Here is a method that's pretty interesting. I'm thinking of using an old rubbish barrel.

Here is a link that might be useful: Check it out!

Thanks msmarion, that was interesting. The one thing I do have tho is my space. I fortunately own the soil, no matter how sandy it is...I just need to know the least expensive way to fertilize, or amend the soil in some way.
Thank you for responding!

I don't know anything cheaper than putting some good stuff right under and around each potato. You can buy manure compost at Wal Mart for $1.08 a bag. When it will be time to hill do the same - some good stuff around the stems and your poor soil on top. I planted potatoes for the first time in FL this year(it's your fault, Sumala! lol). I have also sand on my yard. Let's see what we will grow.
Maria

Thanks Maria! I was wondering if that chinchy method would work. I'm looking forward to a bountiful harvest, some sore muscles and creamers! I am thinking of some onion sets and sugar snap peas too.

The nice thing about potatoes is that they like sand, and they don't need a lot of fertilizer, especially for new potatoes. They can do well with a weekly watering of urine - 5-10 to one diluted in water. How's that for cheap?

Just so you know, cow manure causes "scab" on potatoes. My understanding is it is a harmless skin growth that makes the potatoes ugly but has no other effect. We scrub it off with one of those green pad things.

All of my planters have been amended with cow manure compost so I have to live with this small problem. I will accept ugly potatoes that taste really really good :)

Sandygator, how big of an area are you talking about planting potatoes in?

Sandygator, don't forget that many vegetables are winter crops in Florida. I think peas and onions would probably fall into that group, so you would want to wait until next fall to plant them. Not sure about potatoes. (Mine grow on the compost pile from discards, but I've never actually harvested them.)

Good luck!

Marcia

heavy top-coating of oak leaves will do the trick... that's how mine are growing. pnbrown is right about potatoes -- they LOVE sand -- they just need some feeding (chemical or otherwise) and something to keep the moisture in.

if you're really looking for cheapo gardening, then spend a LOT of time on ECHOs website -- they develop crops for the under-$5-a-day crowd (the majority of the earth's population). you'll find an amazing wealth of info there for growing in conditions just like ours here in fla -- semi-tropical, wet and sandy.

and it's not quite too late to put onions and peas in, not in your zone. but get them in soon. my peas have been producing well over the last few weeks & my onions are starting to grow, too. BE SURE you get short-day onions -- (granex, red or white). hard to find, but they are the only onions that grow here.

Thanks for all the good advice! I am trying to get my son and hubby to use the compost pile I started for next year as the outdoor urinal, but it's hard after all the time I spent trying to get them to stop peeing outside!
I have about a 50' X 50' space tilled for my garden and have 3 rows about 20'of potatoes I put in the ground 9 days ago...I haven't seen any green peeking thru yet...I had cover ed the rows with heavy layer of pine straw but my hubby said it would probaby act like weed prevention and not let them come up (?) Since we are both clueless I took his advice and just keep them well watered. I did put a little composted cow manure in each hole before placing the cut tuber tho. I also tilled in some 10-10-10 before. I am learning...I hope! I sowed some cammomile seeds directly in the ground 7 days ago and they have sprouted so at least I have something to celebrate. I will keep an eye on the weather so I can cover them if we are to have frost. I have spring desire fever so bad!
Thanks again for the help. Hope to post pix of a beautiful garden in a couple of months.I found a great website for people new to fruit tree growing and hope to visit their nursery soon.Is any one familiar with them?
http://www.justfruitsandexotics.com/

just fruits is about the best nursery around. really knowledgeable and helpful owner (Brandi).

the pine straw won't inhibit the potatoes. the thing with taters -- they have a LOT of stored energy. they'll push through, no problem. pine straw is expensive, tho. you can use just plain old hay or straw. you'll deal with some weed issues, but it's not a big deal. oak leaves are nice -- no weeds, small so they don't block water, free, slightly acidic.

potatoes are shy. i planted mine weeks ago -- still no green. they'll come around.

