#Potato
Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль
#potato #potatoes #plantingpotatoes #potatoplanting #selfsufficent #growyourown
Planting potatoes: I show here the easiest and most natural and environmental way of growing potatoes. These methods have been followed for hundreds of years, particularly in Ireland.
This a perfect time to become self sufficient by growing your own potatoes and other vegetables.
At the end of February, I started digging the first ridge of the season to plant my potatoes in the traditional Irish way (often referred to as the 'lazy-bed' method. I aim to bury that dubious title!).There is no better, more environmentally-friendly and efficient way to grow potatoes than to follow the old traditional methods as practiced by our ancestors for hundreds of years (stick with me - I will prove it). See • Traditional Irish Pota...
Ridge-making and tools differ throughout the country but essentially they achieve the same results.
All you need is a spade (or in some parts of the West and North Midlands, a loy) a bit of lawn and maybe a lesson or two ...
I learned potato farming in the large and fertile fields of South Tipperary (the Golden Vale) in the 1950s and '60s. In the '70s, using every mechanical trick in the book - and advice from my father and old neighbours - I grew very profitable crops of potatoes (Then I opened a bookshop - but sin scéal eile!).
Moving to the Beara Peninsula, 25 years ago I learned a different way, a very sustainable way, that has survived for over 200 years. See - Traditional Irish Potato Planting in Beara (in my channel - the long one, 37 min) which I made with my neighbour, Michael 'Murt' O'Sullivan. • Traditional Irish Pota...
Michael is a survivor of an extraordinary generation that kept alive the lore, craft - and indeed physical grace - of growing potatoes in the 19th C and before.
Ni bheidh a leithéid arís ann (See more details of Michael in the Description before that video).
Here in the current Feb 2021 film, I follow my own way, which, whilst not as skilled or graceful as Michael's, is reasonably proficient and I do end up with a large and very fertile ridge or raised bed. But, over a series of videos, I will keep learning, going back to Micheal's unique, authentic ways, and continue to explore regional variations and other potato lore.
It will be my privilege to pass it on to you.
Irish ridge-making was arguably the most efficient type of potato cultivation ever practiced in north-western Europe - or indeed further afield. Before the Great Irish Famine of 1845 '49, incredibly, 2.5 million acres of potatoes (there were millions more of wheat, oats, rye etc) were cultivated with this method. It was a superb example of a horticultural practice ideally suited to the climate and geology - and man and woman-power - of Ireland. Yields of potatoes per acre using spades and ridges produced crops that have never been surpassed, even to this day. And up to the coming of the blight fungus in 1845 we were the best-fed peasantry in the world (again, stay with me - I can prove that too). Uniquely, the Irish population grew by 400 per cent in the 100 years between the census of 1741 and that of 1841. What cannon-fodder we were for the Empire ...!
There is here a huge and timely lesson for us all today: Listen to the wise and experienced (like Michael) and learn how to cultivate and grow in the most efficient and environmentally-friendly way. Then, all else will follow; that the least amount of ground is used to produce sufficient (you can simultaneously plant onions, shallots and turnips on the edges and peas and beans among the potatoes) and healthy organic food - with the least physical effort - to keep a family throughout the year.
Tip for main-crop: Buy potatoes off the shelves in the spring, cut the sprouting ends off the biggest of them, cauterise them with wood ash and store them exposed to the light. The sprouts will get green and strong (called 'chitting') and give you weeks of a start on the growing season (thus evading the blight season from July).
Questions on yields, efficiency: I think in acres and yards and in llbs, cwts and tons. Back in the 1970s I used to get over 25 tons to the acre of HDM potatoes per acre. The sowing rate was one ton to the acre.
Some questions were in metric measurements of per 500 sqm.
500 sqm, one twentieth of a hectare, is just one eighth of an acre. Therefore the sowing rate was two and a half cwts or 280 llbs =127 kgs. I would expect to get more weight per sq yard from my 2021 ridges - all with natural eco-methods. But the feeding quality of potatoes grown my way is far, far superior to conventional methods. Efficiency? Through the roof! Taste? Heavenly!
