoes this weekend. I'm thawing out a couple of roasts, to can stew..so have potatoes for that. My Granny always planted potatoes 12", apart for small potatoes..28"-30" apart for large potatoes...so I do the same.

You have encouraged me to try to plant potatoes. I will do it next year 😋

We planted in buckets and in the ground this is our first try at potatoes

Good morning 🌞💕🌱

It's so cool hearing you talk about things you purchased and or are growing that came from places a few hours from me. Hudson valley is about an hour or so from me. I live where the Adirondacks begin, which is where the Adirondack red and Adirondack blue were named after. They were created at a university approx 4-5 hrs from me. If you haven't grown Adirondack potatoes yet however, please make sure you read up on what they are susceptible to. I'd hate for you to lose a whole crop due to the bugs and diseases that can accrue with the Adirondacks.

Last year, I put my potatoes on clay and covered them with straw from my previous year's straw bale gardening attempt. My daughter got a LOT of potatoes. I don't eat a lot of them but I LOVE to grow anything.

Sooo much great potato info. Pretty busy at the moment but will use this info next spring 🥔

I'm so scared of bugs too. Lol I'm always worried something is going to get in my hair or clothes. I'm a newish Gardener but I'm an avid hiker/camper and I always shock people at how freaked out I get over bugs. We have a few beautiful garden spiders that web over our squash/pumpkin area and as beautiful as they are I'm super careful not to run into their webs.

Thank you for sharing, God bless

OK, sooo.... I am going to the coop tomorrow to get my seed taters!!! Yea! Should have already finished this but there’s only so much time in a day!!! Am trying a new area of my property down here in Central Florida so am anxious to see how it goes!! Sending Blessings to y’all!!

I love seeing Bear by your side all the time! I need a garden dog ♥️

This has been so helpful 🙏🏼

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I tried potatoes in cloth grow bags last year with mixed results. Maybe ill try again this year with some in ground

Just harvested ours. Lol The joy of triple digit temps in April!

I have that shirt! Got mine at target. I love it!

GODBLESS you sweetie

First time commenter but long time listener 👍🏻🖐🏻 greetings! Loved this one and we planted our potatoes early March but were in zone 9 so we we’re almost late getting ours in the ground but they have done so well and the green plants are beautiful as you said ... I knew to watch for flowering when ready to Harvest but you gave me so much more clearer guidelines! Thanksv so much! You are a natural in your teaching and much appreciated how you share your passion for growing to us! I never had any idea there were determinate and indeterminate potatoes just like tomatoes. Well I’m learning so much please don’t stop making videos we enjoy your channel so much! Keep growing and God bless

I plant my potatoes in grow bags simply because of space. I don’t have a lot in my yard. But I’m proof you can grow potatoes in a tiny space. Of course, growing in bags, I grow determinate varieties.

@TheDolphace

3 жыл бұрын

I grew indeterminates in bags last year. I just did a load of mounding and turned the bags so they had to go up the fence when they got out of control. Worked well.

@portialancaster3442

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheDolphace Thanks for your input. I'm growing potatoes for the first time this year, also in grow bags. I wondered if I could trellis the vines because I have very very little grow space. Your comment answers that question. Bless you and hope you have a harvest of abundance.

You just told me all the things I was wondering/ needed to know!! I was thinking as you were talking that maybe it would work in my kiddie pool and my potatoes I saved has super long sprouts