Potato

If at first you don't succeed...

I utterly failed last year's crop of potatoes. All of them were destroyed by potatoes bugs, and water rot from planting them just before a week of heavy rains. But I don't let an utter failure slow me down so I am back at it again.

• I should have planted them 3in or more deep (not the 1in deep). 
• I should have used lots of mulch (4in  to 6in) on top of the soil, not just 2in of mulch. 
• There is no right position to plant them. Any side up.
• Using potato cuttings are easier then potato seeds
• If you are cutting the potatoes, remember to have at least 2 eyes on each cuttings.
• The ground needs to be loose and not compact. 
• You might need to till the soil.
• I needed to add amendments and compost to my clay soil (just leaves from last fall)
• Don't plant in the wet season. Dry soil is a good thing.
• Plant between May15th to Jun 15th 
• Havest depends on your potato type (could be any where from Aug 3rd to Sept 12th)
• 80 days maturity for fingerlings and new potatoes
• 120 days maturity for later maturing and storage varieties

Links:
GardenGirlTV: Planting Potatoes

GeorgiaOrganics: Growing Potatoes

Girls Guide To Butter: How to plant Potatos

Planting Garden Potato in Kenosha

ehow: potato ready plant

How Potatoes Grow

Winter Farmers Market

The official end of the Wisconsin winter might have been last weekend?


While we might still have some cold days here in Milwaukee, this year's "Milwaukee County Winter Farmers' Market" ended on Saturday April 14th 2012. This farmers market runs from Nov 5th - April 14th, every Saturday from 8am-Noon. It's indoors, which is great for snowy days. When I went on April 14th, there was green vegetables, root crops, honey, wine, meat, fish, mushrooms, local coffee, jarred pickles, and some cool dog treats. Out side there was a tent selling seedling plants; peppers, tomatoes (so many varieties...), lettuces, herb, etc..

So what did I buy. Rushing Waters Fisheries located in Kettle Moraine had a deal on two fresh trout, smoke salmon, and salmon burgers that I couldn't pass up. While talking to Springdale Farm I bought some potatoes. My wife loves the pickled mushrooms over at River Valley and I really like their mixed mushroom deal. We just last night ate the incredible tasting lamb chops from Pinn-Oak Ridge Farms, Watch Steph's Snack Shack for the a blog about dish. 


Still not impressed, well visit the links bellow and see what else they had there. Remember just 7 more months before it starts again... that reminds me, I better start working on my vegetable garden before it winters comes back! ;)




Resources:
Official Milwaukee County Winter Farmers' Market


List of Producers at the Winters Farmers Market

More pictures from my visit