I'm near San Antonio and they tell us to plant in February. I had great success this year with mine. And I found potatoes at Home Depot and also just used some I bought at the grocery store.

Potatoes can be prone to rot in the fall season here in Austin. Natural Gardener does not bring them in.

Hmmm. Think I'll reconsider this idea. Thanks for your comments.

Loreleicomal- don't mean to hijack, but have you had any problems when you use potatoes from the grocery store? Have always wanted to try fingerlings, but never have seen a source for seed potatoes available at the right time. I know regular potatoes are treated to keep them from sprouting and organics aren't (I don't think). But I read you have to worry about any potato carrying viruses.

I read about a new (to me anyway) way to grow potatoes and have become reinterested. Any thoughts or words of advice?

Lisa

Growing potatoes in crates

The potatoes I got at HEB I left to sprout (I think they were Idahoes). Once sprouted, I cut them in slices and dipped them in fireplace ashes. Let dry for a day or so, then planted. I didn't get potatoes as big as they are in the store but still good sized. The ones from home depot was an unnamed red skinned and specifically Yukon Gold. They also were pretty good. Have never tried fingerlings. My neighbor says he's seen a way to grow them using hay instead of soil so they don't get dirty. Digging in the dirt doesn't bother me but I did pierce some of the potatoes when digging them up with the pitch fork. I'm not sure if those crates are tall enough but may be worth a try. Mine got almost 3 feet tall.

Thanks for the info. I think I read in the text that when they got really tall they just stacked another crate on top (they built bigger ones the second year they tried this).

Thanks, maybe I'll give it a try new spring.

Lisa

Seed potatoes are important for using in the garden but it doesn't negate the grocery store potatoes if you can't find the seed potatoes. And really, home gardeners may just need a few potatoes to start, so grabbing a few of those shouldn't hurt anything. If you want to go more organic to get a faster start, then buying them from the natural food grocery stores in Collin County should be helpful, too.

You can grow them in the ground but the idea behind the containers or bags is just so that it's easier to mound up the plant as it grows, as well as having soft, easy soil to dig through when it's ready to harvest.

Besides Lowes and Home Depot which may have some seed potatoes in small quantities, Collin County also has a few Tractor Supply Company stores, as well as Wells Brother Feed Store in Plano and Collin County feed store in Allen. There maybe more around, too. Give those places a call to see if they have seed potatoes.