I decided to dig up my potatoes this morning. I only had five plants break ground this year - all Yukon Gold. Most of my mail order certified seed potatoes started oozing liquid from their skins and rotted before they even made it into the garden (a result of some disease or invisible pest I suspect). Not a single purple potato from the 3 pounds I purchased. I'm inclined to request a refund from the mail order company but part of me doesn't think it's worth the aggravation. I don't think I'll buy seed potatoes online anymore as I'm sure the ones at our local feed store are just as good (and cheaper)
I pulled a few of our German Extra Hardy garlic and the results were rather inconsistent. I had two monster ones and another two that were rather disappointing. I think I'll wait another week before pulling the rest as the leaves still very green. Seed Saves Exchange recommends pulling garlic when you have five green leaves remaining on each plant.
I need to go pull my potatoes, and I'm scared this year!
ReplyDeleteHello, I just found your site and its just lovely :)
ReplyDeleteOn the topic of seed potatoes most of our local stores here ended up getting early blight which they didn't realize until a quite few shipments had gone out... :0
I always purchase my seed potatoes on-line and have never had a problem with them. I really think that you should request a refund.
ReplyDeleteMy garlic was not nearly as big this year as it has been in the past. If you think that the heads may still grow a bit, I would leave them in too.
I get my seed potatoes locally. The only issue is when they get them in. Usually it is very late in April and I'd rather have planted them in mid April.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your mail order got frosted. Suppliers usually check the forcast and suspend deliveries when there is a risk of frost. Complain.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first year I have seen gaps in the rows of potatoes in my plot. I'm convinced this was down to drought conditions early in spring - and a bit of complacency on my part.
My garlic did great this year! I ws so happy cause it was very late going out due to personal crisis going on in the fall...ground was almost frozen when I planted it :( My potatoes were late going in due to extremely wet late spring so I haven't harvested them yet...soon though and I'm keeping my fingers crossed .
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your potato starts...that is a bummer. I'd probably want a refund as well...but you're right, sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth. :/
ReplyDeleteI have yet to grow potatoes. Do you do the tire stack method? Or just straight in the ground?
Your spuds look great. My garlic was lots of different sizes too. I was reading on the Mary Jane's Farm web site that she plants her gralic early in the Fall, so that it gets some growing in before the freeze. She is a garlic farmer, so I guess she should know. I'm going to give it a try this comming Fall.
ReplyDeleteAll the seed potatoes I got from Walmart got early blight but produced a handful of potatoes so for a beginner, as you know, I am quite happy. My 'big success' for the year.
ReplyDeleteI planted a few store cloves and got a couple garlic, both different sizes. Mine browned last month so I pulled them and they are drying in the kitchen. I did not know that about green leaves. Need to remember it.
I was thinking of trying online for seed potatoes, but maybe I'll try Agri Supply next year instead.
Good luck with the rest of your garlic!