60 Days Later Potatoes- Back to Eden Organic Gardening Method 101 in Wood Chips VS Composting Leaves

[@chocalatekid8024]

You're a natural born teacher!

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU. Just easy to share with nice people like you.

[@elainelerner3337]

Yes kudos to you for using the interplanting crop method...and double kudos for not using sprays ! The lady bugs, lace wings and many others gave you a big 'thumbs' up !

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU. IT is so very nice to hear that.

[@squirefergus]

Beautiful red potatoes! A small flock of ducks will take care of those beetles in no time and turn them into eggs, fertilizer, meat and more ducks.

[@SteveSmekar-ll6ln]

This guy is taking a stand against spraying. I say that is a bold, noble posture. I always ask the farmers if they spray.

[@charliespinoza1966]

My daughter has allergies and all her food comes from farmers like you, who don’t spray anything! I appreciate your resolve so, so much. I’m learning to grow a lot of our own food and am learning from your channel.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU so very much.. more and more farmers are finding that nature will solve their fight with bugs.

[@katherinewhittenberg8919]

Each year back to Eden gets better.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I agree. THANK YOU.

[@PermaPen]

That was really informative, thank you! My feelings are exactly the same as yours re spraying, and I'm going through similar trials (in every sense...) but on a much smaller scale. I love the field-pea companion planting - I'll certainly try that next season.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU. There is got to be a way not to spray..and I am going to find it. I might try rows of garlic on both side next year. Thanks for watching.

[@CJFarm]

Thanks, Mark! I'm always amazed that you can make the time to do these excellent videos! I have a friend here in Colorado who was raised in NJ and he also says "Also too..." like you sometimes do. I always chuckle when you say that.

[@iamorganicgardening]

That is FUNNY, I guess it is a NJ thing. The only problem is I can not stop saying it..THANK YOU I notice a few thing I do like that on my videos..Maybe it is from the SALT WATER in the Ocean.

[@KaleidoscopeJunkie]

Thank you for posting your discoveries. Your "Purely natural" approach is inspiring. I'm sorry you lost so much. I'll be buying field peas ASAP.

[@iamorganicgardening]

It was just one year.. The BEST thing is will learn from this and do better. THANK YOU.

[@nicolebrown748]

Do you know of a different crop to plant with the potatoes that would have the same effect? Not sure my family would eat the peas and would hate to waste.

[@prophitcity9825]

Back to Eden had the best yield compared to the leaves and it was hit the hardest by the beetles. What do you mean it didn’t do as good as you were hoping? It did excellent compared to leaves, here is a tip I thought you should try. Lay a bug screen net on top of the potato’s to keep bugs off and allow sun light in. Thanks for these hands on videos it really gets you thinking and learning.

[@donniecarter3848]

My mother planted marigolds throughout her garden to control pest when I was a child and I'm going to try that this year in mine

[@iamorganicgardening]

That works very nicely. Plus it looks good to. THANK YOU.

[@rashmikini1710]

Hi. I am from India and here organic farmers mix neem cakes(leftover after extracting oil) and mustard cakes with the soil b4 planting. These cakes can also be dissolved in water and sprayed on leaves or watered into soil. It helps to great extent.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THAT is so GREAT to hear.. THANK YOU for sharing.

[@lylerobeson8593]

Need oil can be sprayed. No harmful residue.

[@FireHill16]

Thanks for this video. Always great to see someone showing results, not just the proposed method at the beginning. Sorry about the damage to your potatoes, though. At least it wasn't a total loss though.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU. I am sure things will get better next year...

[@RBMawby]

Love the attitude and approach. Following with great interest.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU, it is the rules of being a farmer...

[@declanking-williams356]

I am with you 100% on not spraying. Nature always knows best. Great job and thank you

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes! Thank you!

[@FoodForThought.]

Thank you for your videos. I started growing vegetables last year instead of a lawn and am too organic. I only have a small lot in the middle of the city but am able to grow veg for the family and raise rabbits for meat and quail for eggs. My yard is so small I am not allowed chickens lol. I will be trying this method this year with my raised beds, thanks. Eddie

[@iamorganicgardening]

Please watch the whole series to give you the correct insight HOW TO... THANK YOU. if you have any question PLEASE ask.

[@Subterraorganics]

Hi Mark! Sorry to see the beetle damage. I have stinging nettle coming up all over and saw some in the potato bed. Had some colorado potato beetle larvae choose that over the potato foliage. I leave it around the radishes and egg plant too as the flea beetles go for it as well. I have a 30 day update coming out shortly with my yukon gold flanked by blue lake bush beans in wood chips. I haven't pulled any but all looks good so far and the potatoes are flowering now. ...beans too. Keep up the great work! All the best!

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU...Looking forward to seeing those beautiful potatoes. And glad the beetles are eating something else...

[@WonbyGrace2]

Love the attitude about using any horrible chemicals

[@iamorganicgardening]

Thank You.