Thanks for the encouraging words ill-mannered_ache (such a funny name) I'm glad to know about the nursery and excited to go there. For me, pine straw costs only the labor to rake it up, so it's a good value! I love to go peek at the rows every morning with my coffee so waiting is okay as long as I have hope. *smile*

Don't forget to add your coffee grounds and egg shells to the area around the spuds.

Does anyone know a good source for seed potatoes? I can't find any that will ship right now.

Thanks!

last time i was at walmart (for fishing supplies) they had a bunch of seed potatoes... and rhubarb and asparagus! idiots.

but if you prefer not to shop there, i suggest your buying a bag of 'fancy' fingerling potatoes at publix and planting them. they are, i've read, the best adapted for our climate and one bag should give you enough seed potatoes. that's what i did this year.

finally, our local feed store carries seed potatoes, too. maybe call around!

Thank you ill-mannered.

new2, I bought mine at the local hardware store where my Dad always bought them. ill-mannered-ache! What a good idea. Yours showing themselves yet?

nope! i'm going to dig 'em out and check what's what... you know, the irritating thing is, if i'd kept these in my pantry in the house, by this time they would've sprouted like crazy... apparently i need to start storing potatoes in moist, sunny locations under 6 inches of leaves...

Couldn't stand the suspense so I dug up a spud. They're coming! They just wanted to be sure and have lots of support before going public...lots of root growth and about a 1- 1 1/2 inch sprout headed up (-:

Hi new2gardenfl and the group,

"Does anyone know a good source for seed potatoes? I can't find any that will ship right now."

I made my seed order back on the end of December 2007 and Parks Seed had some called Catalina (#5288) Started them indoors Jan 1, 2008 and here is one of them by Mid Feb, 2008

{{gwi:801337}}

I'm very pleased with Parks Seed! They have a huge selection and have excellent packing for the seeds. I get the best germination from their seeds.

Hope this helps, DC

I have done potatoes in the ground and in a large plastic pot. I prefer the pot. Granted this was in Oregon, but the advantages would still hold true here.

In the pot you have less chance of critters getting to them, complete control over the growing medium and a much much easier harvest with no damage to the potatoes.

I just got my favorite potato from the grocery store, let them sprout eyes, cut them into segments, let them dry for about a week and then popped them into the soil. Worked like a charm.

When I harvested I just dumped the pot out onto a tarp or into the wheel barrow and rummaged through the soil to get the potatoes.

Good luck! :-)

You start them indoors DC? When you put them in the ground, how do you do that?

I start mine right in the ground and put them about 4 inches deep. They usually start to show in about 2 weeks with some laggards coming up in 3 or 4 weeks.

Hi Sumala and the group,

"You start them indoors DC? When you put them in the ground, how do you do that?"

The seeds were very small and needed to be placed near the surface. I used small 2 inch pots and grew them indoors under lights until the plants were about 2 inches tall. Then they went out to harden off and grow some more. When I planted them in my raised bed I planted them deep but left most of the leaves above ground. The plan is to mound up soil as they grow.

Take care, DC

I planted red and whites from the feed stores and yukon golds from Wallyworld over the first 3 weekends in January. I have 15 in potsand cardboard boxes and 36 in sand down on the beach -our lake is drying from the drought. I scooped a hole in the sand, added a double handfull boughten gardening soil with moisture retention, and put a whole seed potato in. Some were up within a week , second from last one one just poked its greenery above the surface, and one is being stubborn. I have been using pine straw and oak leaves since hay/straw is unavaible here in small amounts, and sand. I water twice a week. I am trying to keep them insulated since its difficu;t to get tubers once the temp goes over 85 and its been 82 to 85 fpr about 3 weeks now. This is my first time with irish potatoes also.

Searching for a source for Sumor sweet potatoes, since they are almost exactly the same taste and handling as Irish potatoes, but sandhill presecervation isn't stocking them this year. Waah! I have also just about ended sugar snap pea harvest- first time I've been able to grow them in fL !!