Digging Potatos

rusty6 · Oct 2, 2020

Nice crop of potatos here that I am gradually digging a few pails each day. I like to leave them in the ground as long as possible but once we hit mid October its
a gamble they might get touched by frost if there is not much soil over them. So I've got over half the patch dug already. A bit of video to show the dry soil
conditions even after six tenths of rain.
Digging Potatos

Bruce from Can. · Oct 2, 2020

I used to pick those left over beans in the garden, and thresh them out. They cook up just fine in the slow cooker with a piece of pork in the depths of winter. Nothing like coming into the house in the late afternoon on a blustery winter day, and setting into a plate of pork and beans.

larry@stinescorner · Oct 2, 2020

great pictures!Thanks!!

mrslesq · Oct 2, 2020

I used to try to leave potatos in the ground as long as possible, but then the potatos got pin holes in them from worms of some kind. The skins seem to be alot tougher this year.

rustyfarmall · Oct 2, 2020

I always start digging when the vines are all dried up. If left in the ground and it starts raining again, the taters get rotten.

rusty6 · Oct 2, 2020

(quoted from post at 06:11:41 10/02/20)
I always start digging when the vines are all dried up. If left in the ground and it starts raining again, the taters get rotten.

I have never had a problem with them rotting in the ground even when its wet. These have died off long ago. Seems to be a sort of blight that kills off the vines early but still produces a good crop of potatoes in the ground. This patch has been growing potatoes for well over 20 years continuously.

n9lhm · Oct 2, 2020

The last two years I've planted mine in straw. Lay the sprouted potatoes on the ground and cover with 6" of straw. When the vines die, rake back the straw and pick them up. Works great, no digging.

55 50 Ron · Oct 2, 2020

I liked your comment "Looks like enough for dinner" as I assume you were referring to the wheel barrow load !! Also you talked about the hoe versus the potato fork. I was thinking of asking why on the hoe but you explained it. Those dark clouds in the distance have now reached us and brought rain showers to southern MN. Always thanks for your efforts to do video while working - then sharing it with others. Ron

rusty6 · Oct 2, 2020

(quoted from post at 07:00:17 10/02/20) Those dark clouds in the distance have now reached us and brought rain showers to southern MN. Always thanks for your efforts to do video while working - then sharing it with others. Ron

I enjoy making the videos and the comments I get. Gives me something to keep busy with and take my mind off the unco-operative weather that is holding up harvest for me.

Jim in NC · Oct 2, 2020

They look great to me!

John in Mich · Oct 2, 2020

We used a 6 tine pitch fork to dig potatos. My best ever crop was 20 pounds of seed yielded more that 300 pounds. We have not raised any in about 8 years. No more gardening.

Digging Potatos

rusty6

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Bruce from Can.

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larry@stinescorner

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mrslesq

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rustyfarmall

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rusty6

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n9lhm

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55 50 Ron

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rusty6

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Jim in NC

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John in Mich

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