[@shelleynobleart]

Such helpful info honestly. So great to see the potatoes when u pulled them up.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU so very much.. Happy Gardening.

[@ofavuk1141]

Hi Mark We are Jayne and John from the UK and we began our B2E project 3 years ago. Nobody told us back then just how hard it would be to establish and how disappointing at times. We don't get the potato beetles but we get slugs although it's less of a problem with the woodchip and we are in an area very susceptible to blight although we haven't had a problem since we laid the woodchip. Some vegetables seem to love the woodchip / mulch but others hate it. We haven't managed to grow a single carrot so far although the garlics, beetroots and pumpkins have gone crazy. We don't use any sprays or fertilisers either, just our grass clippings. Our biggest pest problem here are blackbirds who dig around in the woodchip looking for bugs / worms and disturb all our newly planted seeds and seedlings so we have to net. We believe it will be 7 years before maximum benefit is seen and we can grow in abundance. Very few people here in the UK are trying this so thank you for such informative videos, we will keep following your progress.

[@iamorganicgardening]

HELLO, THANK YOU for writing and telling me about your experiences. I agree with you 100% it does take time. And I want to show that . Since you have been doing B2E method, do other gardener's try it now?

[@ofavuk1141]

No not really although one or two farmers locally have started to take an interest now that they can see we are having success. They all scoffed at us at first and said it wouldn't work! They are having big problems here because of what they have done to the land. We have heavy clay soil which is difficult to work with anyway. When they plough around here now, there are no birds following the ploughs which tells me the soil is dead. They rely heavily on cow manure, commercial fertilisers and use glyphosate on all grains and potatoes just before harvest. The stench of the rotting potato plants last year was awful. Our biggest problem with the B2E method has been seeds. We buy heirloom seeds from a company called Real Seeds but they grow mainly in polytunnels and use lots of manure which means the seeds don't do so well here on our land. So we are now saving our own seeds from plants that do well and trying to get away from buying seeds. We have allowed some plants to seed on the ground like mustard greens, kale etc and the new plants are much healthier and stronger. We had lots of rogue tomato plants that grew outside last year and were fruiting up until October so we kept seeds from those and we are growing tomatoes outside. This is not something that's ever done here because of the weather and blight so it will be interesting to see how they get on. Yesterday we visited an organic grower that we buy some of our food from and he has one small area that he has laid woodchip down on but the rest of the woodchip he is composting in his barn! It seemed to us that he was just creating work for himself. He plants leeks in vast sheets of plastic membrane when he could be using woodchip to suppress the weeds and provide better growing conditions. The rest of his growing area outside was bare soil which was covered in weeds, he admitted that much of his time was spent weeding. This is our third year and we are still making mistakes but the results are so much better than year 1 and 2. We believe that the magic number 7 is important and that it will take this length of time before we get the abundance that Paul Gautschi talks about. What's your thoughts on this? The 'fresh' food available in supermarkets here is getting worse, we won't touch it now. I see a time not too far away when people will be ripping up their decking and concrete slabs in an effort to start growing quality food. The realisation then will be that this is not something that can be done quickly

[@iamorganicgardening]

WOW, THANK YOU for taking the time to write all this information. First maybe in late winter early spring I can send you some organic seeds. This might Help. I have a lot of ideas on what you should do. I think I am going to try for make a video on this so you can see it better then me writing it down for you. I enjoy Paul and all he is doing, but there are thing gardeners like our self need to do that he does not cover..THANKS, MARK

[@ofavuk1141]

Mark that would be brilliant, we can't thank you enough. We feel alone here as so few people are interested at the moment, although I think that will change. Those that do grow, still go down to the garden centres and buy the F1 hybrid seeds on offer then grow the bare soil way which requires lots of work, lots of other commercial products and lots of weeding. We have tripled the size of our growing area this year which is probably around 1 acre now. We have also planted lots of fruit trees in our field over the last few years which are slowly coming along. We are in the process of putting at least 12 inches of woodchip around each one. It's hard work because we are doing it all by hand with wheelbarrow and shovel. The areas we are doing now, we won't grow in until later this year or next year so some seeds used to this method of growing would be perfect. As you say, Paul is good but he has been doing it so long, that he isn't having the problems we are having just starting out and he doesn't cover those problems. On the plus side, we have had many tree surgeons working in the area cutting trees for the electricity companies so we have hijacked them all and they are letting us have tons of woodchip. We just give them a few pounds per lorry load to keep them sweet. Before this year, we were struggling to get an adequate quantity of woodchip. We are following your channel so look forward to seeing updates. Thank you Jayne

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU, In My next video I hope you do not get mad at me. But wood chips, leaves or straw does not build soil. And If it does it it takes 20-30 years. Only PLANTS roots and the soil food web builds healthy soil. The woods chips just acts as a roof to the soil..and is a great first step. One of many. This is a great video to watch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmOrZ2Oontmdl8k

[@judithschuett4978]

Peas and potatoes...mmm good match!

[@iamorganicgardening]

The best!