Пікірлер: 260
Great to see old skills still in use - I do most of my gardening 'no dig' but have not found it works that well with potatoes. Important that people learn the techniques of our forefathers!
@beyondorganicjim
4 ай бұрын
The old way was not quite no-dig. It evolved to be very efficient - that’s why the English called it lazy.
This is how my grandfather planted potatoes I had forgotten until now thank you for refreshing my memory.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Great. Thanks for that - the past is both a charnel house and a treasury.
@robinsong7298
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim I completely agree the past is a tried and true method allowing for growth in the present. God bless Shalom
How happy I was to find your channel. Please, oh please make some more garden videos. I find your garden by the sea so inspiring!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
That's very pleasing, Kate. I will do more - if I last!
Loved the video & glad we followed your lead in digging our ridge !Watched all over again & interested that there is no seaweed !
Thank you so much for sharing.
Our local community garden here in Southern California forbid us from growing potatoes. One of the reasons I quit the garden. The beef was that growing potatoes was a source of blight that destroyed the tomato crop. Voo doo gardening but they had the control. There were actually a lot of other factors in my opinion.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
That's unbelievable! Grow early and there need be no blight. But also chicken and egg - tomatoes spread blight too
@poche660
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim Number one crop everyone wants to grow so other crops like potatoes get banned. Hobby farmers.
I love your spade! Won’t work in my grow tubs but good to know traditional methods. Thanks for sharing
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Kind of you. Wiil do videos on spade types later. Breast p[ough?
I love watching potatoes being planted. Exercise and fresh air, what more can we ask for. Donkey manure, that's a new one. Take care.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
I particularly love harvesting and eating the pearly-white earlies, with a little kiss of Kerrygold and parsley. A union made in heaven! Soon, soon. Equine manures are healthier than bovine, I feel. But the best is elephant dung! Later.
@danielarichter2453
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim sounds interesting! But where to get elephant dung??😅
What a beautiful spot! Thanks for the inspiration.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
It is beyond beautiful, most of the time. We have a big wind, Force 10! and heavy rain right now. Check it out in Google Beara Peninsula.
This was amazing too watch your tradition, thanks! You must show what yield you get off this!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ajax. Will later do a harvest video.
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
The harvesting video is there now. Don’t forget to subscribe, Ajax.
Wow I’m enjoying your videos glad we met up 👍
Great video with helpful advice
@beyondorganicjim
Жыл бұрын
Glad you think so!
Great to see the old tradional methods used Jimmy. Hopefully it wi encourage a new generation of young people to get planting!! Trish
@jimoconnor7123
3 жыл бұрын
Thats the plan. Thanks Patricia.
@craigobrien4039
3 жыл бұрын
Started last year folks. Got a better start this year and a new greenhouse.
this was beautiful.... I can feel your love and passion for growing things as I share this same instinct
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
That's a very pleasant comment. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing your technique for planting 🥔 potatoes!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
And thanks to you for your kind comment.
Thanks for the video. I've subscribed because I love sitting and watching folks do hard work while I sip a cool one.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
After a bit of digging, nothing like a cool one.
So nice. Thanks for sharing.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
My pleasure indeed.
You’re awesome!!!!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Wow! Thank you so much, not sure if I deserve that high an accolade. Where do you garden yourself?
Practical and entertaining ... enjoyed this Thank You ☺
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Great. Thank you. 'Fear' is the Irish word for man.
great share, thank you.
@beyondorganicjim
Жыл бұрын
Thank you too
love it.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Ah, you're very kind. Thanks
Thank you, sir, I appreciate your method. I'll give it a try in southern Indiana, USA.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Wow, never been called Sir before but I appreciate how it's used so respectfully in the US. Best of luck. I'll have another video up shortly.
Hello, Linda here from Georgia, USA. I thoroughly enjoyed your method of planting your potatoes. Thank you for sharing!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Great to hear from Georgia - the only place in the States I've been to. Spent a 10 hour stopover in Atlanta en route from Caraccas to Dublin. Had a great time - on just $10! Spent it on the Subway, a burger and a tour of CNN. 'I'll be baaack!'
