A little pot of Gold

[DoubleDogFarm]

Yukon Gold that is. A potato time line

Planted around the 20th of March
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Potatoes%202010/DSC02101-1.jpg[/img]

First of the young plants. April 14th
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Potatoes%202010/DSC02103-1.jpg[/img]

Row is fill out April 25th
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Potatoes%202010/DSC02125.jpg[/img]

Potatoes hilled up. May 25th
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Potatoes%202010/DSC02191.jpg[/img]

Wide angle shot. The potatoes are between the orange tiller and the white tubular frame. June 26th
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Potatoes%202010/DSC02343.jpg[/img]

The little pot of gold. I lifted one plant and found these little nuggets. June 30th. Should go well with pork roast tonight.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Potatoes%202010/DSC02351.jpg[/img]

[susanaproenca]

Nice! Just the thought of pork roast and potatoes made me hungry!

[xray_a]

wow they look great! I was late getting my taters in the ground, but they have flower buds on them now. Can't wait to get some baby taters from them!

Angela

[Lunacy]

An absolutely beautiful place! I am so jealous. Can you explain "hilling up?" the pictures look like you added more dirt around the potato bed, do the potatoes grow out of the ground?

[lilcee]

Can you tell us how you planted these? Are they planted in hay or in the ground? Looks good, would like to try some.
Thanks

[soil]

nice potatoes they sure look good!

a side question...how well does your fence design work, the short fence and wires above that. I was planning on doing that soon but wasn't sure how well it would do the job. sure looks hella nice

[DoubleDogFarm]

Lunacy,
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/potatoplant.gif[/img]
Most potatoes are formed above the seed potato. Yes, they can actual push their way out of the soil, so at least one hilling is required. If exposed to light the tubers turn green ( produce bitter toxins, alkaloids called solanine and chaconine). At least do not eat the green skin.
https://news.curiouscook.com/2006/08/green-potatoes-may-not-be-as-toxic-as.html

I rototill the paths and shovel the soil onto the beds. I also add wheelbarrows full of weeds, down the middle of the bed. There are two rows of potatoes on this raised bed. You can also use hay, stray, grass clippings and compost.

[DoubleDogFarm]

lilcee,

I incorporated a lot of horse manure last fall. Somewhere between 4 and 5 yards. On the south 12 rows only. This fall I will do the north half.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/DSC01597-1.jpg[/img]


I planted the seed potatoes about 4" deep covered with soil. Then I covered the bed with a few inches of hay, local Island grass. Once the plants reach about 12" tall, I hill up about halfway with tilled soil. Then I usually just add weeds, hay, soil, etc.. as the season progresses.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Oh! and Soil,

a side question...how well does your fence design work, the short fence and wires above that. I was planning on doing that soon but wasn't sure how well it would do the job. sure looks hella nice

It's working really well so far. The two upper wires are ment to be energized. I bought the charger about two years ago, but never hooked it up. Right now the two wires are only supported by the four corners. Eventually I will need to install intermediate supports. I built such a stout fence because I'm thinking about raising pigs one day. Maybe in a couple years

[applestar]

DD, OT and FYI
You have your quote codes backwards. Noticed in your posts for the second time so I'm assuming you're unaware. /quote goes at the end.

[DoubleDogFarm]

apple,

Yes, I've had troubles before. It usually happens when I try to put a quote between my writings. Anyway, Thank you.

[applestar]

You're welcome.
A shortcut -- highlight what you want to quote, then click the Quote button above the text field. Same method works for any of the other buttons, including font color and size.

[lilcee]

Love the pic of your dog. Looks like one I used to have - I miss him

Thanks for the info

[DoubleDogFarm]

My avatar is Jacob.

Jacob is about 10 years old and has Addison's disease. He has to have a shot every month and daily medications.

Jacob is the one in the back
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Dogs002-1.jpg[/img]

Eric

[garden5]

Beautiful. What is that white tube-like framework for?

[soil]

It's working really well so far. The two upper wires are ment to be energized. I bought the charger about two years ago, but never hooked it up. Right now the two wires are only supported by the four corners. Eventually I will need to install intermediate supports. I built such a stout fence because I'm thinking about raising pigs one day. Maybe in a couple years

cool thanks I had that exact same idea in mind, just wasn't sure how it would play out in real life. I figure a deer isnt going to want to jump through it, or try to go between the wires. I see the top wires more as a visual deterrent rather than physical. also I was thinking of using electric but was hesitant, now I know I don't need it.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Beautiful. What is that white tube-like framework for?

It's another unfinished project. I have a long list of those. My neighbor and his girlfriend both lost carports in a windstorm. They gave me what was left of the two frames. Most of the damage was to the legs. Anyway, these will become hoophouses. I should be able to start my garden earlier and last longer into the fall. Some greens will grow all winter here under cover. They will also most like be used as growing out houses for Farmer's Market vegetable starts.

I keep going back and forth on what side of the garden they should be. Most likely the north side, so the houses do cast shadows.

Eric

[DoubleDogFarm]

cool thanks I had that exact same idea in mind, just wasn't sure how it would play out in real life. I figure a deer isnt going to want to jump through it, or try to go between the wires. I see the top wires more as a visual deterrent rather than physical. also I was thinking of using electric but was hesitant, now I know I don't need it.

Soil,
One reason I can think of for energizing the top wires, is to protect from climbers. I have to dogs for that.

[lakngulf]

Great looking garden there DD. And them taters look great. My thought was how good they would be cooked in with some fresh green beans.

OK, I am hungry now.

[lilcee]

They are beautiful. I really miss my Bruno. We had to have him put down two years ago. He couldn't walk and couldn't get up anymore. He was old. I have another dog - Holly - she's part beagle and part german shepherd (small like a beagle but has the color and hair of a shepherd). She's getting old too and I think she's deaf (doesn't seem to hear me anymore) She doesn't get around very good anymore and has a heart murmur.

[url=https://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q200/lilcee1947/?action=view&current=l_7b40555887c216fcaf85073eba426f-1.jpg][img]https://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q200/lilcee1947/th_l_7b40555887c216fcaf85073eba426f-1.jpg[/img][/url]

My avatar is Jacob.

Jacob is about 10 years old and has Addison's disease. He has to have a shot every month and daily medications.

Jacob is the one in the back
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Dogs002-1.jpg[/img]

Eric