Potato planting

Some time ago, I threatened to show ya’ll how we grow potatoes here on the North Prong. Well, today is the day. First, you should know that all the potatoes have been planted. In fact as of today, it is most likely too late for spring potatoes. So what you are going to see and read occurred in the third and fourth week of February. We only have a two week window to plant spring potatoes, so one has to get with it.

To begin with, our soil is a bit heavy with clay. As a result growing root crops is really almost like growing plants in a container. For our soil, I dig a trench that is 18 inches wide and 30 foot long. The trench does not have to be very deep, but I attempt to get it down about four to six inches. Sometimes, I have gotten it deeper.

Above is the finished trench with the drip irrigation tube running through the center. The drip tube that I use has an emitter every foot and is easy to measure and easy to install.

Next, I place the seed potatoes at six inch intervals alternating down the trench. Again, the drip tube is helpful here with placement of each plant.

On one side of the trench each potato is placed at an emitter. On the opposite side, the potatoes are placed between emitters.

Picturesque uniform placement – all my standards associates would be proud.

Once the potatoes are placed, I put down a covering of fireplace ashes. The particular practice is more important where the soils are slightly acidic, but it doesn’t hurt to keep up a practice that my grandparents thought was critical to successful potato growing.

Compost is next. I put down a two to four inch layer of compost. It may or may not cover the seed potato. It does not seem to matter to the plant.

This year’s compost is very good.

If you do not have compost, just about anything will do – hay, straw, newspaper, cardboard. If you use paper or cardboard be sure to tear it into strips or small pieces so the plant can push through.

Finally, cover the trench. You can leave it level or mound it up. Again, the potato plants will not know. Turn on the irrigation water to give the trench a good soaking.

Each row like this will produce between 100 and 200 pounds of potatoes. This year, I planted six rows. Two rows of Kennebec and four rows of Red Lasoda and if we get 1200 pounds of potatoes, we will be greatly surprised.

These rows will be ready to start digging in mid-May and carry us through the summer. We then have a small one week window during the first week of September to plant for the fall/winter season. But, potatoes store well and can be used a feed for any number of our animals.

I used some of my seed stock this year to teach Cub Scouts how to grow potatoes in a bag. I will let you know how that turns out.

Oh, and by the way, it may be a good idea to sit down in the shade and drink a cold beer after this activity. That is usually when my philosophical side rears up on its hind legs and shouts, ‘you just dug a trench and then filled it back in! What were you thinking?’ Boy, that beer sure tastes good……

SDG