Planting Potatoes - January 2010 - Growing a Vegetable Garden

[Tadaevion]

Why were your cut seeded potatoes in your green bucket dusted with some sort of white dust. would just love to know because i would hate to miss any of your wonderful knowledge. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WONERFUL EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS.

[webcajun]

@Tadaevion … Someone suggested I try coating the cut potatoes with sulfur to help prevent disease. I really didn’t see any difference in production…….Donald

[castuckey]

Mr. Donald, just curious from the time you plant in January/February, do you find that the time to harvest is what LSU Ag Center suggests? About 90 to 120 days? Or do you let them continue to grow until the tops die off?

Merci Beaucoup!

[webcajun]

@castuckey ... It takes about 4 months for em to mature. When the leaves start turning yellow it's just about time to dig......Donald

[MrMunchiemo]

Donald people are telling me that I need to use a fertilizer where the first number should be lower than the other last two numbers. They said it is because it is a root crop. Didn't know what you thought about that.

[webcajun]

@MrMunchiemo ... I use a balanced fertilizer like triple 8 or 13 or 17. A soil sample would probably help a lot in determining just how much to use for potatoes……Donald

[MrMunchiemo]

@webcajun 10-4 thanks

[MBJB07]

Do you use triple 13 fertilizer on your entire garden?

[webcajun]

@MBJB07 ... These days I applying fertilizer only where I'll be drawing the rows. I'll use 8-8-8 or 13-13-13 or 17-17-17 whatever is available.......Donald

[davidhaythornthwaite]

due to bad shoulders i now grow all my spuds in pots and have done so for the past 3/4 yrs, providing i start at 8inch from the bottom and slowly cover up the foliage, right to the top, i get dust bin size tubs full of spuds with easy access without forking out afterwards, leaving my allotment for more brassicas

[webcajun]

@davidhaythornthwaite ... I’ve got lots of aches and pains so I too try to do things as easily as possible. Whatever works stick with it…….Donald

[mporganics]

Great video's! When will you be planting potatoes? I live in zone 8 also.

[webcajun]

@mporganics ... You can plant anytime from now until the end of February......Donald

[AMEwrestling]

I just planted a potato today, first attempt. Looks like this guy has the right idea. A sack of potatoes and balanced fertilizer. Balanced fertilizer is the only fertilizer potatoes can feed off of.

[rozeraseel1]

i took some patatoes from my allotment yesterday it was great feeling trust me

[webcajun]

@rozeraseel1 ...Well that's great, happy for you.....Donald

[gleciab04]

Hello, do you save any of your potatoes for seed for the next season? I live in Florida and I can only buy seed potatoes once a year, so I would love to know how to store some for next season. And by the way love your videos!!

[webcajun]

@gleciab04 ...I find my spring crop to be the best. I usually end up with a few pounds that sprout just about planting time (August) and use those. Store them like you would any other in a cool, dark, dry place.....Donald

[kev2556]

hi, how many potatos do you get per potato?

[webcajun]

@kev2556 ...It varies but in a bad year I'll get 1 lb. per foot of row. I spoke with someone the other day that got 600 lbs. off of 200 ft......Donald

[AngelikavonDeutschla]

Thanks brings back childhood memories. When my daddy used to farm our small farm in Germany. We had one fall crop every other year with potatoes. Then after the harvest the whole family sat around a big fire, and we tossed the potoatoes some of them in . They were delicious!

[webcajun]

@AngelikavonDeutschla ...Fresh potatoes right out the garden just taste sooooooo good. I could make a meal out of just that........Donald

[Desktopgem]

Sorry about the 4 messages! Didn't show they had gone through. One for each potatoe I suppose. lol

[Desktopgem]

Well, before watching another video and yours I had put 5 large seed potatoes whole into a small patio potato bag! I'm not going to remove 4 of them, well and the other one and cut that other one up and only replace that when prepared. The other 4 I will put in my allotment. Good job I looked and yes you make it fun. Thanks.

