Post by farmerjan on Dec 11, 2023 9:18:05 GMT -6
This thread has gotten very "dead" so I decided to add in a little bit. I come on this site and things have dwindled down alot... miss the controversial subjects alot.. and find that many are so much more informed than I am, and have learned alot.
But, gardening I do know a little about. The country has been plagued by so much drought this past year. We are still currently in the severe drought status here in Va, but rain this past week and even a little snow last night.... about 3 inches.... will help.
I have a major problem with ground hogs, and deer. Put up electrified netting this year and it helped a little... but I had a live trap that got alot of use. I got 2 raccoons, 4 possums and 5 ground hogs all within a 3 week period.... Missed one huge groundhog that did not go in the trap... and I was carrying the .22 when I go to the garden and the chickens....
I planted a lot of potatoes this year to try some different varieties... actually had 18 varieties. Some did good some did not... the general consensus is that you should harvest 10 lbs for every pound planted... Overall I did better than average, but several varieties did not do that good and several were unbelievable in their production. I have given some to some friends to try and see if they have any preferences in varieties... taste or texture or keeping qualities or anything... I kept pretty good details and have some interesting notes. I tried 2 lb "sampler" bags from Fedco seeds from Maine... not cheap, but more than made back the costs in the value of the return of pounds harvested. Also had some local bought of the Red Pontiac variety.... I bought a total of 50 lbs of seed potatoes... harvested right at 499 lbs... so made the overall average.The pontiacs did the best with 4 lbs seed potatoes and got 55 lbs... and they were huge. Many potatoes over 1/2 to 1 1/2 lbs each... NICE for peeling a few to make a big pot of mashed potatoes...
The fingerlings were most prolific percentage wise... about 15 lbs per lb planted... ... but they are more for things like roasting and cutting up skin on for soups and stews... but there were some that were pretty good sized for fingerlings.
I am going to get some other varieties that they had... I ordered late last year so was more limited in choices... some I will repeat and try some others.
The idea was to have potatoes to sell this past year, and I have given many away instead... but now that I have dabbled in it, this next 2024 growing season I plan to again plant about 50 lbs and sell some to pay for the input costs and make a little... they are easier to deal with and don't have the input time once they get established... and the d@#n deer don't eat them....
Got plenty to keep enough for my own "seed potatoes" for this coming year... so the purchase costs will be less also...
The rest of the garden did okay but I did run soaker hoses on it a couple times. I also MULCH very heavily..... and it was a life (plant) saver... I put green beans and squash in the freezer, made some pickles and ate tomatoes but they did not do good either... we had alot of cold weather early so the tomatoes were late... I did not can any this year but ate alot.
So anyone else?
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