The spin digger or spinner was the first mechanised attempt at removing potatoes from the soil in which they grew to make gathering the potatoes easier. Prior to the invention of the spin digger, someone had to manually dig the soil and potatoes with a spade or a fork and spread the crop on the …
Harvesting Potatoes Using A Spin Digger: history and operation Read More »
The thought of storing potatoes long-term outside seems strange, but this is precisely how most people kept them for centuries in their fields and gardens. The mound they created was known as a “Potato Pit”. The funny thing about potato pits is that they are excellent at storing potatoes for a long time if made …
Storing Potatoes Outside: how to make a potato pit Read More »
The Superfaun potato harvester was first produced by Underhaug (correctly referred to as Underhaugs Fabrikk from Naerbo in Norway) and given the model name UN1700. Underhaug was bought by Kverneland ( another Norwegian company) in 1986, the most noticeable change was the machine was finished with Kverneland red paint instead of Underhaug orange paint – …
Underhaug Superfaun UN1700 Potato Harvester: history and operation Read More »
If you are growing potatoes in your home garden for the first time, you may be wondering if fertilizing your potatoes is a good idea. Like all living plants, potato plants need adequate nutrients to grow and produce large, tasty tubers. Namely, potatoes need nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the three nutrients denoted in the NPK …
Many people are surprised to learn that potato skins (aka peels) are packed with vitamins and nutrients and can also be a good source of fiber. Many regularly cook young, new potatoes peel-and-all and enjoy the health benefits the peel brings. Mature potatoes develop a tough skin that is typically removed before cooking — with …
Potatoes are a common staple in the American diet and are often grown in the home garden. These starchy tubers are used for fries, mashed potatoes, and in casseroles, soups, and stews. It may surprise you to learn that even though potatoes are vegetables, the potato tubers aren’t really the fruit of a potato plant. …
Potatoes need adequate nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to grow. Each nutrient plays a role in plant growth and the quality of your potato tubers. For example, phosphorus is vital for developing a strong root system and for promoting good tuber development. What is phosphorous fertilizer? Fertilizer contains the vital nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus(P), and potassium …
What Role Does Phosphorous Play In Potato Production? Read More »
Nitrogen is essential to plant growth as it helps to form the building blocks of proteins and other vital plant enzymes. It is also part of the chlorophyll molecule necessary for your potato plant to perform photosynthesis and produce energy for the plant. The excess energy made by your potato plant is stored in the …
What Role Does Nitrogen Play In Potato Production? Read More »
Fertilizing your potatoes during the growing season keeps them healthy and promotes a good yield. Many chose to apply granular fertilizer to the soil before planting them and side-dress the potatoes two weeks after planting them and then once a month up until two weeks before harvesting. But you don’t need to fuss with granular …
Liquid Fertilizer For Potatoes: pros, cons, and how to choose Read More »
You may have read about growing potatoes in compost and wondered if it was really a good idea. Technically, potatoes can be grown in compost alone, but it isn’t always the best choice. Amending your soil with compost or making a potting mix with compost and soilless mix for containers may be a better choice. …
Can I Grow Potatoes In Straight Compost: + how to increase its P and K Read More »
Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that is used as a fruit. The stems, or stalks, are used to make pies, sauces, jams, and other sweet desserts. When eaten fresh, the stalks are sour, but when cooked with other fruits, like strawberries, rhubarb lends a delightful tartness. You have probably been taught that rhubarb leaves are …
Many home gardeners enjoy growing potatoes and storing them for winter use. Potatoes are both nutritional and versatile, providing the makings for many recipes. To enjoy the fruits of your labor all year long, you will need to make sure your potatoes have a good skin set and have been appropriately cured before winter storage. …
Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum) produce leafy tops that grow to 40 inches tall, explains the International Potato Center. The tops perform photosynthesis and manufacture energy that is stored as starch in the underground tubers. Without the tops, your potato plants cannot perform photosynthesis, and tubers will not grow. However, there are times when the tops may …
Potatoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from tiny fingerlings to massive baking potatoes. The size of the mature potato tubers depends primarily on the type of potato you are growing, but other factors also affect their size. While many gardeners face the challenge of potato tubers that grow smaller than expected, sometimes …
The Colorado Potato Beetle, also known as a potato bug, is a common insect pest found primarily on potatoes in North America. This destructive insect devours the foliage (and blossoms) on potato plants and can strip them bare in a few days if action isn’t taken. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep potato bugs …
Identifying And Removing Colorado Potato Beetle From Potato Plants Read More »
Growing potatoes in the home garden is a great way to provide your family with healthy and nutritious potatoes all year, but it does come with its challenges. Potatoes should not be planted in the same spot yearly and must be rotated with other crops. Find out how to rotate your potatoes and what to …
Can I Grow Potatoes In The Same Plot Every Year? the importance of crop rotation Read More »
Growing your potatoes in the home garden and storing them for winter is a great way to provide your family with healthy and nutritious food all year. Following the best practices for harvesting, curing, and storing potatoes is essential to your success. Find out what curing means and how it affects the storage life of …
How To Cure Potatoes After Harvest: a step-by-step guide Read More »
Potatoes are easy-to-grow vegetables that will grow in nearly any soil. However, they do best in sandy loam with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Providing potatoes with good soil, adequate nutrients, and plenty of water will increase your potato yield and help prevent diseases. What soil type is best for growing potatoes? Potatoes will …
The Best Soil For Potatoes: what it is and how to get it Read More »
Growing your own potatoes in the home garden and storing them for winter use is a great way to provide your family with healthy, nutritious food. Knowing when to harvest them and get them ready for storage is important too. Find out what the experts have to say about harvesting, washing, and storing potatoes for …
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are an annual vegetable in the Solanaceae or nightshade family. While the tubers are a healthy and nutritious addition to the diet, not all parts of the potato plant are edible. Like other plants in the nightshade family, some parts of the potato plant are poisonous. What are nightshade vegetables? Nightshades are …
I assume by the search for the title of this article that you have found a plant growing somewhere that you have not intentionally planted. I will show you a list of images of potato plants at various stages of their lifecycle to hopefully help you identify the plant as a potato plant or not. …
What Does A Potato Plant Look Like: images and descriptions Read More »
How many times have you forgotten about that bag of potatoes in your pantry only to find them covered in strange, bumpy growth? These growths are buds or sprouts which grow from the potato eyes, and they look rather unappetizing. Some people toss the entire potato thinking it’s no good, while others cut the small buds off before …
Onions are often billed as easy-to-grow vegetables because they grow in nearly any well-drained soil and have few issues with garden pests. In addition, they can be tucked into unused sections of the garden, too. However, to grow large, flavorful bulbs, you must provide your onions with water and nutrients. Find out how and when to …
Tending to a garden is not only relaxing, but it can also provide food for you and your family. Having the right tools to aid in your gardening experience helps maximize your efficiency and even increase your yield. Soil tillers are one such garden tool that can not only save you time, but can also …
Best Tiller For Large Gardens: how to choose + examples Read More »
Growing potatoes in your backyard or garden isn’t difficult. With proper care, you can expect to harvest two to five pounds of potatoes from each plant, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Sometimes, problems arise, like the tops of the potato plants falling over. This can happen for several reasons. Find out why your …
10 Reasons Why Your Potato Plants Have Fallen Over Read More »
After months of careful planning and preparing seed, soil, and nutrients to plant your potato crop, the last thing you want to see are the leaves on the plants looking curled up, stunted, and knarly. There are many things that can cause your potato plants to have curled leaves. In this article, I will discuss …
Potato Leaves Curling: virus, herbicide, or drought? Read More »
Asparagus has gained popularity in the home garden due to its many health benefits, including its ability to lower blood pressure, fight inflammation, and improve digestive health. This easy-to-grow vegetable is a perennial that returns every year. Although it takes a year or two to become established, it keeps producing for years. Knowing how and …
