The Good and Bad of No Dig Potato Growing | Permaculture Farm

It seems like I'm constantly prepping beds and planting seeds or seedlings but thats just life when you are growing most of your own food. Today, as in recent videos, that's what I'm doing. I want to grow carrots year round so another bed of seeds is being planted.
I also harvest a quarter of my potato plants, some huge beetroots and a few other veg from the garden.
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I've started a buymeacoffee page - it should be renamed buymeaplant page as I hope to use funds raised here to diversify my trees and shrubs in my food forest. If you'd like to support me - link is below!! Thank you!
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#permaculture #selfsufficientliving #nodiggardening

[@mauimago8275]

Totally awesome It is so wonderful you share your bounty, you will always be blessed by the great almighty, Jehovah.🥰

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Giving brings as much joy as receiving 😊

[@NasierOmran]

​@@huttonsvalleypermacultureMaybe thats why earth gives us all so much.

[@LizZorab]

I really enjoyed this video!

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thanks Liz!! You are the one who inspired me to share it all on KZbin 😊

[@rizesgardening]

That's a really good potato harvest! & nice 790g potato! heaviest i've grown was 522g, hoping to beat it this year 😂

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thank you - always a lot of fun digging up the spuds!! Thanks for watching (and good luck beating your biggest!!)

[@Mahia965]

That was another awesome video, and massive harvests. Key words that I especially enjoyed were, "Dutch Creams", "Buckwheat", "Food Banks", "Neighbors", "Sharing", "Gifting", "Family" and "Selling". Top quality video, and your subscribers love seeing what you do!! Full support!!

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thank you so much - I really do appreciate your support 😊

[@troyh5955]

Can you do a video on the preservation and how you store them long term.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thanks Troy - I have had this video request from someone else also so may have a look at filming one! Long term storage of potatoes for me is not great as I don't have a cool enough storage area to keep them very long which is why I do the freezing and why I'll just give away a lot instead of have them all deteriorate and become unusable! Thanks for watching!!

[@MartinaSchoppe]

yes, please 😊

[@troyh5955]

Hi Linda, please don’t feel pressured, I’m just doing research for my place in kangaroo island. I’d also love to see if or how you harvest water other than the swale.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

A few other people have asked as well!! My dam and two rain tanks (75000L) are my other water collection points - still working on others

[@KJJ3942]

My potatoes are developing flowers, can’t wait to harvest

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

How exciting!!! Good luck 😊

[@christiegrows2022]

That’s an incredible harvest Linda. Did you water these or are they just rainfall?

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

I might have watered them once. Actually I think another good thing with no dig is that the organic material really holds the moisture in which is a huge win!!

[@christiegrows2022]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture yes 💯. I am going to try again this year. Sadly my efforts last year were destroyed by slugs. Will try it again and leave them longer this year.

[@richm5889]

All you need to prevent them from going green is a thick enough layer of straw to prevent the sun from getting through. Determinate potatoes grow on the same level of the seed potatoes. Indeterminate potatoes will grow up and up as long as there is soil to grow into. But in either case if there's a thick enough layer of straw to prevent the sun getting through they won't turn green.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Yeah thanks!! I did put some mulch on top but obviously not enough to challenge the birds. Next time heap it on!! Thanks for watching and appreciate your advice 😊

[@nohamalife]

The potatoes are big. That's a huge potato harvest. The onions also did well.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Yes - I was very pleased with both! Thanks for watching 😊

[@MrRocksoil]

When you tear onions out of ground,it can cause damage to the root base which can lead to rotting in storage,its better to sever the roots from below with a knife or spade.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Ooh thanks for that tip - I’ll make sure to do that next time 😊👍

[@marionbyrne9765]

Great video, I’m interested to know how you preserve the potatoes ✌️❤️

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Hi Marion I preserve some potatoes by making gnocchi and freezing. I parboil and freeze for chips and roasting and I also love to make big batches of mash and freeze that in portions. Takes a bit of time but makes for really quick and easy sides throughout winter and spring. Check out my video - Preserving Potatoes, Garlic and Onion - I go through it all here! Thanks for watching!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKOygoaLZa11arc

[@nickthegardener.1120]

All I can say I wow! Amazing potatoes! Maybe lay a cover between rows on the ground to stop the birds, or a bird net to cover the whole crop! Great harvest!!.👍🏻👍🏻🤠

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Yeah a bird net would work or maybe I just need to chill & be happy with my huge harvest haha!! Thanks for watching 😊

[@nickthegardener.1120]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture yeah I think you can let nature have some.👍🏻😂🤠

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

😆

[@vanessamccarthy8224]

Where did you get your boots and would you recommend these?

