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| I just received my shipment of fingerling potatoes - first time planting potatoes.
I want to get a head start on them and was wondering - the growing tips sheet states that the soil temp should be above 15C(59F). Took soil temp and it is around 10C. Was wondering if I covered the soil with black plastic until it was the right temp, plant the potatoes and cover up again with black plastic (making sure the soil stays moist)until it stayed warmer at night. The daytime temp is not bad but it is at night. It must sound like a stupid question but your thoughts would be appreciated. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by myfamilysfarm (My Page) on Wed, Mar 24, 10 at 17:32
| I'm not sure for your area, but I'll try to plant some regular red potatoes either next week or the week after. I'm in Zone 5. |
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- Posted by eric_wa San Juan, z8 WA (ejellison@rockisland.com) on Wed, Mar 24, 10 at 20:30
| herbgardener, I plant my first planting on St. Patrick's day every year. Yukon Golds. Today I purchased Rose Finn fingerlings and Red LaSoda. These two are new for me. I maybe in trouble with the LaSoda. Looks like it was breed for the south. Black plastic should speed up the soil warming and keep the weeds down too. You could also do potato "chitting" while you wait for the soil to warm. See link below Eric |
Here is a link that might be useful: Chitting Potatoes
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- Posted by herbgardener (My Page) on Wed, Mar 24, 10 at 21:04
| Thanks for your speedy replies. I weeded the bed this afternoon - it is about 14C57F, put the black plastic down. I think I will plant next week - supposed to rain for the next three day. Also think I will keep the plastic down, one to keep the heat in but also to keep too much water out of the ground if it continues to rain. Thanks again |
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- Posted by eric_wa San Juan, z8 WA (ejellison@rockisland.com) on Wed, Mar 24, 10 at 21:24
| herb, About the water. If its a raised bed your theory maybe true, but if its even with the surroundings, you are dealing with water table. Raised beds dry out and warm up faster in the spring. You have probably already learned this, but potatoes produce above the seed potato. Hilling up two or three times while growing will give you a better harvest. Yukon Gold July 2007 Good luck Eric |
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- Posted by myfamilysfarm (My Page) on Thu, Mar 25, 10 at 10:31
| The LaSoda's work well for me, and taste absolutely delicious. They're the only red for me. |
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- Posted by eric_wa San Juan, z8 WA (ejellison@rockisland.com) on Thu, Mar 25, 10 at 11:55
| Good to hear. |
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- Posted by myfamilysfarm (My Page) on Thu, Mar 25, 10 at 12:34
| I first found them grown in AZ, very tasty and I couldn't keep them in stock. People were asking for them once they tasted them. Now I can get them easily locally. The skin is alittle darker than Potamac, which was the standard of red potatoes around here. I dig my potatoes as earlies. I don't know how they would hold up as keepers. |
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- Posted by eric_wa San Juan, z8 WA (ejellison@rockisland.com) on Thu, Mar 25, 10 at 13:11
| Red Pontiac are popular here. Eric |
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- Posted by myfamilysfarm (My Page) on Thu, Mar 25, 10 at 15:22
| In that case, the people will love the LaSoda's, sorry I misspelled Pontiac. |
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