Which Fertilizer Is The Best For Growing Asparagus: reasons why + examples Read More »
Do you have an area in your garden or field in which plants never seem to grow well or thrive? Well, it could be any number of things, such as poor drainage or poor soil fertility, but if the soil is pretty good but has a lot of traffic on it – it might be …
What Is A Hardpan In Soil: identification and removal Read More »
If you have noticed chew marks on the leaves of your potatoes in the morning but can’t identify the culprit, you may have a problem with slugs or snails. These garden pests come out under the cover of darkness and slip out of sight when morning arrives. Look for glistening trails on the foliage as …
Slugs And Snails Eating Potato Plants: identification and removal Read More »
Potatoes are a popular vegetable in the home garden as many people routinely eat potatoes with meat and poultry dishes. According to Statista, the average American consumed 29.3 pounds of fresh potatoes in 2021. While many were purchased, many were also grown in the home garden. Growing potatoes involves planting either whole or cut sections …
Aphids are a common insect pest found in both flower and vegetable gardens. Nearly every yard or garden has aphids, which typically isn’t a problem. However, a severe aphid infestation can wreak havoc with your vegetables and flowers. Knowing how to identify and control them is essential to your gardening success. What are aphids? Aphids …
Many gardeners choose to start their vegetable and flower gardens with seedlings to get a head start on the growing season. Transplanting seedlings to the garden after the danger of frost has passed in your area helps plants produce earlier and often creates bigger healthier plants. But they will suffer some stress from transplanting. You …
The question of whether an onion is a fruit or a vegetable is an interesting one. But it isn’t difficult to answer. Onions fit both the scientific definition and the commonly used definition of a vegetable. They can be served and eaten in a wide variety of ways. While some prefer a thick slice to …
Asparagus is a healthy and nutritious addition to your diet. It is low in calories, with only 20 calories in a ½ cup serving, provides a good source of fiber, is high in antioxidants, and is a good source of vitamins A, C, and K. This perennial vegetable does take a few years to become …
Growing potatoes at home will provide you with the basis for many meals, from fluffy mashed potatoes to delicious home fries. These easy-to-grow vegetables do require plenty of room to grow. But when planted correctly, they will produce an abundance of large, fresh potatoes for your family. Is it important to plant potatoes at a …
Nutrients and minerals in the soil need to be dissolved before plants can absorb and use them. The soil pH affects how easily the nutrients dissolve in the soil where they then become available for your plants. Most minerals and nutrients are readily available to your plants when the soil pH is between 6.0 and …
Soil compaction arises when soil particles are pressed together, eliminating or severely limiting the air pores in the soil. Under ideal conditions, soil particles are separated by air pockets (pores) that allow water to penetrate the soil and allow roots to expand and grow. When the soil is compacted, the air pores disappear, limiting the …
A rototiller is used to loosen the soil to prepare it for gardening. A rototiller uses metal blades, called tines, to dig into the soil and break it up. Rototillers are free-standing machines and can be either gas or electric powered. Rototillers can be either rear, mid or front tined. What is a rototiller? A …
If you own a property, you probably have one or more areas that seem to stay soggy or damp. While this may seem like nothing more than an annoyance, it can quickly become a serious problem. Overly saturated soil could spell disaster for your home’s foundation, basement, and garden. The good news is, however, that you …
All plants need moisture to grow, but too much water can do more harm than good. If your plant’s soil remains wet and soggy for an extended period, the plant will suffer and eventually die. Drying out the soil quickly isn’t always easy, but there are several techniques you can use to dry your plant’s …
Potatoes are a popular vegetable in home gardens. They are relatively easy to grow and produce well in average soil. How many potatoes each plant produces depends on how well their growing needs are met, the type of potato you are growing, and the weather conditions in your area. Typically, one potato plant produces 8 …
Many readers have told me of their concerns about growing potatoes in their clay soil. We all know the ideal soil to grow potatoes in is a free draining loam, high in organic matter with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0 – but not everyone has this perfect soil for growing potatoes in. To get …