So providing you live near the sea and have a plentiful, free supply of seaweed, a friend with a donkey sanctuary and a woodburning stove, you're good to go !!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
You got it! And the land, the soil, the climate, the tools, the will, the hunger, the health, the strength, the skill and the knowledge of centuries - then you will know what it is to grow like our ancestors did and feed millions, often starting with bare rock, sand or peaty hillside.
@freedomunltd
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim wonderful description of exactly how it was and how far we have been detached from what sustains all of life, this being Mother Earth. Thank you.
@Biddybee
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim So what happened during the great famine then??
@franklettering
3 жыл бұрын
@@Biddybee . .......history happened.!!! You should check out the harm done.
@oldcountryman2795
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, this is beyond ridiculous.
I love this, you strongly remind me of granda and I can't wait to see how growing spuds works out
Sound man 👍🏻
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks - if you are a psychiatrist!
Very good.
Nice video. Beautiful country out there. I will use some of those techniques in my potato grow box (my yard is small, I need to grow vertically). In Finland where I'm from one traditional way to grow potatoes is to throw a fish in with the potato (I think it's for additional phosphorous). I really like the idea of utilizing seaweed in the garden. It's a good example on your side of working with what you got. I hope you have a great gardening season 2023!
@beyondorganicjim
Жыл бұрын
Hi Matias Thanks for your positive comments. Interesting about the fish. They used cod in Newfoundland in the same way.
I didn't see anything lazy about your method thanks liked and subscribed 👍 hello from Kentucky mountains USA 👍
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Houston and hello from the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula, West Cork. I'm dropping the lazy-bed name - its smart gardening.
Superb thank you 👍🏻
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Neil. That's a huge compliment. Where do you garden yourself. Any unusual varieties?
Your Great ! Thanks for the vidio I subscribed today and rang the bell ! looking forward to watching more of you
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Soon, soon ...
Thank you from the Murphys!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Great! Are you the Murphys of Bank, Beara? Maybe of Donohill, Fethard, Dungarvan or ....? Cousins?
@shirleymurphy1958
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim Great Grandfather James Murphy came from one of those places . But the Family lives in Belfast, Maine US . now but still plant many potatoes.
He’s amazing 🇨🇦
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
If that relates to me, I am deeply flattered.
Thankyou for the information didn't know about woodash for potatoes! Off grid in Oklahoma Mt.Momma
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately wood ash from degraded and burnt forests lead to temporary good yields of various tubers etc.
glad i bumped into you today in bantry, enjoyed the videos, subscribed and ticked the bell to get notifications when you upload a new video. regards pete
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Peter. Thanks for the chat yesterday. Look forward to talking more to a student horticulturalist. I rewrote the introduction this morning. You inspired me to do it.
@mrElpacas
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim yes was a good chat if somewhat short :D speaking of cannon fodder have you ever heard of the 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot? they were the first to capture a french eagle, and were given 10 battle honours during their service, just one of the many irish regiments, but the first in the empire that managed to capture a french eagle, alas it wasnt the first one captured from napoleon, that was the russians. i do find it quite amusing though that the first one captured by the british forces was done by irish men :D yes definatly will be talking more :D i left a comment on your long video too after watching it, very interesting stuff
Good work there Jim. I'm in Huddersfield and got mine planted early May. I have a plot on an allotment. Also had a fair bit of digging but they are flat beds. I will ridge up when they get going. Varieties are charlotte, rooster and two new ones catlingfotd and valor. I have relatives in Cork and valentia Island.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the kind comment, JC. Don't know the Carlingford variety. Valentia, one of my favourite places. Bought a boat there from Murphy's Yard. Best agus Slan
Great video....Thank you for doing it! Pretty heavy soil you are working with...seems similar to mine I am fortunate to have an endless supply of well aged horse manure! Mike 🇨🇦🍁
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Kind of you Michael. 'Heavy' I guess it is, but in the early spring drought this year it conserved moisture much better than lighter soils. I envy you the horse manure - my donkey stuff grew some interesting mushrooms!
Lovely. My dad's grandfather came to Texas and started a potato farm. It was unfortunately flooded out and a loss. I imagine the rows were similar. Thanks for sharing!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Floods in Texas! Ridges usually saved crops from floods - and drought. It would be interesting if there were any old photographs showing methods.
