Garbage bag Potatoes

17 years ago

I tried the garbage bag method w/ some store bought potatoes that had sprouted. I planted them in March in about 3" of compost. After some growth I started to roll the bags up and stuff w/ straw. One of the plants got 2' tall really fast. One died about a month ago w/ no apparent cause, it was in the middle. The shortest plant was snapped in a rain/wind storm. I stuffed the bag w/ straw to support it, and the snapped main stem never showed any symptoms from it.

A few weeks back I noticed the leaves were browning and had some holes. A few days ago the top of the tallest plant completely disappeared. I decided the experiment was over, the biggest had a huge hole ripped in the bag, I put small holes in the bottom of the bags, but this was a foot around and very rough. The top of the plant was completely gone. The large potato and the smallest ones fell out. The rest came from the smallest plant. The plants never flowered.

Next year I'll build a box, and use all compost instead of straw. All of these were found in the compost in the bottom. None in the straw. I'll also use a known late season variety. Probably french fingerling, and I'll start them in February.

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Comments (4)

sinfonian
17 years ago
So sorry your potato plants died. Your method should work just as well as my bin method. Maybe it was the store bought and a pest. Unknown.

If you want to try my bins next season, feel free. Of course there are many other ways as well.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden adventure
greenbean08_gw
17 years ago
I'm experimenting this year as well with potatoes. I have most planted in large nursery pots with compost in the bottom, mulched with straw. I also have some from my pantry in pots with only straw. I have some in my bin and overflow planted in the ground. All are mulched with straw. We'll see what happens...

Do you think something may have gotten into the bag and eaten some of your harvest? The hole sounds suspicious to me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener
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rj_hythloday
Original Author
17 years ago
Yeah, I think the store bought unknown variety played a big part. Since there was no flowering I was amazed to see a potato. When the first big one fell out, I thought it was the same one I put in lol! I put in well sprouted potatoes. I was expecting maybe babies so the big one was a a shock.

Yeah I definitely suspect something ripped the bag open. It was against the building. I saw a mouse yesterday when it started to rain, going in and out of the garage! Eeek, I had a whole family in the compost bin this winter, I guess I missed at least one.
medontdo
17 years ago
i wonder how they get any with no flowering, but, they do find a way!! **smile** i love experiments!! they are so cool!! we use ecolab mouse pellets, i put them under things, just incase some cat trys to get where its not supposed to be, but if a mouse dies, we never smell it. and the mice love the stuff.