Hilling Potatoes

[Durgan]

All my potato information is consolidated in this post. The post will be added to until harvest. It has been cold and there was some frost last night,which is rare for this area at this time of year. I can find no frost damage in the garden.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QLCXO 25 May 2013 Hilling Potatoes
My three rows of potatoes were hilled. There are 16 Russian Blue, 19 Viking and 16 Yukon Gold.The space between the rows was rototilled with the small Honda FG110 to loosen the soil and to hill around the plants. The valley created was filled with compost and raked smooth.The new tubers have about six inches of soil in which to develop.Later after a heavy rain the area will be heavily mulched with wood chips.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FCTSE 12 May 2013 Yukon Gold Potatoes Growing
Yukon Gold potato row thriving.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?AIAPG 18 April 2013 Planting Yukon Gold Potatoes
Nineteen Yukon Gold tubers were planted at 14 inch centres in the row and the rows are 20 inches apart.Depth is about five inches in a trench, and the tubers are covered with about three inches of soil. Each tuber was marked with a wooden sick. No more fibre rods left. This facilitates digging, and established a focus point when watering using the Magic Water Wand. As the potatoes grow they will be hilled and mulch will be added. Expectation is six pounds per plant. These tubers were quality purchased seed potatoes.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZXSDU 12 May 2013 Viking Potatoes Growing
The row (17 Plants) of Viking potatoes is growing well.It has been cool with adequate rainfall.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OOVNX 18 April 2013 Planting Viking Potatos
Nineteen Viking tubers were planted at 14 inch centres in the row and the rows are 20 inches apart.Depth is about five inches in a trench, and the tubers are covered with about three inches of soil. Each tuber was marked with a fibre rod. This facilitates digging, and established a focus point when watering using the Magic Water Wand. As the potatoes grow they will be hilled and mulch will be added. Expectation is four to six pounds per plant. These tubers were excellent quality purchased seed.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?GNWBT 12 May 2013 Russian Blue Potatoes Growing
The row of Russian Blue potatoes are growing well in spite of the cool Spring. No bugs to date.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BRNRE 18 April 2013 Planting Black Russian Potato (aka as Russian Blue)
Nineteen Black Russian tubers were planted at 14 inch centres in the row and the rows are 20 inches apart.Depth is about five inches in a trench, and the tubers are covered with about three inches of soil. Each tuber was marked with a fibre rod. This facilitates digging, and established a focus point when watering using the Magic Water Wand.As the potatoes grow they will be hilled and mulch will be added. Expectation is three to four pounds per plant. These tubers were excellent quality saved from my last year’s crop.

[NathanP]

What is the reason you put the compost under the mulch? Is that something you do every year?

You look very organized. Way more organized that I tend to be.

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by NathanP

What is the reason you put the compost under the mulch? Is that something you do every year?

You look very organized. Way more organized that I tend to be.

Compost is just fertilizer. I have it available and it is a convenient method of hilling. If watering is required I slide the magic water wand along the stake for a few seconds and deliver water to the area needed by the plant. This is quick since there are only about 50 plants. The mulch reduces watering requirements considerably.

[Mark0820]

I like the use of the plastic buckets. I do the very same thing here.

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by Mark0820

I like the use of the plastic buckets. I do the very same thing here.

I buy the buckets for $2.00 with tops from a local factory. They are very handy in the garden for soil, seed, water and general utility. About thirty eight, 20 litre pails is a cubic yard.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BNMTU 29 May 2013 Mulching Potatoes with wood chips
A perfect rain last evening and the soil is damp down to below the seed potato, consequently a perfect time to mulch the area. A layer of wood chips was applied about three inches thick.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?JKIOA 29 May 2013. Overnight rain
My wheelbarrow is used as my rain gauge. This is considered a good rain fall.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TMVNT 11 June 2013. Potato Growth to Date.
Potatoes are thriving in spite of very cool weather since planting. No Colorado Potato Beetles have been seen. Touch Wood.