So, as I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I planted two raised beds with potatoes. If I remember right, I planted them two weeks ago - April 5th.
So far, this is what has come up.
That's one plant. ONE little plant, out of maybe 14 potato chunks planted, in two beds.
So what do I do? Give up hope? Go buy some more potatoes to plant? Continue to wait and hope? Seriously, if you've grown potatoes and have advice for me, I'm all ears...
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10 comments:
I've never planted potatoes but it doesn't seem like two weeks is that long, I wouldn't give up hope yet. Hang in there! I can totally relate to impatience in the garden. I remember you said you used a different planting method this time? Perhaps that's the difference.
If they were really shriveled, they might not have made it. Two weeks should have been enough time to see something. I rarely cut mine anymore, just use the egg sized potatoes from the harvest. However, if you're just starting out, best to use the ones from the nursery and only cut in half if you need to. I just put the whole thing in.
And if you're curious like I get, I'd put a trowel in and see if I could find a shriveled potato chunk and investigate what might have happened.
I'm growing potatoes for the first time this year too. They seem to come up fairly quickly. I cut mine as well and they came up ok. I would just wait it out for a couple more weeks. I hope they all come up within a day or two. :)
Hmmm- not sure what's going on with your potatoes- I literally just throw them in the beds and kick some dirt or straw over them? Then again, I'm a lazy gardener... If I spend too much time prepping anything and then it doesn't grow, I get mad! But if i simply just toss seeds here and there and they happen to grow- that makes me very happy....
I think I'm going to go "Coastal's" investigation route. And, it's not SO late in the year - I could still plant more. Right?
Thanks for the thoughts!
Did you let the cut pieces skin over like you should, how deep did you plant them? I usually dig a hole 12" deep, put in a potatoe, cover with 3" then continue to cover with an additional 3" when the plants are 6" out of the ground. Continue this until you have a 6-12" mound above the level ground. Of course you can use straw above the ground. It's not too late if you want to start over.
Not too late. Keep planting them. I grow mine all year round. They are okay in the shade if you have morning sun. Did you find out what happened? (Cheri aka Coastal)
I'm in Carmichael and I planted some potatoes around April 10. Mine are coming up now (maybe 1/4 of them have peeked through so far.) Did you investigate?
It is interesting that the raised beds are in the front yard! i like it , its like a community garden ;)
have you ever got your vegguis taken or picked by someone else?
Hi Andrea -
One year we had a couple of eggplant taken, and one year a couple of kids picked a (not ready) butternut squash and just played with it. But that's it - not bad, all in all. And I kind of figured, if someone actually knows what to do with eggplant, I don't mind them having a couple of mine! :)
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