[@vesnasuselrozman7659]

40 years ago every weekend children work was picking thouse pests from potatoes by hend and I remember potatoes must grow at least 90 days. Was anykind of manure in november, dag into the soil for spring, lots of weeding during season, homemade frtilayzors.....I am gardening al my life organic as my grandparents did but I will never have a harvesting like they had. Mild winters, to mush rain or hot summers...dear god, some years I find ower 500 may bug larvas on 2m2 bed. Buying neem oil and nematodes leads to a very expensive organick gardening but Iam stil fighting. In the end of season here come the deers and eat up the rest because I didnt have money for proper fence haaaahaaaa....now we know, why organic food is so expensive, al respect for growers and many thanks for your videos!

[@adronlamb9334]

For people using wood chips for the first time, let the pile of wood chips sit for a while before spreading them out. A few weeks is o.k but a few months or more is better. The longer they sit and steam before you spread them out the better. And don't plant in the chips, plant in the soil underneath. If your soil is terrible, it will take some time to improve, if your soil is already good plant right away and it will only get better. Sometimes an adjustment or two with lime or compost tea might help too to get started. Sometimes plants grown with fertilizer and switched to organic methods will yellow a little in the transition but they adjust with a little time so beware if buying potted starters that are not organically grown

[@erikad4468]

Thank you for sharing your comparison. It's so helpful, especially being new to vegetable gardening. I wondered which set of potatoes tasted better or if they came out the same.

[@iamorganicgardening]

GREAT QUESTION: I did try both and cook them 2 different ways and both time I like the ones that grew in the leaves better. But the ones in the wood chips had a thicker skin on them...THANKS for ASKING.

[@mferrarorace]

Great video and efforts. Appreciated!

[@iamorganicgardening]

My pleasure! Always here to help and share. THANK YOU.

[@ohhowhappygardener]

Wow-- sorry to hear about your potatoes. But glad to hear that you know why, and that the ladybugs are there to help. Our potatoes are doing pretty well this year. Lots of foliage... we'll see if that translates into lots of potatoes. Great video!

[@iamorganicgardening]

I did see you potato patch in your last video and it looks FANTASTIC. It is going to do very well. Thanks

[@The_mini_farm]

I have so much respect for you staying completely organic!! Good for you man! Too many “organic” places use sprays and things that are NOT organic. Thank you!!!

[@iamorganicgardening]

I appreciate that . Thank You.

[@corycomelio3356]

Nice little comparative experiment. Last year the Japanese beetles and humidity ruined everything in my orchard. After 1 year under wood chips, I noticed that this year there was no fungus or bug pressure, not even a single fallen or chewed leaf, despite no rain in over a month and temps consistently in the upper 90's. I do not spray or water. I planted tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in an Eden garden, some in raised beds with garden soil (composted leaves as amendments) and some in standard row cropping. The Eden garden and raised beds did outstanding, with the Eden garden edging out the raised beds. The irrigated field actually struggled. This fall I am woodchipping all the raised beds and about 2 more acres of field. I now have approximately 1 acre under wood chips.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THAT IS FANTASTIC...Could you make a video of it and post it on your page. It would be great to see... And THANK YOU FOR SHARING all of your experiences. Have you tried melons on the wood chips yet?

[@Stilgar74]

This is obviously frustrating to see but a really important video for those that still think the B2E method is immediate. Man we love to see the 'golden age' of Paul's garden and it's certainly inspiring to see what we all are working towards, but those results are not instant and we all need to know how to overcome the obstacles on our journey, the problems we faced and how we overcame. Another stellar video !

[@iamorganicgardening]

I AGREE 100% it takes time. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SAYING THAT...

[@peacepocketmama4276]

Thanks. I appreciate your teaching videos so very much!

[@sqwrrl]

My garden is 3 years old. First year lots of potato beetles. Second year just a few which were manageable picking off by hand. Third year no potato bugs at all, but a horrible infestation of Japanese beetles. Things tend to switch around and I'm hoping you will not have that problem next year.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Nature will always keep us guessing.. I think it as more of a test every year.

[@TheKristenGibson]

New subscriber here! I commend you for not spraying anything, even though you are allowed to spray things and still be considered organic. You respect, and value your customers. Great video!

[@iamorganicgardening]

A large share of my customer have cancer now or have had cancer in their pass. Plus my main reason to grow healthy food was due to my beautiful wife passing away at the age of 36 from a rare incurable cancer. My quest is to help everyone grow healthy food for themselves. THANK YOU for your kind words.

[@sven5415]

Thanks a lot Mark! This video is again very informative for me! The observation regarding the potato beetles and the useful insects attracted by the bean plants is very clever. How about adding more plants that attract useful insects such as buckwheat or Phacelia? The seed costs for Phacelia are about 3-4 times as high as for buckwheat. On the other hand, Phacelia has very fine roots in the soil.

[@iamorganicgardening]

You could. but buckwheat will die from the frost that you still will get for planting potatoes early. And love Phacelia, but it also loves warn weather and is slow growing at first and will be covered quickly by the potatoes leaves. THANK YOU.

