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Re: [Fwd: Re: Potatoes]

>I am brand new to gardening and we just moved to Montana from Southern 
>Cal. I planted a garden 4 weeks ago using 3 kinds of potatos, Gold 
>Yukons, new potatos & some type of finger potato. My questions are, how 
>long do I have to hill up the dirt around them ? After the plants 
>flower, when can I start harvesting a few at a time ? When the plants 
>die, can I leave the potatos in the ground & if so, how long ? 
>
Bob--

My experience in growing potatoes is from the Matanuska VAlley in Alaska,
which is probably similar but a zone or two different fromt the Bitterroot
in terms of growing conditions.  It's always a good idea to talk to local
growers.  I used to try to hill  my potatoes well twice, once when they
reached about 6" and again at about 12".  I would plant in a shallow trench
to give them a little extra depth in which to produce tubers, but not so
deep that the cool AK soil would be even colder. 
I would imagine that the first frosts come early in the Bitterroot although
I don't know your altitude.  You can certainly feel around for new potatoes
after your plants flower--especially the variety that you are growing for
new potatoes (new potato describes the age not the type).  Probably you'll
find that your plants die around the time of the first frost, and you'll
want to get them dug out of the ground before the ground gets too hard for
digging. Be sure to try and harvest on a dry sunny day, it gives your spuds
a day to cure in the sun, and makes for better storage.

Have a great summer in the beautiful Bitterroots. 
Regards,
Havi
(now in Berkeley, CA zone 9)


Havi Hoffman

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