MIgardener: Do Not Believe These 5 MYTHS About Growing Potatoes!
When it comes to growing potatoes there have been so many myths shared over the years that are just not true. In today’s episode we are breaking down the most common five myths.
I planted two waves of potatoes one year after I harvested first. Smaller harvest but I got potatoes from some that had started to sprout. It was throw away or plant. ❤️🙏
Gardening in really sandy soil is another reason to dig deep trenches for potatoes. It helps keep the soil cool and the water right there for the plants. I fill in the trenches with a layer of soil and then add leaves and grass clippings on top of that.
Epic gardening on YT did a huge experiment with a commercial potato grower, different depths, styles etc that backs this up if anyone wanted a little more proof.
It makes me so sad that you have to include disclaimers in your videos, like “I know this is a hot-button topic,” and “I’m not telling you you can’t hill your potatoes.” Gardening is such a joyful thing, and yet people get vicious about their methods being the “right” way. MIGardener is the most informed channel I’ve found for gardening. It’s crazy to me that people will try to pick a fight with you. I’m glad you don’t let it get you down. Thanks for the potato tips!
We love you too, Luke. I am in North Carolina, zone 8a, but still immensely enjoy all of your videos. You are one of my favorites that I really enjoy. I look forward to all of your content. Don't ever stop. Appreciate everything that you do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Welcome aboard the plant spuds late train! LOL. Everyone around here always says if you don't plant the garden by May 20 (zone 3) you are wasting your time. Well for the last 4 or 5 years I have planted anywhere from June 15 to June 28, including potatoes. This year I got it in on June 20. After the frost I leave in the ground till September or October so they keep longer in my less than ideal cellar. I am doing a trial of varieties over the last years and some varieties are keeping right until June (harvested end Sept or first week October) in my non cool, low humidity, cellar. So ya, plant away! Although I will agree with the assessment that hilling potatoes of early varieties(typically determinate varieties) is not required and done only to prevent sunscald, I have found an increase in yield in the indeterminate varieties such as old school netted gems. I have potatoes forming all up the hill and they need multiple hilling's. Just my experience though. The potato scab – I am questioning the teachings on this big time. I planted purple magic in 2023 and they were harvested full of scab. They were the only ones out of 8 or so varieties. . I planted some of the less infected ones in 2024 and they all came out of the ground perfect. No scab at all. Same soil and in fact right beside where I planted the previous year. Teachings are that it is in the soil and stays there – but my experience tells me this is not totally factual. The other thing I wanted to mention is that you could have cut the spuds and planted right away – they would have done fine, especially if they have some size to the pieces. I plant whole spuds and I do cut some, depending on the size. If I cut them, I never allow my spuds to callous and being my spuds are starting to chit anyway at planting time, I have never had a problem. Good video!
GOSH! This is so helpful!! I just planted potatoes this season and harvested them because I thought I had to. But now I will plant again and leave them in the ground to store for the winter. SO EXCITED! Thank you!
I tend to use a blend of calcium, magnesium and ammonium sulfate for potatoes and onions (and other alliums). Whether edible or purely as a flower. Then use a general fertilizer to round out the fertility of the soil. Just don't use the old "cure" for "Colorado" potato beetles, which involved "sugar of lead" or lead acetate dusted on the leaves, just use powdered sulfur. Great video!!! I'm planting 4th of July potatoes!
What does your uncle say about another potato disease — we called it "burlap" where a fibrous layer forms in your potatoes. They are still safe to eat, but it's not pleasant to pick it out.
This video couldn't have come at a better time. Things got busy and I didn't get to plant potatoes earlier in the season and have been contemplating and wondering if it was too late. They now will go in tomorrow. Happy 4th all!
36 Comments
I am growing them in the house in a grow bag since march plant still growing
Thought your uncle grew beans commercially?
What about that fertilizer? What did you use? How often do you fertilize them going forward?
Thanks for this I'm in kent and pulled my 1st early potatoes up quite a few have scab So lesson learnt 👍
Thankyou And your Uncle😮😂❤
Aren't there "indeterminate" potatoes?
I planted two waves of potatoes one year after I harvested first. Smaller harvest but I got potatoes from some that had started to sprout. It was throw away or plant. ❤️🙏
My grandfather used to cover his potatoes with seaweed.
Gardening in really sandy soil is another reason to dig deep trenches for potatoes. It helps keep the soil cool and the water right there for the plants. I fill in the trenches with a layer of soil and then add leaves and grass clippings on top of that.
I always plant a row on the 4th of July, never had a problem.
