On Sunday I was able to get my potatoes planted, and this year I'm experimenting with growing my potatoes in garbage cans.
On Sunday, 5/18 I planted two varieties - Rose Finn Apple, a fingerling I've grown for the past few years, and Carola, a white "keeper" that I'm trying for the first time this year. Both are from Seed Savers Exchange.
Here's what I did. I bought two 32-gallon garbage cans and drilled several 1/2" drainage holes in the bottom and up about 12" on the side. I lined the bottom and sides with leftover window screening left over from the past two years' ineffective attempt at rabbit fencing. I then layered about 8" of compost on the bottom, placed four evenly-spaced, sprouted potatoes in a circle, then topped off the whole thing with another 6" of compost. As the plants start to grow, I'll mound them up, either with compost or straw. I think I'll probably use straw for at least half of the container, as there is already about 50 pounds of compost in each can - filling them up with compost alone will make them immovable!
It's a fun experiment, and it gives me more room in the garden beds - and that's always in short supply!
Otherwise, the weather has been very cool all month. The spring flowers are blooming about 2 weeks late this year. I have tomatoes, peppers, ground cherries and basil growing under lights, but I don't think I'll even bother planting any of them out until May 31st or June 1st. This should be perfect weather for the cool season crops, though. The snap peas and greens are growing well - I can't wait for my first harvest.
On Sunday, 5/18 I planted two varieties - Rose Finn Apple, a fingerling I've grown for the past few years, and Carola, a white "keeper" that I'm trying for the first time this year. Both are from Seed Savers Exchange.
Here's what I did. I bought two 32-gallon garbage cans and drilled several 1/2" drainage holes in the bottom and up about 12" on the side. I lined the bottom and sides with leftover window screening left over from the past two years' ineffective attempt at rabbit fencing. I then layered about 8" of compost on the bottom, placed four evenly-spaced, sprouted potatoes in a circle, then topped off the whole thing with another 6" of compost. As the plants start to grow, I'll mound them up, either with compost or straw. I think I'll probably use straw for at least half of the container, as there is already about 50 pounds of compost in each can - filling them up with compost alone will make them immovable!
It's a fun experiment, and it gives me more room in the garden beds - and that's always in short supply!
Otherwise, the weather has been very cool all month. The spring flowers are blooming about 2 weeks late this year. I have tomatoes, peppers, ground cherries and basil growing under lights, but I don't think I'll even bother planting any of them out until May 31st or June 1st. This should be perfect weather for the cool season crops, though. The snap peas and greens are growing well - I can't wait for my first harvest.
I'm with you, I'm not planting my tomatoes - and certainly not the peppers, until I KNOW it's not gonna get down to 35-40 again like it did last night.
I'm thinking the first week of June. I am starting to harden off some tomatoes right now though. They go back in at night when it's below 50 though!
Your gardens look great BTW - I love all the raised patches.
Posted by: Lorika | May 27, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Lorika: My tomatoes are still sitting inside under lights. Given that it's supposed to continue in the 60s to low 70s all week, I should probably get them outside during the day, too - this is a spring when they really, really need hardening off. And I've got to get them in the ground this weekend, otherwise they'll be too spindly and leggy.
Posted by: Tracy | May 27, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Great idea about the garbage cans for potatoes. We have them in the beds this year and I'm kicking myself for not having enough space. Very novel indeed!
Posted by: Katie | May 29, 2008 at 08:09 PM