[@sven5415]

I AM ORGANIC GARDENING Mark, thank you very much for these excellent thoughts!

[@CheckSSForm]

Nice lesson. Admire your commitment to not spray anything. Happy Father's Day!

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU, How is yours doing?

[@CheckSSForm]

The red nordlings look about the same size (foliage wise) as yours do. Mine were planted on May 8th. So looks like even though I planted a month after you the warmer soil and plentiful sunshine evened us out over time. Will let you know when I harvest.

[@iamorganicgardening]

GOOD TO HEAR, THANKS

[@elizabethsansom6447]

Would like to know more info on your blue pool hose how are you using it how did you hook it up and how is it working for you

[@iamorganicgardening]

The Blue Hose is only used to weight down the drip tap for irrigation and to keep the crows from picking on th e tape under neath to drink water from it. Thanks for asking.

[@dasshape00]

Can u buy a bunch of lady bugs? Or any good bugs for the plants?

[@snippetsordinarylife]

Thank you for your informative videos. I am curious as to whether you added manure to your wood chips?

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANKS for asking. The answer is NO. It does not matter either way you do it, add manure or not. I agree it brakes down the wood chips faster. BUT, wood chips does not make soil. PLANTS living roots and mycorrhizal fungi/ soil food web make soil. The wood chips, leaves, hay or even card board is a cover layer to protect the soil and keep moisture in. That all. THANKS

[@carbine090909]

Then again, think about how agriculture worked for millennia before gas engines -- fields were plowed and pooped on by large herbivores. There might be something in there that isn't obvious, like a trace mineral, probiotic, seed, or enzyme, or maybe it could attract something beneficial like bugs or birds, or lure away something detrimental like insects. It might be worth an experiment, just to see. I remember reading a beekeeping book by a Cornell professor who said honeybee drones are a waste of resources, so get rid of them. I gather it's standard practice in large apiaries. But Ormond Aebi said to keep them because maybe their bodies help to raise the temperature of the hive, and he observed that the female workers seem to enjoy kicking the drones out of the hive entrance like wives upset by their husband's muddy boots. In other words, their function may be social -- which reminds me of what you said in a different video about how organisms "talk" to one another. Maybe poop has something worthwhile to say. :-)

[@EndermiteMc]

never add manure. He didn't. You might mean compost which could have been added. he did'nt in this process.

[@TheEmptynester]

You did a great job on this video. I used a trap plant last year. The went after the curly Dock and Ii used the Japanese beetle trap. So I did not get much damage on the potatoes. This year No Japanese beetles. But, did get flea beetles. I was going to use glue traps. But did not get to it in time. I wish I could get a good amount of leaves. Your roots look great. You can replant the ones that have a healthy plant and tuber. They will continue to grow. Temperature is in the 90's here now. So I will have to harvest the short season potatoes. But mid and Long season will stay in the soil.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, will try..

[@BustandBoom]

Hi Mark, Many thanks for all of your hard work maintaining your channel I hope you and your son are well. I too was hit very hard with the Colorado potato bug this past season. I had five rows twenty five foot long and once I spotted the little bums I did a lot of picking to get them off of each plant and then go back a week or so later killing off there eggs on the under side of the leaves and other larvae and then repeated this a third week... I hope not to encounter the bums again this season but sure would like to know what I could use to fight them off with an organic certified spray could you share what might work ??? Thanks Peter

[@iamorganicgardening]

I will let you know in a few day.. Have to ask another cert. organic farmer what he uses. I do not spray at all. THANKS.

[@kennethherndon7472]

Thank you for your hard work.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for you kind words and watching too.

[@matthiasstarkaudioundvideo8992]

Very interesting results and obviously worth trying and publishing those! How do You explain the difference in production of new little potatoes amongst those You grew in leaf mould. Could it be that having a substrate much easier to root in results in a different "time schedule" for the plants so they invest more time in building their root system before producing which they seemingly did?

[@iamorganicgardening]

GREAT QUESTION. Since leaves decompose quicker, it feeds the soil food web more and they release more nutrients to the plants. But the key in anything like this is how much moisture & air is in both.

[@joanfernandez4072]

When you show the potato or peas. Can you do a close up to see the plants and what it looks like... thank you. I’m new to this.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sorry.. This video is several years old already. The dates are listed under the title.

[@stu-0808]

We are learning with you on these videos. Could you give us the details on the pre planting state of the wood chip field as regards to whether the chips were applied just the previous year, fresh or aged, or if there have been chips there for quite a while. Same for the leaf mulch.

[@iamorganicgardening]

SURE.. CLICK on this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGK0inqVmqtjfKc. THIS is the field last OCT. 2015. PLUS a few pictures on my google page. THANKS FOR ASKING.

[@stu-0808]

So it was a relatively new bark chip plot. Not a lot of time for much to happen in the soil and chips considering that they were applied in late fall and planted in this spring. How is the okra doing? Will you be growing potatoes again in the same area next year?

