You're not alone in the inability to hill. For me though, it's not that rain washes things away, it's more like if I even get close to the potatoes to pull weeds, they will die two weeks later and that is that. If I don't even step near them, I can dig out a few lbs of potatoes per plant vs none. I have a feeling cool damp soggy weather = easily rotting plants.
Problems with hilling taters
- Thread starter i_am2bz
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kmoranjr1
Leafing Out
I have also seen folks use old tires to grow their spuds in, just start out with one when planting. add straw inside when the plants are tall enough. then add tires and straw as they grow. At harvest time remove the tires and you should have a nice pile of taters. No soil to erode and would take quite a bit of wind to knock it over.
kmoranjr1
Leafing Out
This would also be alot easier to weed and should stay quite a bit drier if you have issues with dampness
digitS'
Garden Master
Silkie, your problems with potatoes inspired me to spend about an hour looking for answers. It seems a little tragic that a gardener somewhere would have serious trouble growing potatoes. I think it may mostly be an issue of variety selection. At least, that's what I always think about anything . .silkiechicken said:
Skagit Valley is a major red potato growing area and that can't be all that far from your parents' garden. I can't find which varieties predominate but suspect that Red La Soda is amongst them. Still, that choice doesn't make the most sense to me.
Red La Soda is very early but I assume that there is a better choice for one that has a bit tougher skin and matures later. I don't know if that tougher skin makes sense or that it just seems like an early early would just be more susceptible to rotting problems.
Anyway, I think you should contact the Cooperative Extension office in Skagit County and ask them what varieties should be best. It doesn't matter whether your parents live in that county or not. Tell them what the problems have been and that since Washington State is #2 in US potato production and in the interest of putting it in the lead, you demand to know what would be successful in your garden.
Oregon also has some potato production in Marion County but information for eastern Oregon/eastern Washington/Idaho may be of very little help to you. Your garden isn't in those arid parts of the interior Northwest.
Steve
No idea what I grow really... just the red ones from the feed store.
As long as I don't touch them, I can get potatoes. LOL
But since my parents always tell me do less because it's too much work, I don't really put many in anymore. My mom prefers beans, because then you actually get something to eat that costs more in the store. lol
As long as I don't touch them, I can get potatoes. LOL
But since my parents always tell me do less because it's too much work, I don't really put many in anymore. My mom prefers beans, because then you actually get something to eat that costs more in the store. lol
