Potatoes Off To A Great Start

[bp fick]

Planted 50# of Reds on Good Friday. (around 300 plants) A hard frost, at the beginning of May, blackened them and the potatoes had to start over. They re-emerged around May 15. We finally got some timely rains and they have really jumped.

I don't normally mulch with straw, but when we got off to a horrid dry start, I wanted to shade the soil for moisture retention. Only got to cultivate them once, as they outgrew the ground clearance of my BX pretty quickly.

Had an attack of beetles, but a soapy water spray did the trick. A hopeful beginning. This is virgin soil, having never been farmed or tilled before.

 

[dave1949]

Looks very nice BP. So, what is your theory on where the beetles come from in your virgin soil? I planted potatoes years ago in Ohio in ground that was pasture, soybeans, corn for many years and no other nearby gardens. Had a horrible Colorado beetle infestation. Do they come with the seed potatoes?

In the same way, people's tomatoes were hit with late blight in many different places around the country last fall. I could understand if the blight is everywhere and if the weather is right, it multiplies. Not sure if that's correct though.
Dave.

 

[bp fick]

Dave,

These particular beetles were not potato bugs at all. More generic Rose Chafer kind of brown/tan back beetle. They weren't around last year, that I recall, but they exploded this year!!! Of course, this spring is wildly different from last year. They attacked my young planted trees like CRAZY. They would have defoliated them in a day, had I not jumped on the spray. Geeeesh!

But, yes, potato seed has been known to carry eggs, for sure. I chart all my crops. Cannot always just rely on my memory. i try to rotate on a three year basis. This helps, of course.

 

[dave1949]

Dave,

These particular beetles were not potato bugs at all. More generic Rose Chafer kind of brown/tan back beetle. They weren't around last year, that I recall, but they exploded this year!!! Of course, this spring is wildly different from last year. They attacked my young planted trees like CRAZY. They would have defoliated them in a day, had I not jumped on the spray. Geeeesh!

But, yes, potato seed has been known to carry eggs, for sure. I chart all my crops. Cannot always just rely on my memory. i try to rotate on a three year basis. This helps, of course.

It's funny how weeds and bugs go in cycles. Last year we couldn't walk without stepping on a slug with all the cool wet weather we had. They are back to normal -so far- this year. This year, we have wild daisies in bunches.
Dave.

 

[Duffster]

Planted 50# of Reds on Good Friday. (around 300 plants) A hard frost, at the beginning of May, blackened them and the potatoes had to start over. They re-emerged around May 15. We finally got some timely rains and they have really jumped.

I don't normally mulch with straw, but when we got off to a horrid dry start, I wanted to shade the soil for moisture retention. Only got to cultivate them once, as they outgrew the ground clearance of my BX pretty quickly.

Had an attack of beetles, but a soapy water spray did the trick. A hopeful beginning. This is virgin soil, having never been farmed or tilled before.

Nice looking 'taters BP. :thumbsup:

Any guesstimate of what they will yield?

 

[bp fick]

Nice looking 'taters BP. :thumbsup:

Any guesstimate of what they will yield?

None. :laughing: No guesstimate whatsoever.


OK, I am hoping for 5-6 lb per, yield. We shall see.

 

[Alan Davis]

"Had an attack of beetles, but a soapy water spray did the trick."

Could you give us more info on this "soapy water spray"? How well did it work?

My potatoes are under attack and now they are moving over to the tomatoes.

Been picking them off because we don't want to use pesticides.

Thanks,
Alan

 

[nybirdman]

Use SEVEN ,organic accetped..did my potatoes yesterday:thumbsup:

 

[bp fick]

Use SEVEN ,organic accetped..did my potatoes yesterday:thumbsup:

Can you document that claim?

I don't look to pick fights here, nor do I engage in them, but that statement is factually in error and needs to be corrected.
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/organcert.html

Sevin is carbaryl and is NOT approved for organic use. It cannot be detected in soil samples on organic farms. Sorry. This isn't an organic versus chemical or green vs anybody else response. It merely is to point out that organic certification of a farm prohibits the use of carbaryl, trade name Sevin.

