Return to the Vegetable Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
Posted by
creativeguy Zone 6 Connecticut (
My Page) on
Tue, Mar 19, 13 at 8:30
| I've got an area of poorly drained soil that i'm considering growing potatoes on. I'm thinking that if I dig a hole and fill it with good compost,plant the potatoes in it, and then hill up from the surface that i'll have success. The ground is always wet, but at the same time there's never standing water. Any thoughts about this idea? Will the hole I dig just act like a big bowl of water, regardless of the compost in it? We rent the property, so i'm not all that inclined to fix the drainage issue even though it would be self-serving. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
| If I were renting, I would check out the Smart Bags. They're supposed to be good for several growing seasons and I could take them with me when I moved. Don't believe I'd put potatoes in a constantly wet area. Can you ask the neighbors if there's ever been a garden there? I'm trying something new this year that might work for you.
Culverts are joined together by stout metal rings, Many people use them for fire rings. I'm hoping they'll make good raised gardens. They come in several sizes. Mine are 36" across and about 13" high...somewhere around $25, plus tax. I filled these with a good potting mix and top soil. |
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
| I agree, potatoes in wet ground not a great idea. I grow potatoes in containers....basic Rubbermaid 20 gal. Here's a link to inexpensive grow bags. I never ordered any, but was saving the link for when I need it. |
Here is a link that might be useful: grow bags
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
| I have poorly-drained ground and I use a raised bed to grow potatoes without digging holes for them, just piling the mulch on top. I also trench around the bed to divert the excess water. |
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
| I think if there is never standing water your idea may work well. Potatoes do appreciate constant moisture as long as not waterlogged. |
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
| You also might consider laying the potatoes on the soil surface, piling some compost over them, and adding more mulch as they grow. - N., the lazy gardener |
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
- Posted by uncle_t Z6 Ontario CAN (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 19, 13 at 21:07
| Till, plant tubers on surface, cover and "hill" with straw. The tubers will find the water on their own without sitting in it. You could also mix some compost and straw together and hill with that. |
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
- Posted by lonmower zone8 Western Oregon (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 19, 13 at 21:15
| plastic grow bags are your best choice |
Here is a link that might be useful: grow bags
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
| Why would buying some plastic be the best choice? Why not save the money and the environment? |
RE: Potatoes ON wet ground
| | |
| Agreed, I have grown potatoes in those heavy tarp bags and they work well. Just go into Walmart, head to the garden supplies, and you should find them. Big dark green square bags made out of what is essentially roofing tarp material with pre-punched drainage holes in the bottom and a velcro flap on the side. I ran three of them last year as an experiment, and they all worked like a charm. Was very easy to get the potatoes out of them, and you could even open the flap to grab some fingerling potatoes during the growing season without disturbing the rest of the plant. Why would buying some plastic be the best choice? Because these things are heavy duty and will last you for years. A canvas bag I'm fairly sure would rot away after one season, if it didn't rot away before that. |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in.
If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Vegetable Gardening Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
