Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Potatoes Planted At Harvest


Our crop rotation scheme has peas planted where potatoes grew the previous year.  We always have volunteer potato plants growing among the peas.  Seeing a chance to try something different, four small potatoes were planted at harvest time.  These seeds went right back into the ground while the potatoes were being dug.

We usually plant potatoes mid May.  Early green shoots are easily covered with dirt when late frost threatens.  My harvest time planted potatoes did not emerge from the ground until mid June. They knew more about when the time was right to begin growth.  Four were planted and all four grew.

This harvest might not look like much, but considering that the early drought killed my spring planted potatoes before they produced much I am pleased with these edible tubers.  Harvest is late since squash overran the potatoes denying me access.  Frost took out the squash and I harvested potatoes.


Caribe is the name of this variety.  Snow white flesh lies beneath the purple skin.  Both the appearance and the taste make this a favorite here.  Our supplier depleted his supply before he shipped our order.  These twelve potatoes represent our entire crop this year.  A mosquito is shown in the picture.  Our first frost only served to heighten their purpose so bites are the order of the day.  Now we are really looking for a hard freeze so that no mosquitoes are part of our outside time.

3 comments:

Donna said...

Boy I am with you. The mosquitoes are worse than ever. I have gotten bit more recently then all summer. I am looking forward to a freeze to get rid of them too...my post about your wonderful irises is set for next Monday!! Can't wait to see them growing in the spring...

Ed said...

Our evening meal included these potatoes. We were somewhat concerned since a previous attempt to eat potatoes that had overwintered in the ground was unpleasant. We were pleased to find that these fall planted potatoes were delicious.

Erin said...

I love these purple potatoes.