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Re: Potato update

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Richard,
We have (had) to potato barrels.  All seemed to be doing well until the
scorching sun took its toll on the plants.  We planted 3 seed potatoes in
each barrel.  When the plants reached about 5" tall we covered them
completely with a mixture of top soil and sand.  We continued doing this
until the soil reached the top of the barrels and then let the plants grow
out of the top.  All of our potato plants grew about 18-24" tall.  The
temperature rose to 112 degrees and the sun scorched the plants.  We have
managed to save one barrel (giving it tons of water) but the plants in the
other barrel gave up and died.   The potato plants never flowered in either
barrel.  We dumped the barrel with the dead plants over and all that was in
it were two tiny new potatoes the size of nickels.  We call this the world's
smallest potato harvest!  I hope that the other barrel is more successful!
And I hope that you have better luck.  Let us know.
Necia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Betz, Richard" <RBetz@randomhouse.com>
To: <sqft@listbot.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2000 11:42 AM
Subject: Potato update


> Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>
> Hi all,
>
> I just wanted to keep you all up to date with how my potatoes are doing. I
> am using one of those circular potato barrels for the first time this
year.
> The barrel was very easy to set up. I set it up to have a diameter of 3
> feet. I tilled the soil inside the barrel and then placed my Russian
Banana
> fingerlings into the soil. I then covered the seed potatoes with a thin
> layer of hay then soil on top of that. They took a little while to sprout
> but once they did they have really taken off! My one problem that I seem
to
> have is that the plants are all different sizes. Am I supposed to cover
the
> entire plant or do I leave 4 inches or so exposed? I find it a little
> difficult trying to cover the really large plants without covering the
> smaller plants. I am amazed at just how quickly these plants are growing,
> the barrel will be filled in no time. So, just to let you all know, I
would
> definitely recommend this potato barrel. The great thing about it is that
> once the potatoes are done I can then use it as a compost bin until next
> years potatoes are ready to plant! I just hope that the plants are
actually
> producing potatoes and not just great looking plants! I'll keep you all
> informed.
>
> Thanks for listening,
> Richard
> Brooklyn, NY
>
>
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