Growing potatoes in straw

sumi

Rest in Peace 1980-2020
Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
7,025
Reaction score
5,296
Points
337
Location
Ireland
Here's a nice different method of growing potatoes that I'm going to try next spring.

If you plant your potatoes very early in the spring( after the last hard freezes, but a light frost here or there is ok) in deep straw( some manure mixed in is good too) and plant them finger depth down( they may take 2-4 weeks to emerge since they are planted so deep.) you don't have to hill them. Just add straw once during the summer if needed about when they bloom to prevent green potatoes. Once the blooms fall off you can carefully pull the straw back from the plant base and pick off the largest potatoes. Them gently replace the straw. The small potatoes will continue to grow. This can be done several times during the growing season. Once the plants are completely dead and the potatoes cured( be sure to dig them before the first freeze) the plants can be pulled out and the remaining potatoes dug out. Because the straw is so soft you don't need a fork or shovel to dig so no damaged potatoes. The mulch also holds water during dry periods and keeps the roots nice and cool in summer heat. Watering the plants when they are small with miracle grow will increase yield and size also. Water with the miracle grow 1-2 times weekly until they are about 6-8" tall.
 

tortoise

Wild Hare
Joined
Nov 8, 2009
Messages
8,444
Reaction score
15,197
Points
397
Location
USDA Zone 3b/4a
DH and I have talked about straw baling our potatoes for a couple years now.... still haven't tried it!
 

sumi

Rest in Peace 1980-2020
Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
7,025
Reaction score
5,296
Points
337
Location
Ireland
I usually grow potatoes in old car tires that we stack up, but this looks interesting too. I'm thinking straw and manure in car tires maybe? That could be interesting…
 

goatgurl

Almost Self-Reliant
Joined
Aug 12, 2014
Messages
539
Reaction score
206
Points
137
Location
Arklahoma
i have some old round bales of hay that i thought about using for planting. maybe will try that next spring.
 

Denim Deb

More Precious than Rubies
Joined
Oct 21, 2010
Messages
14,993
Reaction score
616
Points
417
I kind of tried it this year, in bins. Only problem being, I didn't have enough stuff on the bottom, so it didn't really work. I'll try again next year.
 
Top