 

[bp fick]

"Had an attack of beetles, but a soapy water spray did the trick."

Could you give us more info on this "soapy water spray"? How well did it work?

My potatoes are under attack and now they are moving over to the tomatoes.

Been picking them off because we don't want to use pesticides.

Thanks,
Alan

Common dishsoap, try one ounce per gallon in sprayer. If you have a half dozen garlic gloves to smash and insert, that's even better. Or Cayenne pepper also spices up the mix.

Plain old dish soap works wonders to ward off the bugs. If they are stubborn, add garlic or cayenne pepper. ANY chemically manufactured pesticide is banned from organic farming. If you are certified, the process takes 3 years of hard certification documentation. If you are organic for your own desires, that's great too. Lime powder dust also works very well, but again, powdered lime is little less common than granular. Quart jar, pierce the lid with hammer and 14 penny nail. Dust in the early am, when heavy dew is present.

Corn meal? Like a corn meal muffin mix? sprinkle around base of plants. Crawling eating bugs gorge themselves and die as the corn meal expands inside them. Best regards.

 

[bp fick]

Not to get too far afield, (sorry about the pun) but the organic factor is important to me. I really don't want a nice dose of pesticide with my food or the food I raise for others. It's a choice. A decision. But this isn't merely a Mother Earth type issue in scope. Not for me. It is much, much broader.

I'm not preachy and I'm not a zealot. This is a much larger concept in farming called sustainable agriculture and this is my direction. I merely find integrating sustainable farming practices into my semi-retired life on my small plot of earth a rewarding challenge. I admittedly like the much higher returns for my products. That doesn't hurt my feelings or my pocket book. As strange as it sounds, sustainable agriculture has proven potential to actually out perform in terms of productivity. These are things that interest me and brings a challenge to my efforts.

 

[bp fick]

Alright, it is hilling day. I'm take a break. About half way done and it's 9 am. Started early and am trying to beat the heat. Not being successful on that count, but it is going, but I'm huffing and puffing.

Pictures later, when I'm done and I've caught my breath. :thumbsup:

 

[bp fick]

OK, these 'taters are done. Nothing to do now until digging time. That was a difficult job by hand, but got 'em hilled. Can't wait to dig them on or about August 5-10?

This is one of the downsides to a BX. Not enough ground clearance for cultivating taller plants or hilling potatoes at the proper time. Haven't given up hope for B2320 in fall. We shall see.

 

[Duffster]

OK, these 'taters are done. Nothing to do now until digging time. That was a difficult job by hand, but got 'em hilled. Can't wait to dig them on or about August 5-10?

This is one of the downsides to a BX. Not enough ground clearance for cultivating taller plants or hilling potatoes at the proper time. Haven't given up hope for B2320 in fall. We shall see.

Are you going to remulch them?

 

[bp fick]

Are you going to remulch them?

Not today!!! My back is killing me!:laughing::laughing:

Duff, maybe. I did not remove any straw. Just piled it into the hill. It worked fine.

 

[peter_vii]

Hilling by hand is not fun. Good job.

You cultivated using BX? anybody uses B series to hill potatoes?

 

[Duffster]

So........Different patch of 'taters different bugs, I think. Got pics of these buggers. What do you think they are?

 

[bp fick]

So........Different patch of 'taters different bugs, I think. Got pics of these buggers. What do you think they are?

Standard bug. Leaf eater. Attack them with soapy water, spiced with cayenne pepper. Should work. Must re-apply if washed off by rain. If that does not work, you will have to try other measures.

 

[Tony_S]

That is a potato beetle larva. They can munch down some leaves!

 

[niemeyjt]

What is the high fencing to protect against?

Since you have it, have you considered letting some chickens loose in there to eat the bugs and beetles? I read someone in France saying her chickens did a good job reducing pests - although she also has to protect some of the tastier vegetables from their attentions - I guess potatoes would not be particularly tastey for them.

J