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I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use

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Ray in Pa.

03-05-2003 20:20:33

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I was wondering what is the best way to plant potatoes to grow large potatoes. I have always planted Kennebec potatoes by cutting the potatoes so as to leave 2 or 3 eyes on the seed piece. I plant them about 2 to 3 inches deep and never hilled them as they grew even though I realize that I would lose some to the sun. I then usually tried to keep the weeds under control long enough until the plants were big enough to shade out the weeds somewhat on their own. I have heard that potatoes like a soil that has more acid PH, and that it's not good to use lime the fall before potatoe planting. I tried planting potatoes in unlimed soil with a PH of 4.7 and did worst in this dirt than where I use to lime and planted them. Generally I get one tennis ball to baseball size potato per plant with the rest being progessively smaller on my plants. I do occasionally get larger potatoes, but not as often as I should be, and have not tried any fertilizer yet when I probably should be. I am very interested to here of how other potato growers out there grow them.

Thanks Ray in Pa.

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Hugh MacKay

03-08-2003 16:39:23

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

I was wondering if anyone suggested a romp in the potato patch to Miss Grundy?

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greenbeanman

03-09-2003 05:16:57

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Hugh MacKay, 03-08-2003 16:39:23

Careful now, that's my cousin you're talking about.

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Butcher

03-06-2003 18:39:10

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

My wife and I plant lots of tators. We do it all by hand. Cut them so you have 2 eyes per section. Let them drie over night. dig your holes 4 to 6 inches deep about one foot apart. cover and fertilize with 10/10/10. Weed water and dig. We have been planting alot of Yukon Gold the last couple of years. they are hearty in this area and keep very well. They also get good sized because of their ability to with stand the shorter growing season.

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Butcher

03-06-2003 18:35:44

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

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Charlie

03-06-2003 17:47:28

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

I plant 5-6 rows across my garden every year using a one row IH horse drawn potato planter pulled with my Farmall H. Takes me longer to get it out of the barn than it does to plant the potatoes. The best potatoes I've ever seen was grown on ground that was previously sod. Potatoes need to have adaquate moistue and fertility. I can also tell you digging some new, small potatoes to cook as salt potatoes along with a couple of hamburgers and some sweetcorn straight from the garden rates at the top as a summer time meal for me.

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Mark

03-06-2003 13:40:52

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

What about the beetles? I use Sevin for the Colorado beetles, but they still strip every leaf. I can COVER the leaves with heavy dust, and it doesn't slow them down no matter how young they are. Each plant might have hundreds of beetles. Nothing but bare stalks left. Really hurts the yield. Any ideas?

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DukeWNY

03-06-2003 15:39:44

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Mark, 03-06-2003 13:40:52

Don't know what area your from but here in western NY I have a lot of trouble with potato bugs. I've found the best way to beat the bugs is to plant early potatoes - red Pontiac or red Norland - but don't plant until the first week of June. By the time the potatoes come up the first and biggest hatch of potato bugs is over. I also spray with Sevin as needed.

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03-08-2003 09:03:53

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Re: Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to DukeWNY, 03-06-2003 15:39:44

Dad planted and grew Pontiac potatoes when I was a kid. Had more than three families could use. He plowed the garden in the fall and disked it really fine. Hauled lots of hog SH** and dumped it on the garden. In spring, he would disk it up again, until there was nary a lump in the soil. Planted seed potatoes by hand, six inches deep, six inches apart. ALWAYS on Good Friday, weather be damned. I have seen him plant when it was too wet to walk on the garden. He would plant six long rows, each about 100 feet long. He then planted a border of Marigolds, which he contended would keep the "tater bugs" away. It must have worked, since he never used chemicals on "eatin' vittles". We had few bugs and lots of taters. Dad has been gone for 15 years, but his method still works for me to this day. By the way, the reason he liked to use increments of six was simply this..... his beloved Oliver had six cylinders. So he planted his potatoes six inches deep, six inches apart, and he planted six rows. Ironically, he was 66 when he passed away!! Regards..... ....P

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DukeWNY

03-06-2003 15:37:13

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Mark, 03-06-2003 13:40:52

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TaterTex

03-06-2003 15:01:52

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Mark, 03-06-2003 13:40:52

????Hundreds of beetles per plant?????

