About Me
- Alexandra
- A homeschooling mother of one teenager and a little. In 2001, I resigned from my 13 year position as a case manager to homeschool my oldest who was a preschooler at the time, and later a daughter who came along in 2005. This is by far the hardest job I've ever loved. My husband of nearly 20 years supports us as a fire fighter and EMT.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Potato Crop Failure
I harvested my potatoes in a garbage can today and ended up with less than I started! Now I have to figure out what went wrong. I never fertilized them beyond adding manure. They may have needed much more.
This link mentions that potatoes grow best in loose compost with a low nitogen fertilizer. Next season I'll be adding more "muck" for soil. I think my soil was just too heavy and nutrient deficient for good root growth.I dumped the soil from the can into one of the corner beds, so that I can roll it into leaves and other muck for better potato soil next season.
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5 comments:
How disappointing! I feel oddly responsible, since it was my idea...I grew mine in a garbage can, lots of 1/2" drainage holes on the bottom, and bags of top soil. I might have thrown some compost in there, but I don't remember. Watered them sporadically, filled most of the can with dirt....and pulled them out when they were officially and completely dead. What was different? :(
I know you live in a hot climate too, Alexanra. Could it have been a lack of water? Or heat penetrating through the sides of the container?
Well, better luck next time.
Oh, Myrnie, don't feel responsible! Giggle, you are so sweet. Your potato apprentice will do better next season. ;) Yeah, I did the same as you, but got different results. Another reason may be the type of potato I tried. Maybe I'll try a finding seed potatoes from a local store rather than from the internet. The local ones are best for our area. It's difficult to grow things here...the early settlers here in the Williamsburg area almost died trying to get things to grow! Very swampy and brackish.
Dorothy, we do have a very hot and humid climate with lots of rain this year.
I'll give it another go in another location...near a tree? Maybe that might be a little cooler.
Oh, I was going to tell you to contact Myrnie, but I see she left a comment. She knows tons about potatoes and gardening veggies.
I will try this next year.
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