[Desktopgem]

Well, before watching another video and yours I had put 5 large seed potatoes whole into a small patio potato bag! I'm not going to remove 4 of them, well and the other one and cut that other one up and only replace that when prepared. The other 4 I will put in my allotment. Good job I looked and yes you make it fun. Thanks.

[Desktopgem]

Well, before watching another video and yours I had put 5 large seed potatoes whole into a small patio potato bag! I'm not going to remove 4 of them, well and the other one and cut that other one up and only replace that when prepared. The other 4 I will put in my allotment. Good job I looked and yes you make it fun. Thanks

[TheConservative13]

Howdy Donald! I as a young gentleman myself without any proper guidance from my parents have looked towards the internet and books in order to advance myself in my growin expierience. I thank you for your videos.I happen to live in zone 10 A ( south florida) and my potatoe growin season is from october-march normally.This will be my first time growing them, and i dont have much room to work with them. Any advice for this young feller? Thanx.... Trevor

[webcajun]

@TheConservative13 ...Hey Trevor, Just follow what I did in the videos and you'll do just fine. It really doesn't matter what zone you're in only the planting times change.....Donald

[TheConservative13]

@webcajun thanks bud aprreciate it.. keep up with the video's. :) God bless

[drmarthacastro]

Thank you so much for this video, Donald!!! PLEASE, keep on teaching us, YOU ARE A GENIUS and funny!

Now, I have 4 potatoes in front of me and I am ready to follow your instructions. Wish me luck!!!

[webcajun]

@drmarthacastro ...Bet you do just fine......Donald

[TurboManUSA]

Planting taters in January?? That's it, we're moving to Louisiana! ;-))  Thanks for the information. I'll be watching more videos as the season progresses....Thx Donald

[webcajun]

@TurboManUSA ...LOL......Donald

[TurboManUSA]

Hey Donald,

What's your take on letting the freshly cut seed potatoes sprout on wet cardboard inside before planting. Does it help any for folks up here in Kansas with shorter growing seasons. I'm gonna try it so I can get maybe two seasons. I appreciate your video's and will be watching more. I'll check back with you later.

[webcajun]

@TurboManUSA ...I've never done that so I really can't say. Here in Louisiana we plant potatoes as early as mid January.....Donald

[MrBassMan56]

Hi Donald, I was wondering about the time when you start hilling, you said when the plants are about 12-16 inches, is there a time (30-45+ days?) it seems that my plants are young when they be that high, I live in Calif. and plant year round, thanks again, for your help!

[webcajun]

@MrBassMan56 ...I simply go by the size of the plant......Donald

[231MasseyFerguson]

Got my pen and paper taking notes... Thank You! Planted a row of these yesterday! And more tomorrow!

[webcajun]

@231MasseyFerguson ...Being such a wet winter I was beginning to worry but it finally dried up and I got about 100 ft. planted the other day.......Donald

[TheColonelSteve]

What did you dip the seed potato's in before you planted them?

[webcajun]

@TheColonelSteve ...I dust my potatoes with sulfur which I understand helps prevent rotting and some diseases.....Donald

[TheColonelSteve]

@webcajun Thanks a bunch Donald ! I am having a blast watching ALL your videos today.

[agentgooner007]

@webcajun You sound like one of the pitboys gardeners/brothers lol.

Love all your video's, learning loads.

Thank you.

[webcajun]

@agentgooner007 ... Thanks, will be posting a new one soon......Donald

[telemarker77]

nice job

[webcajun]

@telemarker77 ... thanks.....Donald

[webcajun]

@Efetida ... about the only variety I can find around here is Red LaSoda. They have done pretty well but I would like to try a few Yukon Gold as well.......Donald

[silbernagelm]

Please don't stop passing on your knowledge. I am so grateful for your videos!

