This is the first time we've grown potatoes, as hubby's opinion was we should grow things that cost more than potatoes. That has changed since we won't buy them at the regular grocery store any more. They're quite expensive at Whole Foods! So, anyway, I definitely have questions about potato growing. For one thing, I didn't think there were going to be ANY potatoes at all, since I never saw any flowers on the plants. I'd read in a gardening book that new potatoes were ready to dig when the flowers came on the plants? Also, when we were digging these, we ran across a few that were rotting, and in my daughter's words, "They smell like the pig pen. Is that why the pig pen stinks? It's all the potato peelings?" :) In other words, they stunk badly!! After a couple of those, dear daughter wasn't having nearly as much fun digging potatoes. She didn't want to accidentally touch another one of those! Were they rotting and stinky because the plants had died and we didn't get them dug soon enough? Someone please enlighten me!? Also, what happens to the "mother" potato? See, questions, always questions! :)
The mother potato rots and feeds the rest of the plant, that's where your stinky ones came from. Flowers don't always happen, and in fact, aren't necessary at all to the development of the potatoes. I pull them all off and discard away from the garden because they draw the bugs that eat the plant. No flowers-no bugs. When the tops die down, it's time to dig the potatoes, although you can dig them early for small new potatoes. A fun thing to do is to "grub" for potatoes. At about the time the flowers bloom, you can push your fingers into the soil around the plant and feel for small new potatoes under the ground and pull them off to harvest for a taste treat. New potatoes are small, delicious and creamy tasting. They're great to have with the first batch of green beans each year.
ReplyDeleteNow that you've dug your potatoes, make sure to let them rest in the sun for about a day to dry and harden off the peels, or they won't last long at all. The ones you did harvest look great. Congratulations.
Wow! Thank you so much for the great potato info! I'm so glad to know about the flowers. I'll make sure, if I grow them again (and I think I will), to pull them off and get rid of them.
DeleteI'm also glad to know that the rotting mess was normal. I really appreciate your commenting and helping me out. :)
Well,it looks as if you got some expert advice but it seems early for harvesting potatoes,we used to go to Big Lake where there are a lot of potato farms and buy a lot .Have not done so in awhile but it seemed more like late Sept ,about the time apples in MN are ready.They said on the news that apples are ready in Delano and other places.I so want to go to the orchard and get fresh apples (my grandson,Anthony, could eat a couple pounds a day him self) he took a apple every day last year to school for a snack.
ReplyDeleteYes, Judy, definitely too early to be harvesting them.
DeleteWe love apples too. My kids all want to be able to eat more than one or two a day, but at the price of apples, I really can't let them do that. We did put in a couple of apple trees this spring though! Sweet Sixteen and Honey Crisp. We've got a few smallish apples on the tree this year. They were growing on the trees when they were planted. :)
That's a nice harvest for your first try! They are hard for us here because of the humidity and early heat so I dig new red potatoes and eat right away and can't grow really good storage potatoes. Trailshome is spot on, and Mama Pea will chime in for specifics on your specific area and varieties, she's got a mean potato yard!
ReplyDeleteKennebeC potatoes are a Maine variety and they are the best by far. Katahdins are second. As a Mainer from a family of potato farmers from "The COunty" we leave the flowers on and let the vines wither ( no spraying for us) when that happens you can dig the potatoes. Let them cure in the air to toughen the skins before storage. Putting your hand on an old sprouted potato is the worse. Chances are that piece did not have viable eyes on it for sprouting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn, for the great info. I really like the Kennebeck potatoes! I want to try them again next year for sure. :)
DeleteI wanted to add to your potato story about my experience at the farmers market .I was looking for baby spinach for Jerry (very healthy for him) 1st part of summer I found some but than they started to want to trick me at the F.M. so the next time at a different market ,I asked what are those ( They were the greens the other market tried to tell me were Asian spinach)The nice lady replied"Oh ,those are potato greens"I told her the story ,she laughed that they could fool me "Fool me once ,shame on you,fool me twice ,shame on me!
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