In Portugal, February is the time to plant potatoes. We’ve never grown potatoes before so thought we’d do an experiment to find out they way that works best for us.
We’ve been using the no-dig method for growing vegetables for the last year or so and have planted a bed of no-dig potatoes to see how that goes.
But in our pursuit to build a semi-self-sufficient homestead, we wanted to plant a larger crop. We used our BCS with a rototiller attachment to clear a 6x4m area for testing a more traditional “dig” approach to growing potatoes. Let’s see which method is easiest and most effective at producing an abundant harvest…
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borrow me one of those big orange trees 😅 great view and good luck with season
I love the sight of that beautiful rich Compost. Almost want to scoop some up in the palms of my hands.
Is your tiller and mover the same machine ? if so what is it?
Love your vibe. Liked. Commented. Subscribed.
Looking great ! An eye out for the droughts(?), very little rain we've been having, in the middle of so many projects, try to build one for catching rain, tap comes expensive in many ways.
I'll try the no-dig method because as the saying goes 'mais vale uma mão inchada do que uma enchada na mão' ahah
Keep up the good spirit both have
You can split in half each potato…
your oranges are spectacular!
11:50 Well chosen music ! 🙌🏻 Thank you for a new song for my “Ambient-Playlist“. 😀
No sale en castellano …???? 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷
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ما شاء الله، اتمنى لكم التوفيق.. مبدعين ❤️
You are much the same as myself, only you've retired in Portugal, and I'm on the west coast of Italy called gaeta, 120 clicks down from Rome. I also grow very large amounts of veg but I'm wondering if you have ever tried to grow parsnips. I just can't get them to even germinate,maybe ,Just maybe you might know why. Would be more than grateful if you could. Thanks in anticipation RICKY
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No dig potatoes is going to be a challenge!
Farmers cut their potatoes into 8 pieces for planting , more economical, each piece produces on potato plant.
Personally, I have to use the dig method because the soil that I have is heavy clay. I just mulch last fall's leaves with grass clippings and use that to amend the soil at planting. Once the potatoes have broken the surface, the grass and leaves have already broken down. This creates a soft and moist interior with a hard shell on top. Weeds cannot penetrate. Where I am (Toronto, Canada), we get enough sunlight that I can plant 4 seeds / square foot so I'm not actually tilling that much per plant.
Use normal rake to level soil or to cover potatoes (12:59), better tool for that job imo
Been meaning to comment on the spud planting for awhile, but kept forgetting to! While you're claiming one method is a 'dig' method and the other a 'no dig' method, pretty sure I saw Guy doing some actual 'digging' in his 'no dig' bed. With a trowel. So, hardly a 'no dig', right???
So, perhaps for a future experiment, here's a genuine NO dig method for spuds.
Prepare the soil. Add seed spuds properly spaced, on the surface. Cover with mulch (preferably a straw based loose mulch) and finis.
See? No DIGGING…!!!
But there's a trick….
You have to observe and as soon as you see green growth popping up above the mulch, re-mulch, leaving just a tiny 'hole' for the plants. Progressively add more mulch until the depth is around 200-250mm.
So, why do this?
Really clever bit…..
The new potatoes grow IN the mulch, not in the soil.
So when times come to harvest, you simply rake the mulch away and pick up the nice, clean, don't need to be washed spuds.
Store, and consume as required.
Thank you, thank you very much….
Oh, and hi to Kylie from Orstralia. Or as she would know it – 'Straya!
Keep up the fun stuff. Lovin' your work….
I do love an experiment! Amazed how early you're able to plant there. And oranges…… Good luck with your crops.
I do no-dig potatoes by allocating a bed to be 'the compost bed' from the autumn before, piling up all the biomass I can find onto it. By April it has sunk hugely and I insert the potatoes into it at soil-level. Then I keep adding biomass as needed to protect the tubers from the sun. From quite early on I can rootle about in there with my fingers and find potatoes – beautiful, like little clutches of eggs. Fun for the kids!
Interesting good job what I can see you seed the whole potatoes I do cut the potatoes in 2 or 3 seedlings depends . Good luck with the potatoes thanks for a nice video
Hello there, I just found your channel through this suggested video and I'm now subscribed. I love your content and the pace/feel of your presentation on the topic. Please feel free to check out my small homesteading channel too, if you like. Have a wonderful weekend! ✌️
For each row…Spread compost on ground, line of organic fert, settle potatoes in the line of fert, 6in of last seasons leaves on top, come back in 4months to pick your potatoes….
Years ago, the Dean of the Agronomy Department at a State University got the idea of planting potatoes on the top of the ground and covering them with straw. He didn't get potatoes but he did get rats. OOPS!
Wow, your property is beautiful! If I daydream about owning a larger plot of land, I may be using yours as inspiration.
It's always fun to watch newbies gardening.
I cut my potatoes up to one eye per piece and dust with sulpher the let them crust over before planting
Potatoes grow from the upward shoot only, make sure you have20 inches of soil on top. Also sprout your potatoes first before planting.
You still dug for the "no dig" option lol
Try 2do 2 rows on one bed
We've mown* the grass
buy two horses, they will mow your land and give you compost
Leave last year's plants in so they run to seed.
You deserve a medal. I have a Property that needs someone like You to revive it. grate job.