[webcajun]

@silbernagelm ... thanks for the kind words and glad you enjoy the vids........Donald

[peterdoubleyouz]

Your videos have been pretty much a manual for me in planting my own crops. Keep up with the new videos sir, they are appreciated!

[webcajun]

@peterdoubleyouz ... there are so many different ways of doing things in the garden you can get a little side tracked. Sticking to the basics is my best advice.......Donald

[webcajun]

@stallonea8 ... thanks........Donald

[bellaray1]

Donald, I grew up in New Zealand. My father aproached gardening simillar to your style.I have forgotten so much. However, I remember he would cut and dry them out, sometimes waiting a week before planting his seed potatoes, the sprouting ones were fine two. He would harvest early first crop without pulling the plants and then come back weeks later. More potatoes second time round. I just remember good times working with soil.

[webcajun]

@bellaray1 ... We plant our potatoes in mid January. I try to let em dry out but usually the weather is so bad I end up planting the same day I cut. We get a good bit of rain in the winter and the garden is pretty wet so you plant when you can not so much when you want. I'm going to try to plant a few this fall and let em grow through the winter..........Donald

[CDerica1]

Hi Donald we love watching your Vids,very informative,my partner and i are just starting up a market garden here in England on about 6acres.How much land are you on.We are not fully organic but grow as close as nature as possible.

[webcajun]

@CDerica1 ... I have 7 acres and garden about 2........ Donald

[mickyboy200768]

sir, what is the difference between normal potato and potato seed

[webcajun]

@mickyboy200768 ... one difference is store bought potatoes are treated so it takes longer for them to sprout..... Donald

[mickyboy200768]

@webcajun your replie is much appreciated, love your videos, and thank you for sharing your wisdom ,may your god bless you sir

[NaomiChambers]

how many potatoes do you get from one seed?

[webcajun]

@NaomiChambers ... depends a lot on the weather and how fertile the soil is but I'd say on average 6-12......... Donald

[geniebailey82]

We plant taters a little different in West Virginia ;) we put 3 cut taters to a hill about 1 foot apart. Then put 5-10-10 or if the ground is poor as mine is 10-10-10 in between each hill. It's strange how everyone plants in different ways from state to state.

[webcajun]

@geniebailey82 ... On different methods I would go as far to say from one neighbor to the next. That's the good thing about gardening, so many ways of doing things you can hardly go wrong........ Donald

[MrTJHS]

Please watch my video and offer as much advise or tips that you can. I really love your videos and I think you are. Fantastic gardener!! Please leave me a comment.. Thanks

[webcajun]

@MrTJHS ... I sure will.......... Donald

[wsmcewen]

Donald, if my seed potatos have started to sprout do you think they will still work? Thanks in advance for the help!

[webcajun]

@wsmcewen ... I've heard that you need to break the sprouts off before planting. I just planted some more potatoes that had sprouted and didn't break them off so I should be able to answer that question in a few weeks. It's getting real late to plant potatoes here in Zone 8 but I had them so I planted............ Donald

[webcajun]

@wsmcewen ... potatoes are coming up and I didn't break the sprouts off........ Donald

[wsmcewen]

@webcajun good to hear. will send some pictures of the garden after things really come up.

[MrGreatLakesBuffalo]

Can you say a few words of wisdom to the American people. I think times are tough and people need a pep talk. I think you are just the gent to do it. Some points....plant a garden. Buy American. Buy silver as the dollar is do do. Thanks Sir.

[mphymel]

Don, just a couple of questions, did you let the cut seed dry before you plant? Also did you make a row to start or just furrowed where you tilled so you could lay by more often?

[webcajun]

@mphymel ... You should let the cut potatoes dry before planting. I had to plant these the same day because we had rain in the forecast. No row was drawn, just a furrow........ Donald

[pybryce]

Donald owns a rake?? I thought he was too smart for that :)

[webcajun]

I know it's hard to believe but I actually have 2, one fits my hand and the other fits my tractor. In fact I'm going rake some big limbs this morning with the Kabota........ Donald

[benhunts]

@webcajun Your videos and insight are the best! Now, what kind of rake do you pull behind that Kubota?