Many articles revolve around getting our potatoes to grow to the best of our ability, but once we have got our crop to grow well and have harvested them, if we don’t provide them with the correct environment during storage they will quickly go bad. I will provide a checklist of points along with a …
Powered garden tillers and cultivators are great, they save you a lot of effort and produce evenly tilled soil in less than half the time you would with a spade or a fork. They are hazardous machines and should be handled with care. To lessen the risk to the operator they should wear suitable PPE …
Essential Protective Wear When Operating A Garden Tiller/Rotavator: PPE checklist Read More »
Hello everyone, today I’m going to talk about the sort of checks you should do before you begin to use your garden tiller. Buying a garden tiller/ rotovator is an exciting purchase, especially after you have realised the effort which goes into preparing your soil for planting. Preparing soil manually with a spade or fork …
Important Checks Before Starting A Garden Tiller/Rotavator: Be safe, not sorry Read More »
It’s the time of year again when we begin to think about next years potato crop. We may have already decided where we will grow them, what variety we will plant, and how much potato fertilizer we will apply. One aspect which can make a massive difference to the speed our crop establishes and the …
How Deep Should I Plant My Potatoes: why seed depth is important Read More »
If you have ever planted potatoes and watched with joy as the tops appear through the soil, it can be quite disheartening to see those potato tops continue to grow and grow and then finally fall over onto the ground before they have had a chance to fully ripen. Let’s look at why this happens …
Swedes were first discovered growing in Sweden when a botanist called Gaspard Bauhin found them growing wild in 1620. They are also referred to as Rutabaga in US and Turnip in the UK, although they are much larger in size, take longer to grow, and have more yellow coloured flesh than turnips. Are swedes grown …
Which Is The Best Swede Variety To Grow? top 5 varieties characteristics Read More »
Potato harvesters are a great way to save manual labour during potato harvest. Before the invention of the potato harvester, most people dug their potatoes from the ground using a fork or a spade. Then they lifted the potatoes from the ground and placed them into a basket before tipping them into a hessian cloth …
Onions are usually planted in spring as bulbs. They are usually ready to harvest in late summer / autumn. You can either harvest your onions when they reach your desired size or you can let them grow until the plant stops growing. Some years your onions will grow very well and they may end up …
Maris Piper is a versatile potato variety that is excellent for making chips and roast potatoes. They are the most widely grown potato variety in the UK – accounting for 16% of the total area grown in 2014. They are a golden-skinned, cream fleshed maincrop potato which has an excellent taste and is capable of …
Potato Variety Maris Piper: origin and characteristics Read More »
A year ago I was looking to buy a tiller to help me cultivate a small garden to grow early potatoes in. I have worked with many garden tillers or rotavators as they call them here in the UK over the years so I knew what I was looking for from the start. To cut …
Honda F501 Tiller: overview and opinion 1 year later Read More »
There are many different types of worms in the world, but for the most part, when talking about the worms we find in the soil in our garden, allotment and fields are earthworms. Earthworms eat organic matter like leaves, grass, fruit and vegetables and microbes dead or alive. Organic material just means that at one …
What Do Worms Eat? an earthworm’s favourite foods! Read More »
Carrots like all vegetables need a basic amount of nutrients to grow well. The majority of soils in home gardens, allotments, and in fields will require some if not all nutrients topping up. Usually, these nutrients are added to the soil by buying a bag of chemical fertilizer at whatever ratio and adding it to …
Rooster is the most popular potato in Ireland – In 2004 It accounted for 40% of the total potato crop grown. They are a dull red-skinned, yellow-fleshed maincrop potato that has an excellent taste and high yields. They are highly versatile- they can be boiled with skins on, mashed, chipped, roasted, steamed and baked with …
Potato Variety Rooster: origin and characteristics Read More »
Russet Norkotah is the second most popular potato in the US. They are a russeted, brown-skinned early to medium maincrop potato. They are very attractive potatoes with excellent processing abilities. They can be boiled and mashed but their main market is for baked potatoes or processing for French fries. Origin The Russet Norkotah were bred …
Potato Variety Russet Norkotah: origin and characteristics Read More »
