Well, the bags are completely let out now and there's leaves poking out of the top. I too, am very eager to see how many potatoes we get from each bag. . . . I hope this experiment works! But, if it doesn't, at least I can tell people what NOT to do. : )
"cook" the soil? interesting. And what would you put the soil into? and for how long and how high will the oven have to be set? :) sorry for all this questions. I have a tiny yard, and pretty much everything that I've planted are in containers.
Well, as I said, Sarah who had the Pioneerliving channel on youtube took down her videos showing this, BUT I did some research and this is what I found:
You spread your soil (with roots, vegetable matter removed ) out in a deep baking pan no more than 4" deep, covering it tightly with tinfoil and a meat thermometer stuck in it. Then, you "cook" it at approx. 180 degrees for 1/2 an hour. You don't want your soil to get above 200 degrees however (hence the thermometer). cont. . . .
If your soil gets above 200 degrees, it gets "toxic" to plants. If you suspect it got too hot, you can always test it by trying to germinate radish or some other seeds in it. If they don't grow, the soil is likely toxic and has to be discarded. (But I wouldn't think it would be too hard to avoid over-heating). So there you go. Good for you growing what you can in containers! Many plants do amazingly well that way -- more people should try it!
That is a great question actually. : ) There was a gal, Sarah, who used to have a wonderful channel on Youtube called pioneerhomesteading (or something like that) and she would "cook" her soil right in her oven that she used in pots, etc. after removing the organic material and then re-use it. She took down all her videos and now, I wish I would have taken notes as to the temp and time she used. I will likely turn what's left in my barrels back into the compost heap . .cont'
con't. . . and let it "cook" there as there will be straw and partially composted used hay and goat manure in it. Or. . . I am thinking of trying something called "deep litter" method of composting using my chickens and their fenced yard. You spread out your composting material 6" to 12" thick in your chicken yard, let the chickens aerate it as they scratch around and add their own manure and then "harvest" it for your gardens every 6 months.
I bow to the master of using his gardening space! I wish our privacy fence wasn't shaded or I'd be nagging hubby to do something like you have. That was brilliant!
Cool! The only thing I'd be concerned about is drainage. This is going to be a good experiment. to follow. And is a very creative and out of the box idea! (Ohhh, add some Mychorrizal fungi, that will make your spuds very happy.) My potatoes are going to be Purple!!!
Okay, I'll bite Monica -- where does one get "Mychorrizal fungi". (It sounds like something polite people don't talk about in public -- ha ha) I haven't noticed it at the local nursery or garden center. . . LOL. (Or do you catch and grow it yourself like sourdough starter?)
great video. Now i know what to do this spring with our potatoes!!! :) thanks for showing us your results!!!
mrshammer516 1 year ago
I love the nail idea!
CynthiaZenn 2 years ago
You can see Sarah's videos @
exploreourplanet(dot)org
DoctorsWife56 2 years ago
Oh! Good to know! Thanks so much for posting this.
-- Renee
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago
@DoctorsWife56 Thank you for posting Sarah's address!
cousin229 2 years ago
Comment removed
jylster 2 years ago
Well, the bags are completely let out now and there's leaves poking out of the top. I too, am very eager to see how many potatoes we get from each bag. . . . I hope this experiment works! But, if it doesn't, at least I can tell people what NOT to do. : )
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago
"cook" the soil? interesting. And what would you put the soil into? and for how long and how high will the oven have to be set? :) sorry for all this questions. I have a tiny yard, and pretty much everything that I've planted are in containers.
daafies 2 years ago
Well, as I said, Sarah who had the Pioneerliving channel on youtube took down her videos showing this, BUT I did some research and this is what I found:
You spread your soil (with roots, vegetable matter removed ) out in a deep baking pan no more than 4" deep, covering it tightly with tinfoil and a meat thermometer stuck in it. Then, you "cook" it at approx. 180 degrees for 1/2 an hour. You don't want your soil to get above 200 degrees however (hence the thermometer). cont. . . .
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago
cont. . . .
If your soil gets above 200 degrees, it gets "toxic" to plants. If you suspect it got too hot, you can always test it by trying to germinate radish or some other seeds in it. If they don't grow, the soil is likely toxic and has to be discarded. (But I wouldn't think it would be too hard to avoid over-heating). So there you go. Good for you growing what you can in containers! Many plants do amazingly well that way -- more people should try it!
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago
Ok this may sound like a silly question but what do you do with the soil after the potatoes have been harvested? Can you use it again?
daafies 2 years ago
That is a great question actually. : ) There was a gal, Sarah, who used to have a wonderful channel on Youtube called pioneerhomesteading (or something like that) and she would "cook" her soil right in her oven that she used in pots, etc. after removing the organic material and then re-use it. She took down all her videos and now, I wish I would have taken notes as to the temp and time she used. I will likely turn what's left in my barrels back into the compost heap . .cont'
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago
con't. . . and let it "cook" there as there will be straw and partially composted used hay and goat manure in it. Or. . . I am thinking of trying something called "deep litter" method of composting using my chickens and their fenced yard. You spread out your composting material 6" to 12" thick in your chicken yard, let the chickens aerate it as they scratch around and add their own manure and then "harvest" it for your gardens every 6 months.
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago
@Michigansnowpony oh I love Sarah's videos too she has some videos back in youtube by find her by searching by "explore our world"
cousin229 2 years ago
Amazing idea! and good to put it on video for others to see.
icehorses 2 years ago
Thanks Judy -- I'm addicted to the garden this year. And I'm trying to think outside the box when it comes to making the most of the space I've got.
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago
good job. thanks for commenting on my vid it's good to see that someone else is doing the same. let me know how you get on with the harvets.
resaxz 2 years ago
I bow to the master of using his gardening space! I wish our privacy fence wasn't shaded or I'd be nagging hubby to do something like you have. That was brilliant!
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago
Cool! The only thing I'd be concerned about is drainage. This is going to be a good experiment. to follow. And is a very creative and out of the box idea! (Ohhh, add some Mychorrizal fungi, that will make your spuds very happy.) My potatoes are going to be Purple!!!
HomesteadProvocateur 2 years ago
Okay, I'll bite Monica -- where does one get "Mychorrizal fungi". (It sounds like something polite people don't talk about in public -- ha ha) I haven't noticed it at the local nursery or garden center. . . LOL. (Or do you catch and grow it yourself like sourdough starter?)
Michigansnowpony 2 years ago