Have you tried an air burst of a low yield nuclear device? :-(,)

One time I had a severe infestation of potato beetles ... didn't plant any potatos for two years, the year that I did the problem was manageable, only a few seen. Don't know if you have that option. Crop rotation does more than maintain soil fertility....

Check with your local ag office and see what they recommend.

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TaterTex

03-06-2003 15:00:38

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Mark, 03-06-2003 13:40:52

????Hundreds of beetles per plant?????

Have you tried an air burst of a low yield nuclear device? :-(,)

Check with your local ag office and see what they recommend.

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TaterTex

03-06-2003 11:59:01

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

Hi Ray:

Just finished planting about an acre by hand (with the help of a friend); Kennebecs and Pontiacs.

The soil that I have is a sandy loam with a pH of about 6.5.

I start out with well tilled soil. Then I dig a shallow furrow into the ground about 2 to 3 inches.

I place the seeds about 18" apart. Rows are about 36" apart.

I then cover leaving a slight mound to allow for soil compaction.

Then sprinkle on fertilizer at about 5# per 100 ft of row. This time I used 8-8-8.

When the plants are about 6" to 8" high, I mound them up, just covering them.

When they get another 6" to 8" high, I'll fertilize again.

When ready to harvest, I'll use a middlebuster to go down the center of the row, then pick them up, wash and sort.

Only pest that I have had is the Colorado Potato Beetle, Sevin works well. Will also use dusting sulfur.

If deer are extremely hungry, they'll eat the new plants.
I'll let you know how they turn out.

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greenbeanman

03-06-2003 07:45:35

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

A real good read on the topic of growing potatoes is a book called "Integrated Pest Management for Potatoes int he Western United States."

It covers much more than pest management, and tells a little of how spacing within a row affects potato size. Maximum yield per acre is with smaller potatoes, hence closer plantings.

Perhaps you could get it through an "Inter-library loan".

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RayP(MI)

03-06-2003 07:41:20

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

I do it just like my granddad did - with a hand potato planter. (HIS) Is kind of a hinged duck bill on a handle. Put the seed into the bill. Shove it into the ground - stepping on it works well. lean the handle forward, opening the planter, lift the planter, and drag your foot over, covering the seed, closing the hole. Helps if you have the seed in a bag strapped over your neck, or a second person to carry bucket of seed. Usually go thru with a hoe or cultivator and hill the potatoes after they are up.

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Bernie

03-06-2003 07:00:17

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

I planted potatoes years ago until the bugs found out about them. They were up 3-4", went and looked a couple weeks later. Nothing left but stubbs. I have a one-row PTO digger sitting the barn I would sell.

I planted them with a 3-bottom trailer plow. Put a seat and a basket holder on it and a stovepipe down behind the middle bottom. My helper droped the seed down the pipe as I slowly plowed. Try it with the plow up first to get your speed and timing.

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Ray in Pa.

03-06-2003 21:32:56

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Bernie, 03-06-2003 07:00:17

Bernie, I was wondering are you located any where near South/Western Pa. I might be interested in the potato digger if you are.

Thanks Ray in Pa.

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Bernie

03-08-2003 17:42:19

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Re: Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-06-2003 21:32:56

I"m in Massachusetts

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Unimog

03-06-2003 06:41:34

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

I cut the seed tators into 2" pieces with 2 eyes
and dip them in sulfer powder to control scab and
let them dry for a few days. Culivate a 24" row
down 6" and plant the tators down into the soft
soil 2" and cover with 2-3" of hay. I keep adding
hay as the plants grow and side dress with some
fertilizer. The hay blocks the light, keeps the soil damp and adds organic material. I don't
hill them, just add hay. Makes harvesting much
easier, just remove hay and pick them up and the
digging is reduced by 75%.

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Tom A

03-06-2003 03:50:06

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

Ray:

I do much the same as what Hugh M does in his post below. I plow, disk, then middlebust for the actual planting. I love his idea of the bucket and pipe and will use that this year. I also cultivate and mound dirt as he explains although I usually mound less at a time and go through a couple of times...an extra trip or two over about a month.