[@iamorganicgardening]

The Okra not grow either.. Yes will plant next year same spot with garlic and lots of field peas..THANKS

[@rsoubiea]

are potatoes a good volunteer plant? i would love to see an entire volunteer garden.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Strawberries is a great plant too cover the garden with.. THANKS

[@tannenbaum3444]

Very interesting way to grow potatoes...did you try to dig out any remain potatoes after pulling the plants by hand?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, There was very little extra,, THANKS,

[@joykaluf2629]

I have a question regarding the field peas. Are these different from sugar snap peas because they look very similar. If they are different, could I use the sugar snap peas instead - as my family grows them in the garden already? There doesn't seem to be any fighting for nutrients between the peas and potatoes, and this would be fantastic if I could grow the two together and save space in my garden. Thanks for the help, thanks for the videos, I am learning a lot!

[@janinasimons8533]

+Joy Kaluf, I had same question guess +I am organic gardening didnt see the comment... As I live in Australia I dot know the diference between sugar peas and field peas, are they same or different.??? And I think I will have to get some info on Back to Eden gardening... I use method my parents used, with paper, leaves, trees twigs, grass etc and never digging.... but that was then natural gardening,... Well before Monsanto was even thought of let alone a company. :)

[@iamorganicgardening]

Field peas and Sugar snap peas are the same and can be planted at the same time as potatoes. Back to Eden is really any type of organic mulch covering the soil just like your parents taught you. THANKS

[@janinasimons8533]

Thank I am organic gardening... I will do a google search and see if they are same thing in Australia, will also look up the wild rye, as I have some hard clay spots that I just might see if I can improved, so will have fun with that, and using my fathers sickle to cut it down..

[@555luckyme]

suggestion...do a really good compost and irrigate the plants with it...also you can do the compost air injected on it and spray it on the leafs...that helps...lots of work but you end up with better product...rock dust...fish emulsion ....will help too

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for your suggestions... MY goal is do only what nature does. The layer of wood chips or leaves is a slow release. Making good soil by the soil food web only. That is why I I do not even add manure..Thanks for writing.

[@mx730md]

what type of field peas did you plant? and where did you get them from? im planting potatoes this year and have had beetle problems so looking to protect them and bean plant they always destroy. recently learned about the 4oclock flower and will be trying to incorporate that as well. thanks

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for asking..They just call them 4010 field peas OG.. This is link to them ( BUT they are sold out ).. www.johnnyseeds.com/farm-seed/?prefn1=prod_feature_use&prefv1=78 .

[@billastell3753]

One thing you should do to improve your crop and save money up front is cut the seed potato before planting. The piece you plant should have no more than 2 eyes on each piece. Then these pieces are planted 10-12 inches apart. Because you planted a whole potato there were way too many eyes on each potato each competing for space and food therefor none would develop to the genetic potential. Once you've had an outbreak of potato bugs you will need stop growing spuds in that area or near by. The bugs winter in the soil and come back with a vengeance the next year. If they don't find potatoes they can live on other plants including tomatoes. Although they cause little damage on these other plants they are able to maintain the colony and come back a year later if you plant spuds there again. My solution was to seed the area in fall wheat are a cover crop. That seemed to work.

[@lawnsbycam6396]

Looking at this years later have you been able to improve your potato yield with back to eden method and if so, how?

[@cindyskinner64]

So glad you don’t spray! I agree. There are always other methods, and I would prefer to stay100%organic, and not even spray products that are approved. Thank you! Cindy in Alabama

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU. I believe in nature.

[@VOTE4TAJ]

Paul always says no bugs attack his plants because they are full of water and any insect will drown. I remember another video by title of "grow tomatoes not foliage" should the reduced foliage encourage more roots or insect damage stuns the overall growth? My potato patch is only 3.6x8 ft, they just started coming out and early to do anything. As I mentioned in other video my mix or wood chips, leaf compost and rabbit manure gave me too much of foliage and more than ever harvest. Couple of red pontiac were over 2 lbs.

[@iamorganicgardening]

PAUL also said he HAD PROBLEMS in his first few years with wood chips, BUT got better in time. The Foliage point is for tomatoes only. THANKS

[@charleshansen8558]

I started planting my potatoes about June 1st and have not had a Colorado Potato bug since. They come out early and die if no potatoes or other comparable weed is growing.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I fully agree, and very good point.. I do the same thing with lots of my corn and other vegs like squash... THANK YOU for you help.

[@davidalzamora3745]

Did you use any amendments?

[@kentmosher2880]

You were saying if you find the bugs you can put them in soapy water it would kill the bugs. Can you spray soapy water over the plants to kill of the potato beetle on the leaves? If so what type of soap? Kent in Willow, AK.

[@iamorganicgardening]

The soap just acts as a slippery surface on the side of the container so they can not hold onto it, so they drown. THANKS.