Desiree is a red-skinned early maincrop potato. They are slightly waxy potatoes with a distinctive taste. They can be boiled, roasted, chipped and used cold in salads, they are versatile potatoes and are suitable for pre-packing and general ware. Origin Desiree was bred in the Netherlands in 1962. Yield and dry matter Expect high yields …
Potato Variety Desiree: origin and characteristics Read More »
Kerr’s Pink are the second most popular potato in Ireland. They are mainly cooked as boiled potatoes but are good for roasting and chipping also. They are suitable for pre-packing and general ware. Origin Although thought to be an Irish bred potato when it was introduced in 1917- it was actually J. Henry of Cornhill …
Potato Variety Kerr’s Pinks: origin and characteristics Read More »
Russet Burbank potatoes are one of the most popular potato varieties in the United States. They were bred by the US plant breeder Luther Burbank (Massachusetts) in 1902 in a bid to improve the disease resistance of Irish potato varieties being used at that time. Beginnings Russet Burbank potatoes were not an immediate success when …
Potato Variety Russet Burbank: origin and characteristics Read More »
Roast potatoes can go well with several dishes, ranging from barbecued chicken to pot roast, among others. While seasoning makes a tremendous difference, you should also consider the type of potato you’re using. This is especially the case since they don’t all roast the same. So, which potato types are the best for roasting? What …
Which Are The Best Potatoes For Roasting?- Top UK and US varieties revealed Read More »
Many gardeners associate mushroom growth with dead and decaying organic matter and may even try to eradicate them from the garden thinking they are bad for the soil. But this notion isn’t based on science. While it is true mushrooms do sprout in areas rich with dead organic matter, they aren’t doing damage to your …
Are Mushrooms Producers Or Decomposers: and what’s the difference? Read More »
Blight is a common fungal disease that affects potatoes. It can destroy the entire crop in less than a week if left unattended. Unfortunately, there is little you can do to save your potatoes once they have been infected with blight. This makes prevention key to raising healthy potatoes. While the best prevention for potato blight …
Copper Sulphate As A Potato Blight Spray: what is it and is it good? Read More »
Blight is a fungal disease that can affect tomatoes, potatoes and other members of the nightshade family. Early Blight is caused by the Alternaria solani fungus while late blight is caused by the Phytophthora infestans (p. infestans) fungus. Late Blight was responsible for the Irish Potato Famine between 1845 and 1849, destroying nearly 80 percent of Ireland’s potato crop. This …
Blight Resistant Potato Varieties: background and examples Read More »
Potatoes are an easy-to-grow vegetable that can be planted in the early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. They typically produce well and provide you with an abundance of tubers. While they are generally disease-free (as long as you buy certified seed potatoes) they are not immune to all diseases. Tobacco Rattle …
There is a lot of confusion in mainstream circles over the difference between swedes and turnips. Swedes and turnips are just different species in the brassica family. So naturally, they have similar growth patterns and shapes that make these two root crops easily confused. The most relevant differences to gardeners between swedes and turnips is …
What Are The Differences Between Turnips and Swedes Read More »
Eelworm is a parasitic nematode that lives in the soil and feeds on plant roots. Its host plants are nightshades and they particularly like potatoes and tomatoes. If you’re growing potatoes, it is extremely important to educate yourself on eelworms. If you like to grow a lot of potatoes and tomatoes, you’ll definitely want to …
Eelworm In Potatoes: what is it and how do I remove or prevent it? Read More »
There is nothing quite like the creamy texture of a homegrown potato. The difference in taste between homegrown and store-bought is so dramatic, that I try and grow most of my potatoes. What month I plant potatoes in is key to how many potatoes I can harvest. Since potatoes store easily for the rest of …
What Month Do You Plant Potatoes?: explaining when and why Read More »
Potatoes are one of my favorite crops to grow in the garden. They grow easily, give bountiful harvests, come in fascinating varieties, and are much more delicious than store-bought potatoes. Let me share with you some secrets to growing potatoes, so you can enjoy homegrown potatoes as much as I do. This classic garden crop …
Potatoes grow under the soil – this means it’s not convenient to look at them to see when they’re ready to harvest until you actually harvest them. This is not an issue if you have a full garden or field of them. But it can be an issue if you have only one or two …
