I grew taters! Like, really really yummy ones! I’m a tater-maker, woo hoo!!!
You may remember all the way back in April, I posted an article outlining how to grow potatoes in tire towers. I started my own tater seeds that month, and would periodically update every few months. Everything seemed to be going swimmingly, but there’s really no way to tell what’s going on under all that dirt.
Recently, I decided it was time to harvest. To be honest, I think I jumped the gun a bit. I was supposed to stop watering and let the greenery die back slowly, which would give the little spuds time to mature into big spuds. But I was also supposed to harvest before the first rain, or risk squishy spuds rotting in the mud.
Well, a few weeks ago we got a ton of rain here. I spooked, I guess, and decided to dismantle the towers before the greenery had died back. Maybe it wasn’t the best decision, but it was the one I felt I had to make. So I began digging. And sifting. And removing. And digging. And two full tires down I was really starting to worry, until . . .
Eureka! I think I actually squealed.
All in all it took me over an hour to break down the stacks. In total, I only found one potato higher than the third tire. Almost all of them were clustered in the second tire (the tire the seeds had been planted in), which I didn’t expect. As well, many of them were teeny tiny. So perhaps they’d needed to mature after all.
In the end, my haul was pretty puny. Not that I’m complaining, and it actually seems on par with what other bloggers have gotten out of this project. I wonder what we’re all doing wrong?
I’m still debating about whether or not I’ll do this again. If I do, I’ll definitely keep my stacks lower – maybe seed in tire #1 and then only stack three high. That way, energy can go to growing existing taters, instead of growing more green foliage.
The crotchety Russets. They’re so mutant!
My pile of Yukon Gold nuggets. This was the largest yield for sure.
And finally the Reds, with quite a size range!
Am I disappointed with my harvest? Hells No!! I’m so proud of what I grew, and thrilled it worked at all. For a first time spud farmer, I’ve got no complaints.
Of course, the fact that they’re maybe the richest, tastiest taters I’ve ever eaten, certainly helps!
First meal: crushed Yukons with herbed gravy. The Yukons taste like butter.
In that oh-so-flattering fluorescent lighting inside the convention center. This past Saturday, September 19, I had the pleasure of attending my first ever NW VegFest. Yay! VegFest is an annual celebration of all things veg*n, with sponsors, speakers, cooking demos, tutorials, information, and LOTS of food. Free food. And this party just keeps on growing. [...]
Light painting and champagne on the Oregon coast, summer 2009. AND HELLO AUTUMN!!! Yes, today is the autumnal equinox, the very first day of fall! Depending on your exact location, today and tonight will be roughly the same length. And can you feel that *crisp* creeping into the air??? I know I’m in the freaky [...]
Last week I wrote an article that explained my love affair with hair dye. We covered natural dyes, box dyes, salon jobs, and vegan hair dye. Finally, I wrote a bit about my current colorant of choice: Manic Panic. I use Manic Panic because its a ‘non-toxic, non-noxious, vegan vegetable-based semi-permanent product’ . . . but [...]
Oi there! It’s the weekend!!! Put the work away, ’cause it’s time to play! And it’s also time for comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions. So, what’s on your weekend agenda? What’s exciting and inspiring you lately? What’s been knockin’ around inside YOUR noggin?! I want to hear from you! Me? I’m just terribly excited [...]
