Thursday, July 26, 2012

I Got Potatoes!

I was not expecting much from my potatoes this year. It's only the second year I've ever grown them and the plants looked pretty bad all summer. Last year's potato plants were large and healthy and blossomed profusely, while this year's had hardly a blossom and succumbed to disease early on.
 Since the plants were dead I decided to dig the spuds and see what the results were. Awesome! I dug 19 and a quarter pounds of potatoes compared to last year's 16 and a quarter. Better still, last year quite a few of my potatoes had scab and NONE of this year's did. I found a few that were vole-eaten, so the final weigh in would have been even better.
Here they are drying out in my cellar. I grew Red Norland and Yukon Gold. My grandfather used to grow hundreds of pounds of potatoes for family use and to feed his chickens. I remember him boiling up a large 5 gallon can full of potatoes every day that he gave the chickens after they'd cooled. That's a lot of potatoes! I know I'll never grow that many, but maybe I'll try to do a few more next year.
Anyway, this was a nice and unexpected surprise. I had a few for supper the other night and they tasted wonderful.

17 comments:

  1. YAY! Another successful "potato farmer"! Those are my two favorite varieties, and probably the only two I'll grow next year.

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    1. They are the most cost effective around here because you can get the seed potato at the local Agway.

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    2. I get mine locally, too. They're under $1 per pound, with no shipping charges! Our feed store always has several varieties, but those two continue to be my favorites. I also like Kennebec, but they weren't available this year.

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  2. Congrats on your potatoes! They look great. It is always a waiting game to see what you are going to get with them isn't it? Great blog!

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    1. Thank you so much! I always appreciate the visits and the comments; gardeners are so supportive of one another.

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  3. Wow, that is a great harvest for potatoes!

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    1. Thank you Becky! It got even better because when I went to replant the beds I found a few potatoes I'd missed, another pound and three quarters!

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  4. Potatoes look great! I love when they're fresh out of the ground cooked with a bit of butter and dill - my favorite dish. And I keep smaller ones through winter to be planted in early spring as seeds.

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    1. I'll have to try that with the small ones and see what results. I've never had dill on potatoes; sounds really tasty!

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  5. Wonderful potato harvest! Can't wait to dig up mine to see if I have any. Bet your doing the happy dance! Nancy

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    1. You bet I am Nancy! I really wasn't expecting to get many at all, let alone get more than last year! Hope yours are doing well too!

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  6. It must have been a nice surprise since you thought they didn't do well. Congratulations! They look lovely!

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    1. Thanks! It really was a pleasant surprise and we will certainly enjoy them.

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  7. oh yummy potatoes, great haul and they all look really good!

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    1. Plus it is so great to know they are organic, chemical free! Thank you for the comment!

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  8. Impressive haul, wow!

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