What Do Potato Plants Look Like When Ready For Harvest? Read More »
If you love tasty new potatoes as much as I do you’d probably do nearly anything to improve their taste and yield. That’s why you owe it to yourself to try using seaweed fertilizer to grow bigger and tastier potatoes this year. Is seaweed fertilizer good for growing potatoes? Yes, seaweed fertilizer provides potatoes with …
How To Make Your Own Seaweed Fertilizer For Growing Potatoes Read More »
So you live in an apartment and you want to know the best way to store your potatoes. Let’s take a look at the options. What are the ideal conditions to store potatoes? Let’s set out the rules for good potato storage: The temperature at 8 degrees Centigrade – 46 Fahrenheit. Much warmer will promote …
How To Store Potatoes In An Apartment: keeping them fresh Read More »
Do you know what size potatoes are when the plant begins to flower? Many people believe that when a potato plant begins to flower the potatoes are ready to dig up. I have dug a test hole in some potatoes I have which have just started to flower to show you their size. What size …
What Size Are Potatoes When The Plant Begins To Flower Read More »
Gardening can be a challenge, but sterilizing soil has been offered up as a solution for various challenges. By learning how to sterilize soil, you can kill weed roots, get rid of fungi and pests, and more. There are pros and cons to sterilizing soil, so it’s important to know when and how to take …
Dandelions are perennial weeds that die off in the winter and return bigger and stronger than ever in the spring. The cheery yellow flowers quickly go to seed and form a puffball of seeds that are then carried to new locations in the wind. To get rid of dandelions you need to kill the entire plant …
If you have ever grown tomatoes only to discover they are suddenly afflicted with blossom end rot just as the fruit ripens, you already know how important calcium in the soil is to plant growth. What you might not know is that putting sea shells in garden soil will provide your plants with a ready …
Vegetable gardening can be a fun rewarding hobby, but there can also be many frustrations. While cultivating our desired plants, we are also creating an environment for pests and weeds. Weeds can be eliminated once they grow or prevented from taking root in the first place by creating an environment that is hostile to them. …
Growing a vegetable garden is a rewarding and relaxing pastime. However, everyone can agree that a green thumb may not come automatically to every wannabe gardener. Successful gardeners know the answer to this question: is leaf compost good for vegetable gardens?. What is leaf compost? Leaf compost is the by-product when tree leaves and other …
To get that perfectly formed carrot, it’s important to grow them in sandy soil. While sandy soil is best for growing carrots, it’s not a very common soil type in gardens. This means that to get a perfectly shaped carrot, you’ll want to invest in preparing a garden bed for this specific purpose. In this …
Soil pH affects plants’ ability to grow by making certain nutrients available or unavailable. This makes it in the best interest of gardeners to test their soil pH and modify it if necessary. If you’re curious about how to lower the pH of the soil with vinegar, read along to learn why you might want …
If you’re looking for a crop to add sustenance to your vegetable garden, look no further than the mighty potato. Potatoes have been a dietary staple for centuries because they are easy to cultivate and give high yields in small amounts of space. Discover later in this article what is the recommended soil pH for …
What Is The Optimum Soil PH For Growing Potatoes Read More »
When you’ve been gardening for a little bit and have gotten a handle on the basics of seeds starting, transplanting, etc. it’s time to delve a little bit deeper. Increasing your knowledge about the soil is the most important thing you can do. Soil Ph is important – in this article, we’ll discuss the question, …
How Do I Make My Soil More Alkaline: what to add Read More »
Compost is sometimes referred to as ‘black gold’. Why? Because it is the best thing you can add to your soil. While other amendments only solve one or two issues, compost has enormous benefits that builds the soil, increases water retention, and feeds the plants. Knowing how to mix compost into soil is a massive …
Learning how to make your own compost at home is one of the most beneficial things you can do as a gardener. Making compost is a simple process but there are ways to make it better than just throwing any old thing into a bin and waiting. I have compiled a series of steps to …
How long do potatoes take to grow? It’s safe to say that gardeners love to watch their crops grow. We wait patiently for each sprout to mature and produce perfectly ripe fruit or vegetables. But when it comes to root vegetables, we can’t just watch and wait. We have to time the harvest just right. …
