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Old June 29, 2015   #1
AlittleSalt
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Default Fall Potatoes

I am curious to find info from Tomativillians who grow potatoes in Fall. I have never seen anyone where I live growing potatoes in Autumn. I did find a plant-out date for them though. In a different thread, a Tomatoville member posted a link to a very helpful site that shows plant-out dates for your zip code. http://allthingsplants.com/apps/calendar/?q=76050 Just put in your zip code instead of mine - 76050. My plant-out date for Fall potatoes is August 5 - September 4.

Yes, I remember the Tomatoville member's nickname who posted the link.

Anyway, I dug up potatoes less than a week ago. I grew two varieties, White Kennebec and Red LaSoda. The Red LaSoda grew through the flooding rains and hail storms just fine with a little help from hilling them after tornados and hail. They produced somewhat undersized potatoes, but they are a thin skinned red boiling potato that goes well in soups and stir-fries - so smaller size is a benefit.

The White Kennebec grow tiny potatoes. In less than a week after digging them up, they are putting on eyes - A LOT of eyes. Below is a picture of a few of them compared to golf balls.

I know I am not going to find seed potatoes here locally in August. As I wrote above, I've never seen anyone growing potatoes here in Autumn. Well, here I have a lot of small potatoes growing eyes - just wanting to be planted. To me, it seems logical to give them the chance to grow this Fall.

What do you think?

I'm also thinking of planting a 40' row of Red LaSoda as well.
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Last edited by AlittleSalt; June 29, 2015 at 10:17 AM.
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Old June 29, 2015   #2
Tracydr
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I've been wondering the same thing.
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Old June 29, 2015   #3
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They might need a dormancy period before they will sprout and grow. I dont know how long or if it can be induced by cold storage.
Thats all I got.
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Old June 29, 2015   #4
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You should try it Robert, sounds like they want to grow. I just read in my U. Of Ark. AG Ex. book that its ok to plant up to Aug. 1 for fall production and White Kennebec is recommended for my area too. I have never seen people grow fall potatoes where I live or fall tomatoes for that matter, but I would try experimenting.
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Old June 29, 2015   #5
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Last year we dug potatoes in early July and replanted in the same rows. Most of the fall crop did well. Wife just ordered seed potatoes yesterday, all red pontiac I think. If the eyes are growing they can't be dormant.
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Old July 8, 2015   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4season View Post
Last year we dug potatoes in early July and replanted in the same rows. Most of the fall crop did well. Wife just ordered seed potatoes yesterday, all red pontiac I think. If the eyes are growing they can't be dormant.
Please, where did she order from?
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Old July 8, 2015   #7
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We planted Yukon gold May 5 dug them up last week. The plants looked good but production was less than hoped, maybe not enough water. I cut the tops about 2 inches above the mulchbefore we dug them. Some of the seed potatoes were still firm so after a couple days I replanted them on July second. Here it is six days later and some are sprouting new leaves. These have a headstart on their roots so I think the second crop may be better.
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Old July 8, 2015   #8
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You typically need a 30 to 60 day dormancy if you are replanting recently harvested tubers.
You may be able to shorten that to 20-30 days by refrigerating the tubers. Once they break dormancy, it is typically 3 weeks before they will emerge, then you would need to calculate out your number of days until a frost. In an area with frosts late in the year, you could do this.
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Old July 8, 2015   #9
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Nathan, with my fall plant out date being between Aug 5 and Sept 4, The white Kennebec are growing eyes. The red Lasoda are not, so I'm thinking I need to put some Red LaSoda in the fridge for the rest of July. Does this sound about right?
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Old July 9, 2015   #10
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I can usually get a good crop of fall potatoes at the store.
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Old July 9, 2015   #11
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These green potatoes are the result of White Kennebec trying to grow through daily multi-inch rains in May. I'm thinking it won't hurt anything to put them in-ground in August. Otherwise, they are compost food at best.
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Old July 9, 2015   #12
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Potatoes ordered from Gurney, wife says red something, most likely red pontiac.
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Old July 9, 2015   #13
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You're going to love those reds. They are waxy and will hold up nice in a hash.
Try them in uncle Bill's potato and onions.
I tend to go a bit heavier on the dill and pepper.
http://www.food.com/recipe/uncle-bil...-onions-158832
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Old July 10, 2015   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4season View Post
Potatoes ordered from Gurney, wife says red something, most likely red pontiac.
Please post a pic of the seed potato when you get it.
I have received "old" seed this time of year which didnt do well "potato no top" was the result
If gurneys stored the seed properly you should be fine.

http://umaine.edu/publications/2412e/
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Old July 9, 2015   #15
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Quote:
Does this sound about right?
I would think that sounds fine. No sense waiting on the Kennebecs unless you want to do so. If they are sprouting, they could be planted anytime.
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