Posted by David Hare-Scott on January 17, 2010, 4:58 pm
Dwayne wrote:
>>
>>> Suzanne D. wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> You are correct. Plant them in holes or trenches.
>>>>
>>>> I just laid mine on top of the ground and covered them with straw.
>>>> Worked perfectly, and they weren't even dirty when I harvested
>>>> them! --S.
>>>
>>> how deep was the straw?
>>
>> About 18 inches (45 cm). I piled it up little by little as the
>> plants grew, to within 5 inches of the top of the plants. When I
>> needed potatoes, I just moved the straw over to the side and picked
>> some up from the ground.
>> --S.
> Unless you live in an area where the snakes like to live in straw
> also.
> Dwayne
I was watching a demonstration of a permaculture garden which was very
interesting and included providing habitat for predators of pests. Every
mandala had its own lizard "house" which was a pile of large loose stones.
The lizards were being encouraged to take up residence to eat snails and
slugs etc. All good. I had to point out that this idea was not useful for
me as I would get a couple of species of elapid snakes taking up the space
instead of lizards. For the same reason I have to be very strict on rodent
control.
David
Posted by Suzanne D. on January 18, 2010, 4:03 pm
>>
>>> Suzanne D. wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> You are correct. Plant them in holes or trenches.
>>>>
>>>> I just laid mine on top of the ground and covered them with straw.
>>>> Worked perfectly, and they weren't even dirty when I harvested them!
>>>> --S.
>>>
>>> how deep was the straw?
>>
>> About 18 inches (45 cm). I piled it up little by little as the plants
>> grew, to within 5 inches of the top of the plants. When I needed
>> potatoes, I just moved the straw over to the side and picked some up from
>> the ground.
>> --S.
> Unless you live in an area where the snakes like to live in straw also.
We get king snakes around here occasionally, and there may be some poisonous
ones that I simply have never seen, but I always move the straw back with a
rake anyway, and just pick up the potatoes instead of sticking my hand in to
get them.
--S.
Posted by Pat on January 2, 2010, 1:29 pm
> The other night we were watching a BBC series called "Foyle's War",
> which takes place in England during WWII. In one scene, they were on a
> farm where people were planting potatoes. They had plowed the field
> with a newly acquired tractor into long, parallel ridges, about 2 feet
> high and 3 feet apart, and were planting the seed potatoes along the
> tops of the ridges. I guess the plan was that the plants would put
> down roots into the ridges and produce tubers down there.
If I had a wet field I might do it this way.
Posted by gardenlen on January 2, 2010, 1:38 pm
g'day paul,
our preffered method returns a 5:1 ratio is simple as see our site for
our instant potato patch, ths way we utilise winter lawn space instead
of doing any digging or using needed garden space used for brassica's.
the lawn returns quickly the next summer season.
http://www.lensgarden.com.au/instant_potato_patch.htm
happy new year
wrote:
snipped
--
len
With peace and brightest of blessings,
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."
http://www.lensgarden.com.au/
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>>> Suzanne D. wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> You are correct. Plant them in holes or trenches.
>>>>
>>>> I just laid mine on top of the ground and covered them with straw.
>>>> Worked perfectly, and they weren't even dirty when I harvested
>>>> them! --S.
>>>
>>> how deep was the straw?
>>
>> About 18 inches (45 cm). I piled it up little by little as the
>> plants grew, to within 5 inches of the top of the plants. When I
>> needed potatoes, I just moved the straw over to the side and picked
>> some up from the ground.
>> --S.
> Unless you live in an area where the snakes like to live in straw
> also.
> Dwayne