GETTING READY TO PLANT POTATOES

Yesterday was spent getting the soil ready to plant seed potatoes. Last year we bought potatoes from the store, cut into pieces and planted . Very little production doing it this way. After researching, I have learned that potato growers treat their potatoes so that they don't produce many eyes and therefor you will not get a very good yield. This year we bought organic seed potatoes.

Potatoes love a lot of organic material. The top picture is that of decayed leaves from last year. One of the best leaves to add to your mulch pile is from the Sugar Maple as they are loaded with nutrients. On our farm they are bountiful, as they are the same trees we tap to make Maple syrup. The bottom picture is horse manure and vegetable trimmings from last year. With most manures you have to be careful, as fresh manure will burn your plantings. Both piles you see have been breaking down for about 10 months now and are ready to go. Just one other important consideration if you try to grow potatoes is that they need a ph of between 4.8 and 5.8. Will keep you posted as to how they are doing. Hope you enjoy.