[@enriqueboixarnandis7299]

Hi! Woodchips and fall leaves are decomposed by the action of fungi. That soil is very rich in fungi and that is very good for trees but not so much for vegetables that require more proportion of bacteria. I recommend you read Elaine Ingham. She talks about the plant succession and the succession of soil microbiology linked to it.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Thank you, I am in contact with Dr Elaine Ingham all the time. She even has a chart showing that more fungi is better then less of all plants.. NOW their is all type of fungi, and all play a great role.. But mycorrhizal fungi ( both endo and etco ) are the KEY ONES to have. And they where not their to help the potatoes. Needed and living root to support their growth way before planting the potatoes.

[@norxgirl1]

Is chip medium more acidic than leaf mold?

[@iamorganicgardening]

It is the same.. Thanks for asking.

[@VonFowler-fw3yh]

Hi Mark, was wondering if you harvest the peas as they reach maturity?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes the peas and before hand also. The top 8 inches I harvest before the peas flowers. I sell those greens that goes into salads.

[@plantbasedlargefamily8724]

I am doing this next year (field peas with potatoes)! do you think it would work with garden peas/spring peas? thx for the tip!

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, you just do not want to do to much to shade out the potatoes foliage. They are all in What is called the legume family and this family of plants make nitrogen to help other plants if they need it. Then later on the legume family takes that nitrogen and changes it into PROTEIN that goes into the peas or beans for us to eat or other animals. THANK YOU..

[@troycole2685]

Hi, was wondering if you could help. I recently covered a grass area with about 25 - 30cm of freshly cut wood chips (from a local tree arborist). I let it sit for about one month, then dug down to the grass level and planted potatoes. After about 30 days I checked on my potatoes, only to find them all completely rotted and turned to moosh. I planted organic, new season, fresh, agria potatoes, some even had sprouted small shoots before I planted them. What do you think went wrong? Many thanks! :)

[@troycole2685]

Also is it really necessary to remove the 'slips' off sweet potatoes, or can you treat them like potatoes and just plant a whole sweet potato in the ground and they multiply (removing slips seems like it wouldn't happen in nature)?

[@iamorganicgardening]

What state or USDA zone do you live in?

[@troycole2685]

10, Auckland, New Zealand

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

Wow, sorry to hear that, Do you have time to get in another crop? Wishing you well.

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES. THANK YOU. Still time to plant OKRA.It will do well in this heat..

[@peacepocketmama4276]

What do you do,with the spent potato plant after the harvest?

[@iamorganicgardening]

What do you mean by spent potato ? Is it the very first one I planted?

[@peacepocketmama4276]

Sorry... I meant the potato vine left after you harvested the potatoes.

[@iamorganicgardening]

They can go into a compost pile if you wish. THANKS.

[@loanauditscal]

Do you just put compost over the leaves for the following year? Or do you just do it once or every couple of years?

[@iamorganicgardening]

It is your choice. if you have the material than do it every year. You can add leaves to make leaf mold every year. No harm at all. THANK YOU.

[@jancko995]

How would you harvest potatoes? By hand? By tractor?

[@iamorganicgardening]

By hand. Thanks

[@jancko995]

@@iamorganicgardening ..just to be shure: so you would 1st move aside woodchips and then, pull out the potatoes?

[@iamorganicgardening]

@@jancko995 Yes, move wood chips aside by hand and then pull up the stems potatoes plants to help you harvest them

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

My hubby likes to water a lot, so my tomatoes were cracked and stunted, but I had 1/2bushel of okra at least. considering I'm in the suburbs on a standard sized lot, that is a lot for us I think I blanched enough okra to last us thru march. harvested sept or oct if I remember correctly.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU...

[@seedaholicgardens9085]

I know you will get bushels of okra in this heat do you plant green or red? I find I like the looks of red better, but I can't taste any difference.

[@iamorganicgardening]

BOTH, THANK YOU for ASKING. This will be the first year trying the red, I am looking forward to tasting it also...

[@iamorganicgardening]

Do you have any growing tips...?

[@x5xxSmittyxx5x]

What about cayenne pepper spray for the bugs? Would you spray that?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, Good Idea. but you have to spray that after each time in rains.

[@hgw90026]

Thanks for the video. Are your potatoes in wood chip or under a layer of wood chip? I noticed the the leave side, they were in the leaves. Reason I ask is that for BTE, the root system needs to be under the layer of wood chips and in the growing media.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes, the potatoes where under a layer of wood chips. Also the leaf side to.Both where in contact withe the soil below...Thanks for asking. I am still very happy withe the results, it will get better over time.

[@RafsKitchenGardenChannel]

Sorry to hear about beetle but I admire your resolve to not use spray.I know it might be not practical for such scale but have you thought about using any kind of plastic fine mesh 1.3 to 2mm over the rows, if managed properly can be used for many years.

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES..I WILL use it next year so I will have a crop. It is worth it. THANK YOU.