The other "secret" to getting larger potatoes is your seed. You should be saving the very best of your harvest for seed. Take next year's seed first, from the best and healthiest plants, then from whatever is left you use for selling/eating/storing or whatever. The company "Ronniger's" has a wonderful catalog on potatoes, with the absolute best information on growing you'll find anywhere. They also sell good seed with more varieties than you probably know existed...I usually experiment with a small amount of a new variety or two every year, though I use Kennebec and Red Pontiac for main crop.

good luck,
Tom

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dhermesc

03-06-2003 13:26:34

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Tom A, 03-06-2003 03:50:06

We only planted about an acre for our own use. An old two row lister with no furrow closers would make the rows and then we planted them about 6 to 10 inches apart. A weighted drag harrow then closed the furrows. Then for the next three months 3 to 6 kids with hoes and one old Monkey Wards tiller would keep the weeds down. The same lister was then used to open the furrows to harvest the potatoes.

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Miss Grundy

03-06-2003 03:41:48

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

Betcha you do not want to hear how we plant em in Tennessee. Anyway it is an old family secret. Will not tell anybody but kinfolks. I can share with you about our new beans. Grand dad crossed gourds and beans. The beans grow inside the gourd. At harvest tim ewe just break open gourd and pour out beans, Saves hulling them. Sorry cannot share seed unless you are kinfolks.

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greenbeanman

03-06-2003 07:39:49

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Miss Grundy, 03-06-2003 03:41:48

Miss Grundy---hello cousin. Now I just don't know how I happened to miss the family meeting about that bean/gourd seed. Of course I will want to get in on a little of the planting action and the fun of shelling out such yields.

My line of the clan hails from the Sharps Chapel area, which is down the road from New Tazewell and Tazewell.

Gran'pa was forced to sell out when the TVA put a stopper in the bottom of the pond and decided to flood the ol' home place. Luckily the water never got that backed up, but it is still gone from us.

Well now cousin, I'd be right proud to grow a few of those bean/gourds to help carry on the clan's claim to being great gardeners. My moniker should give you an idea of my specialty. Hugs all around to the women folk, and "Howdys" to all the men folk.

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Miss Grundy

03-07-2003 03:42:06

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Re: Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to greenbeanman, 03-06-2003 07:39:49

Yeah I think I remember granny telling me about your side of the family. If I remember right there was a fight between your garndpaw and my grandpaw on my mother's side when your grandpaw planted pumpkins too clos e to the fence and a pumpkin vine grew through the fence and his pumpkin grwe on grandpaws side of the fence. Dad was a young fellow and took the pumpkin home to granny and then your grandpaw got mad and killed grannys pet coon. Anyways I aint sore at your folks at all. Love to all of em. 4 th cousin Clara

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Hugh MacKay

03-06-2003 03:10:54

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Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-05-2003 20:20:33

Ray: your soil ph for potatoes should be around 5.8. The only problem with higher ph is potential for scab on potatoes. You should be getting 100 lbs of potatoes for every pound you plant. I use the same middle buster for planting as I do for digging. I make a drill with it. One eye per seed fertilizer and only fertilizer will give you size. For droping seeds I have a small pail with a rope for a bail so I can hang around my neck like ladies carry their handbag. I use a 3.5 foot length of 4" sewer pipe, with handle at one end for droping seeds. That pipe saves a lot of stooping. I cover the seeds very lightly, about 2" at seeding. Over next few weeks I do deep cultivator tillage between rows keeping this soil loose for hilling potatoes which I do when potatoes are about 1 foot high. During this time I also use rotary hoe to keep weeds out of row. Whem I hill the potatoes I pull in enough soil to 80% cover the foot high plants. This will kill any weeds present and potatoes will grow right through in a few days. You will get germination of new weeds at this time, however potatoes soon shade them out. As I said yesterday I use a 52 inch row spacing and enough fertilizer that I get a complete canopy of potato tops. Potatoes will not grow without good tops. I grew 4 acres this way one year had a 100,000 lbs.

