Planting Potatoes in Straw
- brownrexx
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- Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:05 pm
- Location: Southeast PA, zone 6b
Planting Potatoes in Straw
My potato harvest is complete. I planted 5 lbs. each of Lehigh Yellow and Kennebec and I just harvested 21 lbs of Lehigh Yellow and 26 lbs of Kennebec.
I plant my seed potatoes in about an inch of soil and then as they grow I "hill up" using only straw. This gives me cleaner potatoes that I can dig usu=ing only my gloved hands. Before using this method I had lots of scab on my potato skins. I still get a little bit but nothing worth worrying about.
20200512_125338 (2) by Brownrexx, on Flickr
20200512_130141 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
DSC00881 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
Potatoes, 2020 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
Potatoes 2020 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
I plant my seed potatoes in about an inch of soil and then as they grow I "hill up" using only straw. This gives me cleaner potatoes that I can dig usu=ing only my gloved hands. Before using this method I had lots of scab on my potato skins. I still get a little bit but nothing worth worrying about.
20200512_125338 (2) by Brownrexx, on Flickr
20200512_130141 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
DSC00881 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
Potatoes, 2020 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
Potatoes 2020 by Brownrexx, on Flickr
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Re: Planting Potatoes in Straw
That is a very impressive harvest. I like that the potatoes are so clean.
- Cole_Robbie
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Re: Planting Potatoes in Straw
Very nice.
I planted my potatoes this year in the spots in our former cow field where the old bales of hay were left. I don't have to dig them, they pull up without a shovel.
I planted my potatoes this year in the spots in our former cow field where the old bales of hay were left. I don't have to dig them, they pull up without a shovel.
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Re: Planting Potatoes in Straw
Wow you did a great job! I tried to plant my potatoes shallower than usual and Hill up with straw but haven’t harvested yet. Only one inch would be even better! Did you feed them anything throughout the summer or add anything to the one inch soil? I got behind on watering due to the lack of rain but at least added more straw. Definite way to go next year! Thanks for sharing this. Anything that saves more time and digging is a lifesaver for me at the moment!
- brownrexx
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- Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:05 pm
- Location: Southeast PA, zone 6b
Re: Planting Potatoes in Straw
I tried planting them on top of some straw and using NO soil 2 years ago but they didn't grow at all and I had to rip everything apart and put a shallow layer of soil over them. It may not be exactly an inch but I cover the seed potatoes very shallowly with soil.
I do not add anything to my soil other than compost when I roto till in the Fall. My garden has excess nutrients due to getting lots of compost so I never add ferts even to the tomatoes. The roots of the potato plants go down into the soil below the seed potatoes.
The straw keeps the soil moist by limiting evaporation. Even so, the potato plants need water after they flower to make maximum potatoes and we had a dry spell and a heat wave. I was unable to water them so I got a few less potatoes than usual but still had a nice crop.
I do not add anything to my soil other than compost when I roto till in the Fall. My garden has excess nutrients due to getting lots of compost so I never add ferts even to the tomatoes. The roots of the potato plants go down into the soil below the seed potatoes.
The straw keeps the soil moist by limiting evaporation. Even so, the potato plants need water after they flower to make maximum potatoes and we had a dry spell and a heat wave. I was unable to water them so I got a few less potatoes than usual but still had a nice crop.
- ponyexpress
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- Location: Mass, 6b
Re: Planting Potatoes in Straw
I have been doing the straw method for a few years. What I do is put my soaker hose down, cover it with dirt, then put potatoes on top of the dirt before covering with straw. I have not harvested any potatoes yet. I wait until my vines die down.
Yes, I like how clean the potatoes are.
Yes, I like how clean the potatoes are.
- ponyexpress
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Re: Planting Potatoes in Straw
The only issue I have with the straw method is that it invites voles. I setup covered traps for them.
- ponyexpress
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Re: Planting Potatoes in Straw
Here are some pictures from last year. Papa Cacho potatoes in the bed.
Papa Cacho potatoes out of bed.
A mix of Papa Cacho and Russian Banana
Purple Peruvian
I also grew Ama Rosa and Pinto GoldYou do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.