. Prepare the soil at the base by digging it over well and adding compost or well rotted cow manure. As this is a no dig method, I put old carpet or newspaper or cardboard on the bottom and then a layer of well rotted garden compost. This has been mixed with chiken manure and sheep manure, so the potatos should go off!
.Add 4- 8 potatoes in the prepared soil and cover with pea straw and manure and a sprinkling of blood and bone
. As the plants grow add more straw, manure or compost so the tips of the potatoed are still visable. Repeat through season as the potatoes grow to however high the chicken wire is. I have lined my cages with plastic, cardboard old carpet to help reduce the light, the soil falling out the side and keep in the moisture.
Harvesting the potatoes
When the plant has flowered and the leaves begin to yellow you can 'bandicoot' under your potato plants and harvest new potatoes. These have a very thin skin and do not store well, but taste delicous
The main crop is harvested when the plant dies off. Dont water your potatoes any more. Leave the crop in the ground for 2-3 weeks when the plant has died off to let the skins thicken. You can then dig up your crop and store in a well ventilated but dark place. Save some potatoes for 'seed' for your next crop
Another No-Dig bed being started in the corner, I will plant potatoes in here this year but something else next year, probably another fruit tree
5 comments:
I tried this method two years ago and it was a dismal failure.
It was the worst potato crop I've had in the few years since I started my garden. Maybe I tried it on too large a scale. My wire enclosures were about 2.5 metres by 1.5 metres. It used a huge amount of straw and a lot of seed potatoes, but gave me less decent potatoes in return than I'd planted.
I've tried a different method each of the last three years.
The next one is the "Tatey Bag" purchased from Diggers Club. Hopefully with THIS method I'll finally get things right and get some good potatoes in the end.
I just don't have the knack when it comes to spuds.
Tim
Green Times – Your online journal and directory for the green industry. Designed to create awareness of environmental issues and promote Australian green businesses, Greentimes makes it easier for you to help protect the environment thanks to our green publication.
The Green Times team is looking for new writers!!
Any green related subject or experience you want to share with the world?!
Contact us to submit an article and get published in our journal next month!
Green Times
you can also do straw bale gardens. http://www.growandmake.com/straw_bale_garden/
Organic gardening is beneficial, but not as important as organic farming. People should realize that organic food means a road towards a healthier way of living.
This seems so difficult. I have limited space but I really want to try it. Since my yard is a former landfill the soil is great. But I've never tried potatoes. I'm really looking for plants that love or at least tolerate the shade well because the only place I have left is between my house & privacy fence. Any ideas?
Post a Comment