Very interesting video. Best of luck with your new series.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Pud, You're a star!
I'm in North Kerry. I dug out two lazy beds for spuds earlier this year. They got a small touch of frost but I think they'll be ok. I planted some in containers also. Looking forward to seeing how yours get on.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
My main plot is by the sea and I got a touch of frost this year - first time ever. Luckily just checked a few plants.
@desmondsharpe5397
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim nice video I thought you could only do the lazy bed with a loy. Our last frost date is May 15th North of Chicago I sure miss being able to plant spuds in March. Not a decent spade or Irish shovel to found out here. I often wish I had a long handled Irish shovel but it’s not something AerLingus would let you it it the baggage compartment.
Hi! Im irish too ! Kelly kirkpatrick is my maiden name......great video sir! I was born in the usa however!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Hey Kelly, a famous Irish name. Kirkpatrick Wow! The church of St Patrick - probably Scottish Gaelic. I have a great historical story about a Kelly in 1848. And then there is the infamous Ned Kelly, the Australian bushranger, whose father is linked to my local Irish story. And you grow potatoes ...?
Great video! Thanks for making it. Lazy beds are not for the lazy! :D We are doing no dig and lasagne gardening.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the encouraging comments. I'm trying to get rid of the 'lazy-bed' title - it's not as you say lazy at all, It's Smart! You're doing great stuff there too - loved your Tour.
Beautiful
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Most eloquent and flattering comment this week. Thank you.
@stephanieeverett5453
3 жыл бұрын
You people have nothing better to do then put people down you watch his video don't communicate if you can not be Nice
@stephanieeverett5453
3 жыл бұрын
May the good Lord 🙏 you sir thank you for your amazing teachings
Interesting process, will share this out here for comparable zones in the U.S. There is a farmer here in the southern U.S. who uses a similar trench method for yams and cassava which is what we grow in the tropics that serve as starch tubers.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the information Fadista. Ridges in Ireland on mountains, bogs, seashores and occasionally good land were used to grow potatoes, of course, but also wheat, oats etc and to shed water - sometimes to conserve - reclaim and recycle all kinds of biological material including animal and human wastes.
Great- liked learning some history, seeing your soil preparation and the planting style ( wish we could get seaweed close by). Have a few pounds of spuds to plant, will give this old way a try with some of them. We are in Ohio (US) with heavy clay soil and poor drainage, so do most of growing in raised beds
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Goodness. I have fans in Ohio! If you are on the coast, we would have similar climates.
@jgrady9553
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim No, not on the coast unfortunately- we're in the middle of the country, at edge of Appalachian foothills. Look forward to seeing your harvest!
Very interesting video, good luck with it
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Catherine.
subscribed thank you!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Yenefer.
Wonderful, it is also amazing how Oregon looking it is where you live, I wonder how close the climates are.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Very close, I'd say, especially on your coast. Potatoes?
LOL thanks for sharing great channel
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Ah, thank you - I'm so encouraged by comments like that.
@kforest2745
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim you’ve got a way of putting words together for your video I noticed, a natural storyteller or adventure lol
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
@@kforest2745 I'm flattered! Thanks again.There is a bigger story which I hope I can find the words to express.
Thank you for your advice, I live in Ohio in the US and we have very clay like soil as well so this video is great!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Great to hear from Ohio, and that we have soil-type in common.
Great video never seen that done will keep watching all the best Michael
@jimoconnor7123
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the positive comment. Subscribe - there's more coming down the track.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
Great Video , I’m in Clare and this is how I do my spuds with the exception of the pot ash , I prepare the bed in the winter with a thick dressing of seaweed and cow manure let it rot down and I top dress in fresh seaweed after I’ve the spuds in and let Mother Nature do the rest 😄 I’ve subscribed to your channel and look forward to see what else you have to share thankyou April
@jimoconnor7123
3 жыл бұрын
April. Thank you so much for your comments. It gladdens my heart to hear from like souls. Sounds like you have a no-dig method - true? Any photos?
