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Potatoes and Straw

-- [ From: for-pac * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

Yes, the straw media for growing potatoes does work. The trick is
understanding how the potatoe grows, and why you get a few potatoes vs. many
. As the plant grows, each leaf node (or joint) is a potential potatoe
growing spot. Just like the way an ivy will start roots at each leaf node as
it grows, the potatoe plant will try to do a root, which in turn becomes the
potatoe. 

The problem with ground planting is, that the plant just knows to grow tall
and green. So as the plant grows, keep piling straw over the greenery. Leave
6-12" of greens shots exposed so the plant will keep growing healthy, but
the buried part thinks its in soil and converts to root/potatoe production.
As the plant grows, keep burying the stems. It works!

Using a wire/screen frame around the growing potatoe helps hold it all
together is some sort of unit vs. a sprawling mass. Any structure can be
used to do this. Used tires are excellent for "towering" potatoes, plus the
added benefit of heat speeds up the growth. 

Hope that helps.

f-p
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

Date: Wednesday, 11-Mar-98 02:44 PM

From: Plylerd                  \ America On-Line: (Plylerd) To:   veggie-
list@eskimo.com   \ Internet:    (veggie-list@eskimo.com)

Subject: Re: Potato

Writing in Gardening Without Work  Ruth Stout tells about her experiences
growing potatoes in "hay." Since hay often is full of weed seeds, I'd much
prefer to use straw.
But I agree, it sounds too good to be true. I've never tried it but perhaps
someone who has will comment.



-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
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