The best time to till your garden is in the spring before planting. Early spring is a glorious time for gardeners. Temperatures begin to rise, wildflowers start to bloom, seed catalogs come out, and it’s time to put garden plans into action. Part of the spring garden prep chores is preparing the soil for planting. …
When researching about the perfect soil to use for your plants you might come across the term ‘soil water retention’. If you’re asking yourself, “what is water retention in the soil” you’ve come to the right place. Water retention in soil refers to the soil’s ability to hold on to water. When water falls on …
French fries are one of my favorite foods and something I’ve come to make regularly at home. Restaurant portion sizes sometimes just don’t cut it and not everyone feels comfortable asking for six sides of fries with nothing else. Before you try making your own, make sure you have the best potatoes for French fries …
If you’re new to growing potatoes, at some point you’ll ask yourself, “Why are my potato plants turning yellow?”. Most likely, this is a natural part of the lifecycle, and means the plants are mature. But sometimes it can be a sign of disease, nutrient deficiency, or over-watering Potatoes are an amazing crop to grow. …
What are sweet potatoes? The delicious sweet potato is a plant that belongs to the bindweed family. A root vegetable, oddly shaped and has a sweet tasting flesh. It is a starchy vegetable and has many health benefits. In many cultures the leaves and shoots of the plants are eaten as greens. The orange variety …
Did you know that there are whole grading systems to classify potatoes by quality and size? These classification systems vary around the world but have been introduced to standardize the sale of potatoes. But how can you tell visually how much does a medium potato weigh? In general, all potatoes will be categorized by quality and …
For most varieties of potatoes you should expect to harvest between 8 to 14 potatoes per plant. The size of these potatoes will vary due to how well you have met the growing needs of the plant. Lets examine the background details to the question “How many potatoes per plant? Your yield will be a …
The purpose of this article is to teach you the skills required to make a quick assessment about how to tell if a potato is bad or not just by looking at it. How long do potatoes last? There are a variety of factors which determine the shelf life of potatoes. It depends on the …
There is much controversy as to whether potatoes are a vegetable or fruit, and why! This article outlines exactly what a potato is, whether they’re one of our 5 a day, and if the starch within them is good for us. What is the definition of a vegetable The difference between fruits and vegetables is …
Often you’ll come across recipes which don’t state how many potatoes you need, but the weight. This can be frustrating if you don’t know the weight of a potato without using scales. It is really handy to know how many potatoes in a pound. By the end of this article, you’ll know this answer just …
In January 2020 I decided with much pushing from my eldest son Harry that we should buy our own 2wd Fiat tractor to help with soil preparation, sowing and harvesting of turnips (swedes). We previously used Ferguson TE20’s or MF35x’s owned by Harrys grandad. We decided if we were buying our own tractor we wanted …
Sweet potatoes like to be grown in warmer soil, unlike regular potatoes that prefer cool soil. This is because they are tropical plants, and can become sensitive to cold weather. The sweet potato is rich in an antioxidant called beta carotene which is effective in raising blood levels of vitamin A. They are very nutritious …
Rhododendrons are native to Asia, North America, Australia and Europe. There are over 1,000 species of this plant and they are widely cultivated for their beautiful and fragrant flowers with ornamental leaves. Understanding what type of soil rhododendrons like is essential if you are planning on growing these beautiful plants. The flowers have a funnel, …
Even though from a distance it might seem super easy to take care of a plant baby, unfortunately they don’t cry or make a noise when they’re hungry or uncomfortable – which does happen!. A frequent question i’m asked is, how often should I fertilize my plants? It can be challenging to know when to …
Sweet potatoes are definitely worth considering as part of your diet. They are packed with minerals, fibre, vitamins and phytonutrients which can improve your body and mind.You can use sweet potatoes boiled, baked or raw. They also can be used in desserts, breads, stir-fries and casseroles. Do you know how many sweet potato plants grow from …
Weeds are really annoying, especially when you’ve been trying your best to make the most of your flower beds. It might feel impossible to get rid of weeds, but it can happen and you can do it with a few simple strategies. Growing flowers or vegetables in a raised bed is better than any normal …