[@neilsmall6518]

can potatoes grow anywhere in the world. I have tried a couple times. Unfortunately due to the fact I had no Idea what I was doing they didn't have much on them. Also I live in Barbados zone twelve or thirteen.

[@momdoan]

what about row covers?

[@antoinemonteils2271]

I use flaxseed to repel that bug its effective. Also seed fababean to attract more ladybugs. Let me know if it works for you . Thank you

[@iamorganicgardening]

Will do, THANK YOU so very much.

[@kathyhirsch379]

sorry about those pesky things amazing how nature can survive we have to learn to copy it in our backyard without nasty sprays i love lady bugs to have them in my backyard cheers from Melbourne

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANKS form Melbourne.. WHAT a beautiful place...

[@matermark]

Do you have a mite problem? when you were showing the Myco plant list, you can see critters crawling on it

[@iamorganicgardening]

I have lots of good hungry bugs also, that eat them in my garden too.. THANKS

[@MrCadapiter]

Since this is your first year doing the Back to Eden method, do you think the second year will produce better results?

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES. I HOPE IT WILL GET BETTER. I enjoy the method..

[@citizenshipkingdomofgod8108]

Do you water the potatoes?

[@iamorganicgardening]

No. it had plenty of moisture and rain in it growing season.

[@bkershaccount]

why is okra what you follow up with and i'm thinking you left peas in?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Just to have another crop that I can harvest before winter.. That,s all.

[@bkershaccount]

@@iamorganicgardening thank you. i didn't know if amended soil or did well in same type of planting method..i'm not very familiar with okra...yet.

[@anonz975]

Regarding potato towers and hilling, it all depends on what type of potatoes people are growing. Just like tomatoes they come in determinate and indeterminate varieties. Some produce crops in 3 months and die off, other indeterminate varieties keep growing all season and those are the ones that produce more potatoes when they are hilled.

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU for all this information.

[@garyschreffler6456]

after watching your video,I see your garden is very large . my question is do you have someone helping you? your garden looks nice.

[@iamorganicgardening]

just me now with my youngest autistic son, Oldest son in the marine corp now.

[@lesliefleming4359]

I am wondering how your cardboard box method of growing potatoes would work on other vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, pretty much all other vegetables? Hello large garden for many years until my neighbors trees over powered the garden with shade as they grew

[@iamorganicgardening]

I would be helpful to other vegetables. THANK YOU.

[@FluffyMarshmallow-x6r]

If u want potatoes to grow above that mark, learn the difference between determinant and indeterminate potato varieties. Red potatoes will not grow above that mark, u are right. But a russet potato, for instance, would. Anyway, very nice garden! U do a great job :)

[@iamorganicgardening]

I agree, That is why my chanel is a place to share and learn from nice gardens like yourself. THANK YOU.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

My grandfather planted and the family ate thru the depression from his garden. He always planted peas with his potatoes. Never really knew why, just thought nitrogen( and for peas and new potato dish. Who knew

[@mariannejones1993]

What month do you plant potatoes in. I’m a newbie at this. 😕

[@iamorganicgardening]

I am in zone 6b in New Jersey. I plant them Mid April. You must find out your usda zone. Just google... How to find my usda zone. If you do not know it. THanks

[@kristinasegarra9450]

I have a question: Is there any way to protect potatoes from Colorado beetles? Maybe some home remedies like spraying them with apple cider vinegar? I've just planted mine and really want to bring them to harvest.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sure, 2 things . Insect netting Or Monterey LG6150 Garden Insect Spray, Insecticide & Pesticide with Spinosad Concentrate, 16 oz, 16 oz. ( amazon ) . You might have to place hoops to support for the netting.

[@kristinasegarra9450]

@@iamorganicgardening Any way to use it organically if I don't want to use any chemicals?

[@iamorganicgardening]

It is not a chemical.. Spinosad is a natural substance made by a soil bacterium ..

[@kristinasegarra9450]

@@iamorganicgardening Great, I'll look into it!

[@clivemossmoon3611]

Do you think the lack of sunlight in May encouraged the beetles? I'm an hour south of you and I counted 26 of 31 days overcast in May.

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES, SAME HEAR lack of sun. How is the watermelons doing now?

[@clivemossmoon3611]

I AM NJ ORGANIC:farm:garden Thanks for asking Mark. My new batch really responded to the sun we've been getting just like you predicted.

[@iamorganicgardening]

YOU JUST MADE MY DAY BETTER. THANKS for the GREAT NEWS.

[@clivemossmoon3611]

I AM NJ ORGANIC:farm:garden Mine too! Thank you sir! Now if I could only trap that groundhog!

[@iamorganicgardening]

How much rain have you gotten in the last 2 weeks? Is the soil very dry by you? I received only 1/8 of an inch so far. Always looks like rain but never get it !

[@paul12clearwater]

Hello, thank you for the information. And may Adonai bless you for not using chems. It’s had never been needed. :) Good stuff.