I had a gopher that decimated my potatoes last year.
Thank you Luke! So helpful.
I planted potatoes last year, never harvested them and now have a giant potato bed this year with zero effort.
I started my second go on June 27th. Doing Ruth Stout style method.
Epic gardening on YT did a huge experiment with a commercial potato grower, different depths, styles etc that backs this up if anyone wanted a little more proof.
thanks I have a bag of potatoes that are growing now I am going to plant them!!
This may be left field, but can you do the same thing to over winter dahlias?
I plant full potatoes
It makes me so sad that you have to include disclaimers in your videos, like “I know this is a hot-button topic,” and “I’m not telling you you can’t hill your potatoes.” Gardening is such a joyful thing, and yet people get vicious about their methods being the “right” way. MIGardener is the most informed channel I’ve found for gardening. It’s crazy to me that people will try to pick a fight with you. I’m glad you don’t let it get you down. Thanks for the potato tips!
Live in LA plant year round….
I'm getting ready to plant potatoes, I wasn't sure if it was too late, but figured why not! Thanks for giving me more confidence to do so!
We love you too, Luke. I am in North Carolina, zone 8a, but still immensely enjoy all of your videos. You are one of my favorites that I really enjoy. I look forward to all of your content. Don't ever stop. Appreciate everything that you do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Welcome aboard the plant spuds late train! LOL. Everyone around here always says if you don't plant the garden by May 20 (zone 3) you are wasting your time. Well for the last 4 or 5 years I have planted anywhere from June 15 to June 28, including potatoes. This year I got it in on June 20. After the frost I leave in the ground till September or October so they keep longer in my less than ideal cellar. I am doing a trial of varieties over the last years and some varieties are keeping right until June (harvested end Sept or first week October) in my non cool, low humidity, cellar. So ya, plant away! Although I will agree with the assessment that hilling potatoes of early varieties(typically determinate varieties) is not required and done only to prevent sunscald, I have found an increase in yield in the indeterminate varieties such as old school netted gems. I have potatoes forming all up the hill and they need multiple hilling's. Just my experience though. The potato scab – I am questioning the teachings on this big time. I planted purple magic in 2023 and they were harvested full of scab. They were the only ones out of 8 or so varieties. . I planted some of the less infected ones in 2024 and they all came out of the ground perfect. No scab at all. Same soil and in fact right beside where I planted the previous year. Teachings are that it is in the soil and stays there – but my experience tells me this is not totally factual. The other thing I wanted to mention is that you could have cut the spuds and planted right away – they would have done fine, especially if they have some size to the pieces. I plant whole spuds and I do cut some, depending on the size. If I cut them, I never allow my spuds to callous and being my spuds are starting to chit anyway at planting time, I have never had a problem. Good video!
Hi! Is it too late to add sulphur granules to potato buckets when they’re already flowering?
I live in Idaho, which is famous for its potatoes. We have very high ph soil.
I thought that there's indeterminate and determinate potatoes?
Yes! My cousin grows commercial potatoes and says the same thing about depth!
0:58 I am in Massachusetts and plant them in the fall and I need to harvest them now
Last year my potatoes were rough. Like the flesh ended up being rough and bumpy. If anyone has any idea of why let me know.
I love "the yeah, well, but," period is over! 😂
GOSH! This is so helpful!! I just planted potatoes this season and harvested them because I thought I had to. But now I will plant again and leave them in the ground to store for the winter. SO EXCITED! Thank you!
I tend to use a blend of calcium, magnesium and ammonium sulfate for potatoes and onions (and other alliums). Whether edible or purely as a flower. Then use a general fertilizer to round out the fertility of the soil. Just don't use the old "cure" for "Colorado" potato beetles, which involved "sugar of lead" or lead acetate dusted on the leaves, just use powdered sulfur. Great video!!! I'm planting 4th of July potatoes!
What does your uncle say about another potato disease — we called it "burlap" where a fibrous layer forms in your potatoes. They are still safe to eat, but it's not pleasant to pick it out.
I didn't know you could leave them in the ground. I thought they would rot. Good to know, we always run out by winter. Thank you Luke
Luke, on side note, was at store yesterday and noticed in your raised bed outside store that you trimmed all leaves off the tomato plants?
This video couldn't have come at a better time. Things got busy and I didn't get to plant potatoes earlier in the season and have been contemplating and wondering if it was too late. They now will go in tomorrow. Happy 4th all!
a couple weeks out from unearthing my spring crop. thinkin bout sprouting one more round of tomatoes