The Potato Farmers

[catjac1975]

When we dig potatoes we call it finding treasure. The corn is the jungle. At dinner the boys ask for seconds on treasure. So funny with baby talk figuring out what they were saying. The little guy started covering the potatoes with his little plastic rake without being told. Knows what to do already at 2 1/2. Fun fun fun!!!

How adorable! Whenever I am harvesting potatoes, I wish my nephews could be with me. I think they would like the idea of finding treasure in the dirt! Those are sure to be the best potatoes ever!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Great photos! Theres something special about grandkids. Its obvious they like being with you. I like the vest that matches the hat too, but its the kids that make the photo.

 

[majorcatfish]

good for you.....
looks like I have competition in the garden fashion awards this year

 

[897tgigvib]

Nice job!

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Awwww....those are the best kind of helpers to have!

 

[scotexpat]

My 2 granddaughters can't wait to "help me" in the GardenI am planning on putting in a larger Potato Patch this Year.I noticed that you plant your seed Potatoes whole, I have always chopped mine so that each piece has a couple of Eyes. My Dad was English and that's the way He always did it. How big is your yield per Potato doing it your way? I may try both methods this year although I am a canny Scot and like to get as much as I can from limited resources

 

[catjac1975]

I am organic so I never treated my cut edges. After years of rotted starts I decided to plant the whole potato so now I get 100% growth. I am guessing that I planted 30 lbs of potatoes. I would say each plant gives me at least a dozen potatoes ranging from very large to some small. We eat them fresh from the garden until late October, 2 families- 4 adults and 3 young boys, along with gifting many to friends and family. I put away a large trash barrel of potatoes layered with hay. As a matter of fact I just recalled we never dug about 1/5 of the crop. Works for me. The rows in the photo are a little longer than last year. I get no more scientific than that with my yields.

Try a garden of their own with the girls. Easy things, pumpkins, sunflowers, strawberries, or whatever they like. Maybe just the picking and eating right out of the garden is the place to start. Of course very pink gardening gloves and hats, and child sized metal tools that work would help with your girls. My 5 year old grandson is currently digging for "artifacts" all over the yard. I hope my boys grow up loving to garden. Any real help is just gravy. My daughter brought them to a garden center and the 2 year old kept telling her they needed more flowers. Brain washed just a little?

 

[scotexpat]

Wow! that is quite a yield.Unfortunately my Vegetable plot is not that big and no room to expand so I only grow things I can definitely use and the Potato patch is as big as I can make it. I am also growing organically,so when I cut the Seed Potatoes I let them callous over before planting,I have had no problems so far.I actually got a good crop last Year so I guess I'll be happy if I get that again. May I ask how often you rotate your Patch?

 

[catjac1975]

All crops are rotated every year.

 

[catjac1975]

We did our annual potato planting , me and my boys. The oldest is 7 and this is his 5th year helping.. If you can wALK YOU CAAN PLANT.