[@iamorganicgardening]

So nice of you to say. THANKS

[@zazugee]

i made lot of low grade vinegar with spoiled fruits i intended to use it as both herbicide and pesticide, depending on the concentration but i've yet to use it, so far from the 80L of raw i have, only sand filtered 20Liters

[@iamorganicgardening]

I hope you never have to use it. It is never necessary . Please watch this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nojPaX16bK6YbMk .

[@prayerangel1]

Kind of early to harvest potatoes unless you are wanting the small ones.....but if I pulled up my potatoes right now they would be no bigger than that either and they have not had any bug predation on them. Usually folks don't harvest spuds until the vines die back completely....could be you'll show better results for yours at the end of the season.

[@iamorganicgardening]

YES, wish to have the baby reds potatoes for sale now. They get a high value at the market. All my variety's I plant are early ones, and they should have a lot more potatoes, I THINK the bugs was due to the lack of sun from mid may to June. THANKS FOR ASKING.

[@urbanpermie6307]

One thing I noticed was that your chips were not broken down much. I use them but they have broken down to a fine dark rich soil. I think your harvest will dramatically improve with time.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I FULLY AGREE with you 100% that in time the soil will improve. Please do not get mad at me, but wood chips do not make soil. Plants roots make soil. My next part in the Back To Eden will SHOW that wood chips only job is to cover the soil, keep it moist & reduce heating of the soil. Even Paul just said in his new tour that it is not soil BUT COMPOST. Please watch the next part and tell me what you think...GOOD or BAD. THANK YOU, Mark

[@urbanpermie6307]

I AM NJ ORGANIC:farm:garden I agree that it is not soil too, but it does make a far better growing medium than clay, and with the addition of rock dust, and other organic material, gets the job done. You have inspired me to start more experimentation, thanks.

[@iamorganicgardening]

And THANK YOU for writing..Enjoy

[@lukelints9776]

You should take your worm juice and airate it with a bubbler, use it as a natural pesticide to keep the bugs away.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Great Info, Thanks.

[@debbib5383]

Is the bug at 9:33 a Ladybug pr an Asian Lady Beetle? I couldn't see well enough, and am just learning that the Asian Beetles are SO similar! www.diffen.com/difference/Asian_Lady_Beetle_vs_Ladybug

[@iamorganicgardening]

At that view it looks like a Asian lady beetle.. THANK YOU for the info..

[@billiamc1969]

How can I arrange a tour?

[@iamorganicgardening]

I am Sorry I do not do tours. My time is limited due to being a widower and my son needs my help 24/7. He is autistic. BUT THANK FOR ASKING.

[@peacepocketmama4276]

Is there a "trapping plant" for squash bugs? Other than nasturtiums?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Sorry..I do not know of any yet.. The best way so far is to have healthy soil for healthy plants..THANKS

[@johnndavis7647]

I use a 18 volt ryobi car vacume with a crack and cravas tip taped into the spout. I use it to suck up all of the bugs i see. I check the plants frequently in the early spring and try to get them when they first hatch out. So far, so good.

[@danpopa1137]

hi, my name is Dan and for your problem with potatoes I sugest having two guinea fowl...and problem solved.

[@iamorganicgardening]

That is a great Idea.. will do. THANK YOU.

[@msspgj]

Could you use an insect tunnel over the potatoes?

[@iamorganicgardening]

Yes..

[@jancko995]

keep up the good thinking, about not using pesticides!

[@iamorganicgardening]

THANK YOU, I follow or do only what nature does.

[@carbine090909]

I was planning on growing potatoes in my patch next year, but yikes. you're right, they sure are a puzzle. These are other suggestions I've read: letting chickens and guinea hens eat the adults, toads too, vacuuming the adults, flaming the tops of young plants, also attracting grosbeaks to eat them, and confusing the bugs with aromas -- tagetes tenuifolia marigolds (petals are edible) and garlic, also dead nettle and flax. This link has some suggestions (disregard the chem though) www.ecochem.com/resource_potatoes.html. Don't cover them, as you already have them in the ground so they'll just come up under the covers in the spring. Gosh, they remind me of this Star Trek episode, kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYvKiHWmjNOroZY. I wonder how the larvae would react to bright light...

[@iamorganicgardening]

One of my viewers wrote that chicken do not eat anything orange. And she even try to feed some to her chickens. And did not go for them at all..I am going to try to plant garlic..THANKS

[@JudyE13]

I'd like to see someone maybe layer wood chips with leaves or cover wood chips with leaves to see if this method would have a different outcome.

[@iamorganicgardening]

I will be doing a experiment soon like that. THANK YOU for watching.

[@cadamczak6856]

I got a few guinea fowl for tick and insect control in my yard/garden. Perhaps they may have enjoyed munching the potato bugs.

[@iamorganicgardening]

Maybe.. I think they would be great at it.

[@bighammer587]

@C Adamczak Do the guinea birds leave the plants alone?

[@antoinemonteils2271]

Seed the flaxseed next to the potatoes at the same time

[@iamorganicgardening]

OK will try. THANK YOU.