The first vegetable to be planted in our new big garden is potatoes.
But before we could plant we needed to dig, and dig deep. We wanted the soil loose much deeper then the red rototiller goes. We found that the soil was good and packed, since it hasn't been worked for years, if ever.
If it wasn't for my dad, and his strong work ethic, we couldn't have got this all done.
He is the best shoveler on the team, moving dirt faster then all of us combined.
So we dug a deep trench, 1.5 to 2 feet deep, and then amended it with old straw and goat manure.
Then we cut my carefully saved organic potatoes, that have been growing big thick sprouts for me in a box in the garage for a few weeks.
We have some reds, and some Yukon golds, and a few Russets (left over from what I grew last year).
We placed the potatoes in a little nest of soil, handling them carefully so those healthy sprouts don't break. We made double rows with about 1 to 1.5 feet between the potatoes.
We then sprinkled on 2 - 3 inches of soil on each potato. As they grow, we will keep sprinkling on more soil, straw and goat manure, so there is nice loose, nutrient dense soil for them to grow more potatoes in. We also plan to spray the foliage, when it starts leafing out green, with liquid kelp, and with diluted sea solids, to increase the minerals on the potatoes. We have read that potatoes love lots of nutrients, and grow bigger when they have more. I also read that potatoes grow bigger when you put rhubarb leaves on them. So that's just what I did last night when I cut some rhubarb. I'll let you know if the section with the leaves grow any better.
But before we could plant we needed to dig, and dig deep. We wanted the soil loose much deeper then the red rototiller goes. We found that the soil was good and packed, since it hasn't been worked for years, if ever.
If it wasn't for my dad, and his strong work ethic, we couldn't have got this all done.
He is the best shoveler on the team, moving dirt faster then all of us combined.
So we dug a deep trench, 1.5 to 2 feet deep, and then amended it with old straw and goat manure.
Then we cut my carefully saved organic potatoes, that have been growing big thick sprouts for me in a box in the garage for a few weeks.
We have some reds, and some Yukon golds, and a few Russets (left over from what I grew last year).
We placed the potatoes in a little nest of soil, handling them carefully so those healthy sprouts don't break. We made double rows with about 1 to 1.5 feet between the potatoes.
We then sprinkled on 2 - 3 inches of soil on each potato. As they grow, we will keep sprinkling on more soil, straw and goat manure, so there is nice loose, nutrient dense soil for them to grow more potatoes in. We also plan to spray the foliage, when it starts leafing out green, with liquid kelp, and with diluted sea solids, to increase the minerals on the potatoes. We have read that potatoes love lots of nutrients, and grow bigger when they have more. I also read that potatoes grow bigger when you put rhubarb leaves on them. So that's just what I did last night when I cut some rhubarb. I'll let you know if the section with the leaves grow any better.
That was a lot of work! But so well done. I think your potatoes will do great! Adding straw and compost as the plants grow is a great idea. Your lower garden spot looks like such a serene place to spend time.
ReplyDeleteWe had potatoes growing well at the time i saw you. By the time we returned home....the dog had dug them all up, just like before...our whole garden was weeds, and no time to work in it now! Hopefully a fall garden will be had...no traveling for awhile!
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