@aprilriordan8202
3 жыл бұрын
@@jimoconnor7123 hi Jim if you have an email address I can send you a few pictures of my vegetable allotment, I do a no dig method but it’s more about the microbial life and soil health than just not digging , if I need to I fork the soil so as not to upset the soil structure to much , but sometimes fir parsnips ect you have to dig a bit .
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
@@aprilriordan8202 April, a leanna. Just been reminded of pioneer Ruth Stout, whose methods I tried out on a small scale. Here's my email address - beyondorganicjim@gmail.com
@theclumsyprepper
3 жыл бұрын
You must have good soil April. Mine is all clay and stones (I'm in West Clare) so I'm growing my spuds in raised beds. Easier than pulling out Stonehenge from the ground every time I stick the spade in the dirt.
@aprilriordan8202
3 жыл бұрын
@@theclumsyprepper haha I hear ya ! We had our allotment moved from high ground ( to expand the graveyard beside us ) to low ground last year and we went from lovely views and dry soil to flooded every time we had a good rain fall ... ha Ireland ! So this year I’m making deep drills around all my beds that practically transitioned them to raised beds but without the wooden structures around them , the soil is good cause this is year two of growing in it but 8 to 10 inches down is grey silt from the river Shannon and it’s well compacted ! That’s one of the reasons for building up the soil instead of digging it over , it will take years of forking it to get the soil down , can’t imagine digging out burren stones to plant wow now that’s hard work , good luck with the raised beds and your growing season 😃
more growing content pls 😁🔥👏
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Working on it, Video in next few days.
That was good to watch, thank you. All the best from Scotland. I think I recall these lazy beds were called Runrigs here, or at least they bear some relationship to them. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos. :-)
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that. I remember Runrigs from Reading Uni, back in the day. I think the system was quite different and there was a security of tenure that the Irish cottier didn't have. They were virtually slaves of the small farmer class rather than the remote landlords! And when the blight and the Famine came, they were abandoned by their own. And then we blamed the English for all. And the funny thing is, the Sassenachs accepted the rap - Tony Blair etc!
Well done. Good work and thanks for posting. My only feedback would be to get a good pair of wellies. I suspect they would last longer than those trainers!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the supporting comments - and the suggestion. I'm normally barefoot in the garden! But In the interests of decency, I slipped into my formal Sketchers. I have a good strong pair of steel-toed Wellingtons for chainsawng etc. I still have all my toes!
@reggiepip7801
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim Good tip regarding main crop potatoes. More videos would be appreciated, see what you can do. Try and get some background shots in as well!
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
@@reggiepip7801 I'm a bit challenged with this filming lark. But I'll try to improve.
Any Ideas on how to keep the worms at bay ? I recently got a small Allotment and want to grow some nice Potatoes. That looks a nice part of Ireland were your plot is , what part are you in ?
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
The potash keeps the worms away. Charlie, I’m in West Cork, The Beara Peninsula. See the other videos on my channel.
gread vid
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that.
😻😻😻😎😎😎
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thaks, I think/
ELECTRIC CAR ... hahahaha WHEN YOU ARE MILES FROM ANYWHERE ....
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Van! 12 regular journeys per week. One charge - costing €3. Ha, ha, ha.
Io amo l'Irlanda❤❤❤
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Lovely of you to say so. We love it too - most of the time.
Hi, thanks for showing us how to plant. I’m starting a garden this year, in Irish midlands. How far apart did you plant the potatoes? And how long did you you wait before you planted than after you made the finished beds ?
@beyondorganicjim
2 ай бұрын
Sorry for delay. Sow them like the number five pattern on a dice - approximately 9 - 12” apart. You can plant into the bed same day as you dig it. Best of luck
Here in spain a lot of wood posts they sell or other ibits of ready shaped wood seem to have been treated with plastic. If you burn them you can smell it. I asked in the owod yard and they admited to it.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Plastic? Not surprised - there are many toxic preservative materials they use. I love the idea of cutting fence posts from my sallies (Salix Salix). They usually sprout and grow into hedges! I'm doing some today.
Fair play. What way did you fair out with the frost?
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Alan. Good question. That plot of mine is by the sea but this year even there I got a bit of frost. See the latest video.