Here's to a successful bounty and thanks for all you do!

[webcajun]

@benhunts ... it's a 6 foot utility rake made for tractors. You might see it in a video this year. I have one more segment to shoot, racking my limestone driveway, then I'll post it. Nice piece of equipment...... Donald

[newnappydew]

I have a n area in my backyard I have had a garden for about 3 years each year it get worse and I get less. There are lots trees but there is a n open area where the trees are not over the garden and it get's about 6 to 8 hours of sun. This year if I could just get tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, and jalapeno peppers I would be happy. What do you suggest? (the area is about 40ft. X 10ft.) I am in Stockbridge, GA ........

[webcajun]

Some will tell you 6-8 hrs. of sun is enough, I don't agree. Try to move your garden to a spot that gets full sun all day.......... Donald

[hidhawkes]

Can you use just regular potatoes from the supermarket to plant?

[webcajun]

Sure you could but I think seed potatoes do better......... Donald

[centervilletn]

put my potatoes in the ground today...same way except no tractor...

[webcajun]

Hope you have a great year........ Donald

[poorpipee]

Enjoyed your video. Still have frost in the west of Ireland but will be planting soon.

Happy Planting.

[webcajun]

Yes I think everyone is ready for spring........... Donald

[flibber123]

I'm new to vegetable gardening, got some red potatoes growing, been looking at videos on Youtube.

I like yours best so far, good production values and great presentation.

[webcajun]

Glad you enjoyed the video ........ Donald

[ScottyD]

Always fun to watch you work in your garden.

[webcajun]

Hadn't been doing too much lately. Catching up in the shop right now......... Donald

[TheGreenGardener28]

wow nc car....happy growing

[webcajun]

Thanks ........ Donald

[Praxxus55712]

Am I the only one who noticed at the end his dog was gnawing on a human thigh bone? Donald, you gotta bury the bodies deeper! :)

ps: I totally love your coolection of garden machinery!!

[webcajun]

Hey Ray ... Some go into the swamp, some never come out. LOL Wati till you see the shinny new equipment I'll have to work with this year. To bad it's not mine........... Donald

[palmerballer1]

thankyou Donald.... i mean that is just a gigantic garden... were you a farmer before or did you just get into it?

[webcajun]

I've grown a few acres of soybeans and corn in the past. Instead of 6-8 rows at a time now it's only 1.......... Donald

[dobe762]

I'm gonna have to move ... it'll be another month maybe two before I can plant potatoes! A short growing season is really depressing ...

Cheers

[webcajun]

With a short growing season I bet you're a better gardener than I am. No time to play around, go to get it right the first time......... Donald

[Sik250]

Great video once again Donald. The sulfer will guard against fungal diseases and ward off potato beetles.

[webcajun]

I thought it was something like that. The potato bettles got in the ones last spring. Had to use a little liquid Sevin the take care of em. Thanks....... Donald

[jihadacadien]

Great info! I'm gonna try potatoes for the first time this year! Thanks for the tips!

[webcajun]

They are real easy to grow and you'll love the taste of fresh potatoes........... Donald

[jihadacadien]

@webcajun Oh I'm sure! Every thing taste better homw grown!

[cajundecoeur]

Donald,

Ah, AAAAHhhhh, already. I will be in late April and early May. I plant the potatoes whole. So I'll cut the potatoes. I hope your idea will work on my property. Nice job.

[webcajun]

Try planting half whole and the other half cut and see what happens. Remember to leave a couple of eyes on each piece. Best of luck this gardening season.......... Donald

[cajundecoeur]

@webcajun Ok, thanks. I also tried the fence around the tomatoes for summer. I'd make a movie of my plantation. "LACHE PAS LA PATATE".

