My potatoes are finally coming up. Of course something is eating the leaves. Argh! My bottle of neem and I are going back out there later. I don't know if it will help but I will try it.
The row where the ants seem to have taken over my garden has had only 2 of 12 have appeared and one of them has been chewed to the ground. I didn't know it had come up until I saw the chewed stump. I have tried cornmeal and baking soda mixed with powdered sugar to no avail...I don't know what to do next!
Some of the spots where I planted look like every eye in the potato came up! I am wondering if it is too much to have 3 or 4 or 5 plants that close together, even if they came from one spud?
Yes...It's another potato question
Last edited by kgall on Tue May 18, 2010 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
This should give you the information needed to make a decision.
https://www.cipotato.org/library/pdfdocs/TIBen5099.pdf
As for the gnawed off shoots you could hill them a little and hope the critters go away by the time the shoots come up again. For a few plants I would probably try something like cut off 2 liter soda bottle "tubes", which will protect them from chipmonks rabbits and cutworms.
https://www.cipotato.org/library/pdfdocs/TIBen5099.pdf
As for the gnawed off shoots you could hill them a little and hope the critters go away by the time the shoots come up again. For a few plants I would probably try something like cut off 2 liter soda bottle "tubes", which will protect them from chipmonks rabbits and cutworms.
- jal_ut
- Super Green Thumb
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- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:20 pm
- Location: Northern Utah Zone 5
When I have planted whole tubers, I get several stems, and lots of tubers. Many of the tubers are small. When I have cut the seed tubers to one eye, there is only one stem and the resulting tubers are large, but few per plant.
How many and how large the tubers are is also dependent on soil fertility. Good fertile soil can support more plants.
How many and how large the tubers are is also dependent on soil fertility. Good fertile soil can support more plants.
I have added a fair amount of compost and manure but I still have quite a bit of sand....Hence the stupid ants!
This is my first year with potatoes, my second with most of the rest of my stuff. It's amazing how much knowledge you need to have to be successful at this whole gardening thing. I am only hoping I can win the war of the pests!
This is my first year with potatoes, my second with most of the rest of my stuff. It's amazing how much knowledge you need to have to be successful at this whole gardening thing. I am only hoping I can win the war of the pests!
- gixxerific
- Super Green Thumb
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- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:42 pm
- Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B
I know sweet potatoes and potatoes are not the same but I had a few sweets chewed to the ground abut 4 times they finally got a chance to grow and they did produce tubers but they were not huge. Just saying if you protect them now from what ever is getting them they will probably come back for a second chance.