Have you the land prepared for this year and what variety of spuds will you plant
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
I have, and will have a video out shortly. Keeping it tight and simple this year - the varieties: 1st Earlies, Sharpes Express,; 2nd Earlies British Queens; main crop, Roosters and for consumption Jan to May, the wonderful Golden Wonders. There should be more information in the extensive descriptions I’ve written for some of the videos in my GrowSmartIreland channel
@conormc636
2 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim that's great its a beautiful part of ireland you live in must be fantastic to see the views every day
This is historical. I didn't know it was even possible to grow potatoes in Ireland.
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
The homeland of the potato is the Peruvian Altiplano, the parts that are relatively cold and humid. I’ve been there and its quite like our climate in places.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember some problems with the traditional Irish potato harvest.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
That problem - phytophthora infestans - was and still is universal.
Very nice. But I grow in big pots. Did it the first time last year. I live by myself and I don't need much potatoes.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
In pre-Famine Ireland a family of five needed 5 tons of potatoes per year. Pots wouldn't do!
Hi ... I'm here in Wexford and I'm going to try sow potatoes for the first time (I'm 51 but I grew up eating my grandad's spuds). I have the spuds, someone to open a drill and access to horse manure. My question is do I really need potash etc.? I have a stove but burn coal with sticks which is no good . Also I've heard that pine needles are good for potatoes?
A wee bit too much work for me!! Here in Plainview Texas💕
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
My best WWOOFer was from Texas. She dug like a trooper, so I thought all Texans were diggers!
Please make a video of the harvest. Thank you.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
I will indeed. But I should have an interim one to post this weekend. Plants are up to 18" tall at present.
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Dimitri I’ve just uploaded a video of the harvesting of my ridge.
Potatoes are perennials that can grow at the SAME spot year after year. I do not harvest all my potatoes and let some overwinter in the ground. They come back every year at almost the right time without being affected by spring frost. Then I just hill them using some fresh grass clipping from mowing my lawn. They grow happily year after year. Zero work. Zero cost. LOL
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely right. I let a few grow like that too and get delicious meals of super-early potatoes. But I am a farmer and historian too and fascinated by the ridge-making of the cottier class in Ireland. Much more as my channel develops.
It just shows the difference between Cork and Tyrone. I put my spuds in on April Fools' Day, and they can still get hit with frost into early May. I only have a little allotment, but If I was renting of a farmer say and had a decent bit of land I'd be throwing in a few of these beds myself. As it is, I dig in plenty of well rotted manure, and let that sit over winter. Then dig it over again, rake it level and use the shaft of a yard brush to make a hole and push the spud in. Just like planting bulbs, really. I make all the holes, then scatter some chicken manure pellets over the whole area. Then I pop a spud in each hole and lightly rake level once more. I have a wood stove myself out in the shed, but it needs work to get it back in action again. A friend works at them and putting in fireplaces etc. So now things are getting back to normal again, fingers crossed. I will give him a buzz, and he can take it apart and sort it out. If it was working, I would have been saving the ash all winter for the spuds.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Digging in the FYM sounds good to me. Hard to get down here - all slurry these days. You can plant earlier - even in the frozen north! - you just cover them overnight with cut grass, straw etc until risk of frost is gone.
@theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim Agree, and that was the plan. But the guy running the allotments was meant to get one of the large round bails of hay, so I held off getting one myself. I actually got some cut grass from a friends large garden which had got overgrown recently as a mulch. I strimmed it down and let it dry in the sun for a day or two before filling six large bin liners. Next year I will just go ahead and get my own bail from one of the local farmers and have them drop it off at the site. It's a very good mulch for keeping weeds down and the soil moist even in our rare sunny spells. And when the spuds are all lifted, it can stay on there and rot down over winter. Hedge clipping also make a good mulch and free. Farmers use a lot of slurry up here as well. But if you ask about or see any manure heaps, it's worth asking. People these days don't want to deal with actual manure, I think. They would much rather have the vastly overpriced bags of garden manure. I phoned a girl I know who runs a horse riding centre here about maybe getting some horse manure. She said nobody wants it any more, so a farmer comes twice a year and takes the lot away with him for free. There was a time when people would have been more than happy to buy it off places like that by the car trailer load.
@theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim Just subscribed. I was thinking I had done so when I posted the original comment. Shows how much I know. Anyway, take it easy and all the best to you and yours.
Bless your heart may the father bless your garden to much abundance pressed down shaken together 🕎🔯🙏
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
My father used to say that, 'If you leave it to God, God may leave it to you and between the two of you, you could make a hames of it'.
Good question. I think no. There are accounts of wonderful crops grown from just fragments of skin. My father believed egg size was best and his generation ‘cut’ larger potatoes between the eyes.
Interesting 🤨 are you just planting one row down the middle of ridge at say a foot spacing. Thanks .
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
Hi John: planted like the five pattern on a dice - around 9” apart.
@johnsinnott6179
2 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim Thanks for that.
Does a big seed potato result in a better / bigger crop?
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
To - not necessarily. There are stories of the sprouts and a little bit of skin producing great spuds.
@tomgreene2282
2 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim Thank you for that...but did the sprout come from big spuds?!
I don't know that I'd want to learn potato farming from the Irish.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Who's better? One hasn't lived if you have not eaten baked Golden Wonders - an Irish traditional, highly nutritious variety - with butter, Kerrygold of course. And BTW, i used to get 25 tons of that variety to the acre back in the 1970s. Nobody has ever beaten that!
What is the length and width of your potato plot please
@beyondorganicjim
3 ай бұрын
Fifty metres by two. But they can vary quite a lot. Look up Lazy Beds on KZread.
HEY BODY!! Do you know how to plant potatoes with RUTH STOUT METHOD ????? Great system try it
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for reminding me of Ruth Stout's work. I have used her methods but for medium scale and survival produce you need something like mine. I'll explain in later videos.
Your voice doent give you away my friend, but it seems that you codgetate as do I thankyou for allowing me to watch you doing what I did for ever, nowadays I use the Ruth Stout method, just dropping the seed taties on the ground and covering with 4 inches of hay, it works and removes the drudge. Would not donkey dung impart a little of the donkey characteristics to the consumer?
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
My donkey breeder would regard any imparting of donkey characteristics as an improvement on humans. BTW, night soil enabled empires to grow but there is no evidence that people became more human! And further BTW, hay as fertiliser - does that turn you into a hayseed?
Your soil looks great without the additives, but it must be a powerhouse with the manure and the seaweed. Makes me almost embarrassed to say my son rents half a house, can't dig up the turf and will try to grow potatoes in a grow bag. Thanks for the video and the view of some of my mother country from many generations past.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the positive comments. The soil is 'made'. I can't resist including the beautiful scenery we live in. Find me on facebook.com/jim.oconnor.5268 for much more scenery etc. Grow bags are a start.
How is the electric produced for to drive your electric Van ?
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
Solar panels.
can you say in 500 sqm, (square meters) how many kg of seed potatoes are needed and how many kg you plan to produce, on average ?
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
I think in acres and yards and in llbs, cwts and tons. Back in the 1970s I used to get over 25 tons to the acre of HDM potatoes per acre. The sowing rate was one ton to the acre. 500 sqm is just one eighth of an acre. Therefore the sowing rate was two and a half cwts or 280 llbs =127 kgs. I would expect to get more weight per sq yard from my 2021 ridges - all with natural eco-methods. But the feeding quality of potatoes grown my way is far, far superior to conventional methods. Efficiency? Through the roof!
@glowinaglowina462
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim thank you for the answer but in short in 500 sqm.... how much potatoes in kg needs for sowing and with your method how much kg do you think to pick up? im not interested to industrial quantity only if for family use it is enough to eat one year...just to know it
@glowinaglowina462
3 жыл бұрын
so..if i understood 127 kg for 500 sqm ? it seems too much....or not ?
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
@@glowinaglowina462 I had replied fully to your question but I just now see it has been wiped. This time I will refer you to this link: wikifarmer.com/potato-harvest-yield-storage/
@glowinaglowina462
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim thank you very much
Can you use cow pop
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
Of course, but well aged is best.
looks like a lot of work to me. interesting method anyways.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that. The video - Lawn to Planted Potatoes in 30 mins shows how little work or resources need be involved.