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Miss Grundy

03-06-2003 04:05:44

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Hugh MacKay, 03-06-2003 03:10:54

I would tell you all what kinda fertilizer we use but momma would make me wash out my mouth with soap. You fancy folks may not want to eat the taters anyway cause you may think they are dirty.

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Miss Grundy

03-06-2003 04:04:11

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Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Hugh MacKay, 03-06-2003 03:10:54

I would tell you all what kinda fertilizer we use but momma would make me wash out my mouth with soap.

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Ray in Pa.

03-06-2003 20:59:49

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Re: Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Miss Grundy, 03-06-2003 04:04:11

Thanks to everyone for all the excellent potato growing ideas. I had hoped that Miss Grundy would of shared all those kinfolk secret potato growing ideas for all us good folk potato lovers, Oh well. Hugh, I really liked the way you carry and plant the potato seeds. The small pail and 4" sewer pipe idea sounds alot easier and better than the bending over I do when planting potatoes. I seen where you said you get 100 lbs. from one pound of potatoes, or did you really mean 10 lbs. from 1 lb. Also Hugh, I was wondering which fertilizer are you using at planting time and do you just spread it on top of the dirt or dig it in. Luckily when it come to bug problems on my potatoes, I only have those little flea beetles and the occasional Japanese beetle that I've ever had to control. I guess I'll have to change my potato planting practices since reading all the great suggestion on the above posts.

Thanks Ray in Pa.

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Hugh MacKay

03-07-2003 13:42:20

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Re: Re: Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-06-2003 20:59:49

Ray and others: There are a lot of good ideas here on planting potatoes. Covering with hay and straw. I grew up in Atlantic Canada, and many people near the ocean do the same as you do with hay and straw, except they use seaweed. Seaweed apparently eliminates a lot of pests, including wire worm. When I was a youngster in the late 1940s I can remember lobsters on PEI being used to fertilize potatoes. That is back when people thought lobster wasn't fit to eat.

My pail is a 2 gal. and sewer pipe has a 1/2 x 6 bolt with 2 nuts and large flat washers with rubber hose on it for handle. I have three of these pail and sewer pipe combo. I have middle buster on center mount cultivator. Side dresser applies some of fertilizer right in drill behind middle buster. On my fast hitch I have a hiller for covering potatoes. I have gone to field with 3 rugged young lads I make the drills and fertilize. Lug seed from truck to lads I also cover the potatoes. We can plant about an acre in 2 hours and they have time for a break, I don't.

On potatoes I broadcast fertilizer before planting plus drill some at planting and may be side dress later I always use a 1-2-1 fertilizer. Potatoes love their phosphorus.

And yes Ray I did mean 100 lbs potatoes from 1 lb of seed.

To you guys having trouble with Colorado Beetles. These guys adapt very well to a new drink. You need to rotate your chemicals and make sure you change chemical class. Sevin which some of you mentioned is in the Carbamate class. Other classes include Chlorinated hydrocarbons, Organophosphates, Synthetic pyrethroids and Bacteria. Back a few years ago I had some beetle troubles, had applied some quite expensive product. Beetles were woofing it down and just laughing at me. I change class on them, went to one of the cheapest chemicals going. Within 24 hours I could not find a live beetle. Yes land rotation is good, if you think you can get rid of beetles that way the new potato patch better be 5 miles away.

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Ray in Pa.

03-07-2003 21:13:48

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Hugh MacKay, 03-07-2003 13:42:20

Thanks Hugh, I think I'll have alot more luck growing potatoes this growing season. You really do amaze me with all this knowledgeable great information.

Thanks Ray in Pa

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Hugh MacKay

03-08-2003 04:06:00

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Ray in Pa., 03-07-2003 21:13:48

Ray: If you go to Google search, type in growing potatoes, you will find at your finger tips the answer to just about any question you may have.

If you go to insects and diseases of potatoes there are color photos of very early signs of problems. Just about any agricultural crop can be viewed this way.

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Ray in Pa.

03-08-2003 21:44:59

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I was wondering what potato planting methods do you all use in reply to Hugh MacKay, 03-08-2003 04:06:00

Thanks Hugh, I'll look up potato growing with the google search.

Thanks Ray in Pa.

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