[webcajun]

Looking forward to your video....... Donald

[amiraprod525]

Donald, you rock! My potatoes are chitting over here in Atlanta. It's going to be very cold this week, so I'm going to cover the bed with some black plastic to get it ready.

[webcajun]

I got real lucky and had a couple of days of simi dry weather. Hope you have a good year and thanks........... Donald

[sadia102]

Great vid Donald ...thanks. Mixed success this year. Next planting more dirt and less straw as they grow. Only got about 3 times what I started with and most were mediums.

[webcajun]

With all the bad luck I've had in the past with too much rain, if I get 1-2 lbs. to the row foot I'm happy. I do space mine a little farther than most at 14-18 inches apart so that may make a difference.

Last year I planted 50 lbs. of seed potato and harvested around 300 lbs. I don't think that's too bad being they went under water so many times.......... Donald

[palmerballer1]

is this a ligitament and active farm or is it just like your "garden?" thanks

[webcajun]

Just a garden........  Donald

[searchlight22]

Well Donald,

I truely must now suffer "latitude" envy having watched the vid. Here in Newfoundland I am about 11 weeks away from planting my spuds. Thankfully, I do still enjoy last years effort though. What are your thoughts on liming the rows. We tried cutting and non-cutting last year and saw no difference in yield; healed or no.

Lovely posting, thanks very much. I've got a good supply of powered seaweed for the upcoming season and a new delivery system. I'll keep you informed on results

[webcajun]

I really don't add anything other than the fertilizer. I did however, for the first time, sprinkle a little sulfur on them this year. Someone told me it was good for em, don't remember what it was good for though?

I didn't have time to let them heal either cause of the wet conditions and having to plant when I could.......... Donald

[jimkleager]

Those reds blend in with that soil, makes them hard to see. I wish I could cheat like you did on the dirt, my tractor won't handle a tiller. How many times do you plant potatos during the year Donald? Nice video! Jim

[webcajun]

Hey Jim ... last year I planted both in the spring and fall. Think I'm going to do the same this year. It was so wet when I dug that short piece I had to break up clogs to find potatoes. Probably missed quite a few. This rain has got to stop soon......... Donald

[thelawisafterme]

I just finished planting half a sack of potatoes a few days ago, I need to get the rest in the ground before too long......oh and "Who Dat!"

[webcajun]

This year I only planted half a sack (25 lbs.) Still have a bunch in the ground from the fall I need to dig but it's just too wet........... Donald

[gizmotwadlebutt]

I raise potatoes on plastic mulch just lay the plastic and throw seed potatoes in the cups of my holland tranplanter and make two trips up and down the row. no hoeing and no green potatoes. But I live in melon country and I can pick up one row stuff cheap they all have gone to multi row equipment.

[webcajun]

I'd like to see that, do you do videos?......... Donald

[gizmotwadlebutt]

I can make make one this spring when planting time comes.

[webcajun]

Sounds great looking forward to it.......... Donald

[TheDarkowen]

Nicely done Donald! Through the "magic" of video did you let those cut potatoes heal for a day or so? You may have skipped that altogether, just being glad to get it dry enough to plant them.

[webcajun]

I had to cut and plant the same day just like last year. You could tell it was still wet by the chunks the middle buster was pulling up. That's how it is at this time of the year, get in there when you can....... Donald

[jekyllisland7]

nicely done, Donald

[webcajun]

Thanks

[desertcajun10]

They are coming along nicely. They reached to top of the container about a week ago and appear to be doing well.

[webcajun]

I planted some in large flower pots. Guess they're about 3 inches tall right now......... Donald

[desertcajun10]

I planted blue potatoes and plain ol brown potatoes about a month ago. I had to plant them in containers in my garage. Not quite ready to plant outside here in Albuquerque. It's still snowing, but soon enough.

[bmck1234]

where is the golf cart?

