Growing potatoes in straw or hay instead of planting

[mandieg4]

One year we tried planting them in straw and the next year we tried planting them in stacked tires. The concept is good, we just had a problem with the watering. They dried out way too fast, I'd water in the morning and by evening the straw would be bone dry. Maybe it was just the Georgia heat?

 

[ducks4you]

, mandieg4

 

[chrissum]

I usually just lay my seed potatoes down on top of the broken ground and then cover with leaf mulch and straw. What I find is you don't seem to get quite as many potatoes, but they are easier to harvest. I then will just pull back the mulch and harvest a few each week as I need them. As the plant start to die back I will harvest the remainder. The other advantage is no weeding if you put on a thick enough layer of straw or other mulch like leaves. You will need to watch out for the occasional potato that does not get covered and will turn green.


In the picture below are my 2009 potatoes growing in the row just left of the center of the picture. Sorry it is not a better picture, but the only one I have from last year showing the potatoes. I have been growing them in this manner for about 2 years and really enjoy the ease of harvest.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/uploads/6358_06_03_2009_030.jpg

Jamespm nice looking garden! How often would you have to water, other than depending on how dry and how much rain you get, just curious

 

[jamespm_98]

I usually just lay my seed potatoes down on top of the broken ground and then cover with leaf mulch and straw. What I find is you don't seem to get quite as many potatoes, but they are easier to harvest. I then will just pull back the mulch and harvest a few each week as I need them. As the plant start to die back I will harvest the remainder. The other advantage is no weeding if you put on a thick enough layer of straw or other mulch like leaves. You will need to watch out for the occasional potato that does not get covered and will turn green.


In the picture below are my 2009 potatoes growing in the row just left of the center of the picture. Sorry it is not a better picture, but the only one I have from last year showing the potatoes. I have been growing them in this manner for about 2 years and really enjoy the ease of harvest.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/uploads/6358_06_03_2009_030.jpg

Jamespm nice looking garden! How often would you have to water, other than depending on how dry and how much rain you get, just curious

We actually had some rain last year in South Carolina, we had been in drought conditions for years. I watered only a few times, maybe 4 -5 times with a soaker hose during mid to late summer. I find if you use plenty of partially rotted leaves with some straw you need much less water. The straw is so "woody" it doesn't seem to absorb much moisture until it begins to break down, but if you use some partially composted leaves it seems to really hold the water. Make sure you have farily rich soil below the plants and don't mix you leaves/straw with your soil so it doesn't rob your plants of nutrients.

 

[krzybo]

I could use them as chew toys for Zeus He is so wound up with the increase in daylight that cat is LITERALLY bouncing off the walls! GOod thing he is cute or I would have to kill him!

I tried the beer traps. I even tried poison (I know, I know, I got desperate!). It is UNREAL how many slugs I get. I also have earwigs and rolly pollys. The ducks really cut down on the number of critters, but they even ate my tomato plants! LOL

I am going to let the ducks forage before I plant. After that I will have to resort to hand picking.

I thought all the slugs lived in my garden. I got so tired to going out 2 and three times a night spraying them. It never ended.

 

[LVVCHAP]

Just read in Backwoods home magazine on the subject, just wondering if anybody here has done it, seems it would be easier, what is your opinion? thanks!

I grow mine in compost and leaves. In the third row from the left there is fence around the potatoes. I lay the seed potatoes on the ground, cover them with about 6" of compost and when they start to grow I add leaves, until the bin is full. The leaves settle to about half the height. At the end of the season I cover them again with leaves and harvest when I need some all winter. I just harvested the last of them right before the big snow storm last week.

 

[chrissum]

Jamespm and LVVCHAP: Thanks for the info, nice looking gardens both! You've both given me good info and I appreciate the pictures, that helps a lot! I am curious, is there any chance of rot with them grown this way? Thanks again! chrissum....

 

[LVVCHAP]

I have not had any trouble with them rotting but I have had a few that froze, just the ones that grew out to the edge of the fence. But those are few.

 

[lesa]

Beautiful gardens! They really make me long for spring! I tried potatoes in barrels- with very limited success. I am going to try them in the ground this time. I had been pretty much covering my leaves, except for the very top. According to these pics, a lot of the plant remains uncovered....This could have been my problem. Looking forward to trying again. Ordered organic seed potatoes from Maine Potato Lady. Can't wait!!!

 

[Grow 4 Food]

I like the fence idea ... makes more room. I do mine in a hay feeder for cattle. Start with about a foot and a half of straw and wet it REALLY well. Add the seed cuttings and then add another foot and wet it too. Then as the others said just keep adding as they grow. Make sure you keep it moist though but not wet because they will dry and die quick if you dont watch them. They keep well too as long as it doesnt get to and stay negative for a while.