@kingjames4886
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim I just stick the potatoes in a spot in the garden. it doesn't take that long once it's been tilled and I don't have a dozen bags of manure to create this canal of crap lol; but ya it'd probably grow some good spuds.
@theclumsyprepper
3 жыл бұрын
It is a lot of work, all that trench digging, but it does give great results.
Nice ground dressings 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🕎🔯
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that.
Can you use charcoal ash?
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
I would say so, but maybe Google it too.
Setanta?! There's a potato variety named after Cú Chulainn? That has to be the most Irish thing I've ever heard. My yard has very soddy soil just like that, so this advice would work great. go raibh míle
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
But the real warrior potato is the Golden Wonder. In my student days - ignoring my mother's example - I blew the door off an oven! You don't just prick them - you have to stab them.
@archeofutura_4606
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim wow... i can’t say I’ve heard of spuds turning into little bombs, but you learn something new every day I guess! Golden Wonder is a nice name too
I have just got myself an allotment but it's full ov couch grass, I don't think I can could do this method 😭
@davidbutlin8271
3 жыл бұрын
get yourself a weed dragon 500k BTU burner. turn over dig rotivate all of it then burn it all repeatedly i think in this case digging and bringing all the couch up then burning it all is way to go.
@exb.r.buckeyeman845
3 жыл бұрын
Couch grass yuk. We could never get rid of ours.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
The Americans did that largescale in Vietnam with napalm and bombs. The soil later was very fertile - but then there is Agent Orange (RoundUp). But whatever your fancy ...
@davidbutlin8271
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim i love you old irish boys!!! strong hearty lads!! many blessings on ye
I like your video a lot, thank so much for sharing, great tips and advice 👍I subbed to support you #140. I am also a new KZread creator friend
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
That's really kind and supportive of you. Gives me great heart!
So you do not plant in the late fall?
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
Potatoes are sensitive to frost.
Famines over 🇬🇧
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Famines are never over. You'd want to be a fool or a horse to believe otherwise.
Point to note, hardwood ash, not softwood ash, different things. Daughters horses give nice clean dung ,no weed seeds. Lets hope for a spudfest.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that. Hardwood is definitely better. And wish I had my own horses, again.
Ha ha ,that made me laugh. I would never do any sort of work with teeny trainers on. Wear some proper man boots man! Feet are important. Nice enough job though : )
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Gary 2. 'Teeny trainers; are Skechers. Normally I'm barefoot - even digging - but I thought I'd spare viewers the sight!
this is cool, and looks interesting, but it's not so efficient
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
'Cool' is good, thanks. Look at the longer 37 mins video Beara etc and watch and listen to Michael Murt O'Sullivan. There is none so efficient! His is a haunting set of skills carried from over the centuries. I'm just an enthusiastic but less skillful follower.
a plow would save a lot of work
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
'...The ploughman plods his weary way'. I've followed horse and tractor ploughs. The no-fuss spade keeps up one's strength and agility and helps keep in ancestral touch. And when everything is right it is even a kind of poetry - perhaps even a dance?
That would have been a long ride in the van hauling donkey manure
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
I've had humans in the van that smelled more.
Hard to think of a potato famine wiping out a generation ! ? in this day and age …
@beyondorganicjim
4 ай бұрын
It didn’t. It wiped out a class - the landless labourers, about 20% of the population.
If it works for you crack on. But digging trenches is not for me. 👍I'm no dig alm the way now.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
If you needed to live off your garden, ridges are the way to get most produce from less.
@SKOLAH
3 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim That's your opinion, not fact.
@beyondorganicjim
3 жыл бұрын
@@SKOLAH No, it's not just my opinion. Millions lived healthily using ridge cultivation. Read the introduction to the channel.
Nonsense, my Da would die laughing if he was still alive.
@beyondorganicjim
2 жыл бұрын
?
@onthemantlepiece422
2 жыл бұрын
@@beyondorganicjim What you are showing is the age-old technique of turning raw grassland into a potato plot by single plough; apart from the obvious crop, the potatoes break up the ground and drown out the weeds, in preparation for the next crop in the rotation. It’s not an efficient system for gardens or small holdings, where the ground should be turned thoroughly and a proper trench system utilised.