[webcajun]

You can bet I used it, just didn't see me. LOL ......... Donald

[bmck1234]

man its been to long since your last video

[webcajun]

Each time it dries up a little we get a down pour. They're even calling for snow at the end of the week. Maybe a snow man video?........ Donald

[branjumba]

next weekend is the time im going to plant my special potatoes( red,"blue" and gold)

[webcajun]

Hope you make the best crop ever....... Donald

[powerspade]

A little too early for me to plant potatoes over here in the Uk. I should be planting my first earlies around the end of March, the rest I usually plant on Good Friday. Thnxs for your videos very interesting to see how you do things, Have a good harvest,

PS I love new potatoes with some Broad Beans (Fava Beans) with a slice of ham

[webcajun]

New potatoes are always good. We like the small ones in snap beans........ Donald

[moofph]

...bought some seeds today. just waiting for the rain to stop here in "sunny" california; then it's garden time.

thanks for the vids.

[webcajun]

I know the feeling. The top few inches of soil was somewhat dry but right under that it was wet. In fact you can see the chunks coming up when I was making the furrow............ Donald

[ExmoorMist]

Hey Donald good to see your on the right side of winter ! . my seed potato are in a coo; place waiting for mid march earliest.

its freezin here and some snow to come :P

the soil looks wonderful as usual,can i borrow ya traccy&rotavator? for a day?

all the best to you guys

rob

[webcajun]

Hey Rob... if you're getting snow then you probably live just a little too far away for a trip on the tractor. Then again, we have snow in the forecast for Friday.......... Donald

[SirChadwic]

I love potatoes anyway the come to me on a plate. God's Heaven has manna and His Earth has potatoes. Thanks Donald.

[webcajun]

Boiled with salt & pepper then butter on top. Not bad........... Donald

[MsDKGirl]

Going to try potatoes for the first time this season. Bought them yesterday from our local farmer's market. Just five pounds since my garden is only 25' x 12' and I have other veggies to plant. I'm going to try intensive gardening. Thank you Donald for all your help and inspiration. You are a GEM!!!

[webcajun]

Plant them deep, as they grow pull dirt up to em leaving only the top few inches sticking out and you'll do just fine........... Donald

[dogsouth]

My husband and I are going to do blue potatoes!

[webcajun]

There are several on the forum that plant the blue potatoes. They say they are good......... Donald

[EbolaV1rus]

Apple of the earth, I love potatoes! How many pounds of potatoes do you think you will get?

God Bless you and your family

[webcajun]

Well I only planted a short row this fall but should end up with about 80-100 lbs. if I can get them all out. Couldn't tell too much in the video but it was somewhat muddy......... Donald

[ruready2prty]

Great video!!!  I just got my Garden started with a row of beets, peas, and broccoli. I'm just west of Houston and as soon as I get my potatos in they are also going to get in the ground.

[webcajun]

Hope you're not getting all this rain. The garden looks like a mud hole today........ Donald

[ruready2prty]

I have a couple wet spots but all is well but tonight it's suppose to get to 32 degees, I think they will survive!!

Kenneth

[MakeupAddict4eva]

Great job Donald! I'm coming over to eat some of those potatoes! lol

[webcajun]

You're welcome anytime....... Donald

[crewlla]

awesome.

[webcajun]

Now if it would only stop raining....... Donald

[phoenixjazzmine]

Your videos are very interesting, informative and fun! Thank you for helping me with my own vegitable garden through your videos. I see that this time you planted potatoes, your dog didn't get a hold of any of them like in a previous potato planting video of yours. That was so funny when he was "stealing" some of your seed potatoes as you were planted them! I about died laughing! But this time around, your video ended with one of your dogs eating a dog chew. Did you keep your dogs inside?

[webcajun]

This time I kept an eye on that "knot head" Lucy. These are yard dogs and stay outside year round. Glad you enjoy the videos and thanks.......... Donald

[DirTyOhGee]

Thanks for the tips, we are getting ready to break ground on our new garden patch soon and potatoes are on the list! :)

[webcajun]

Fresh potatoes from the garden is so good. Best of luck ...........  Donald