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Hi Vanessa the gumboots are Bogs brand. I have mixed feelings about them. Very comfortable but not great in wet long grass as the neoprene isn't waterproof just resistant and the moisture gets through. I usually have waterproof pants over the top for rain and wet grass which works well. They are really warm for winter - just wish they would stand up to wet conditions better.

[@schnauzpig]

I think indeterminate potato varieties will keep growing up and near the surface regardless of how deep the initial compost layer is.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thanks so much for this info - didn’t realise potatoes were indeterminate and determinate - I have some reading to do!! Cheers Linda

[@schnauzpig]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture Yes they are related to tomatoes. I think nearly all main crop varieties except early ones are indeterminate. They have a higher yield but they never stop growing upwards and constant earthing is recommended to maximize those yields.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Mmm I think next time I’ll start the potatoes right on the soil surface and pile up compost and mulch even more than I did this time!! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@christasmicroflowerfarm2695]

A wonderful harvest for you and those you share with. My potatoes did not do very well this year, perhaps they didn't get enough water as we haven't had any rain in 4 weeks now. I have some pumpkin seedlings that are a small orange variety and they can go into the potato bed, fingers crossed there's enough time for them to produce a few pumpkins for me. Oh and dehydrated onions are one of the most used items in my pantry and they last a very long time. To prevent moisture getting into my jar of any dehydrated foods, I'll always add a tablespoon of dry white rice, it works well and much cheaper than buying expensive products for this purpose. Love your videos Linda and have a lovely day.🌞🥔🧅🥰

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thanks Christa - sorry to hear that your spuds weren't great - wishing you better luck with the pumpkins. Great tip for the dehydrated onions - thanks for sharing 😊

[@MartinaSchoppe]

Thanks for the tip with the rice! 😊

[@poodlepup1]

my understanding is that you are suppose to keep piling up the mulch/ soil up the stem to hide the potatoes and stop greening ... ? a deeper hole might help.. fab harvest well done you.. :)

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Hi Christina - I did keep piling up for a bit but the bed became higher than the paths so the birds could kick it all around fairly easily. I agree a deeper growing bed but to achieve this maybe I should have also raised the woodchip path up as well!!?? Thanks for watching

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

The cart is a Gorilla cart. I hit it at Bunnings - just looked and they are around $250

[@rubygray7749]

Pontiacs, the "lunker potato" according to another favourite YT channel, "Haphazard Homestead". I'm growing some this year in my new no dig garden, but I doubt they'll get as large as yours! Another red favourite which is almost as big, and dare I say it, has the best flavour, is Red Desiree. They are magnificent for baked stuffed spuds. You truly can provide the bulk of your diet from potatoes, and live very economically from your garden with some hardy staples like leeks, cabbage, silver beet, carrots, swedes, beets, and of course rich golden eggs from those wonderful recycling, compost producing hens.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Red Desiree - yes I've had those before and enjoyed. Potatoes and the veggie garden are very giving - don't need much from the shops with all of this growing - and stay much healthier too!! 😊

[@Gotchapic]

I believe ‘ no dig’ does put the potatoes under the ground. This seems to be a ‘Ruth Stout’ method of laying the potatoes on the ground and covering them with straw/hay or other matter to cover them. You have a very nice harvest nevertheless!

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thanks you!

[@rubyewiggins4926]

You can save the green ones for new seed potatoes

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Yes they are perfect for that! Thanks for watching 😊

[@deborahlee8135]

An amazing potato merry go round! Food banks are beautiful thought for excess produce beyond family/friends.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Yes I’m happy to share 😊

[@NasierOmran]

I got 13,5kg from about 2m² with this methode last year. Its great to prepare the beds en soil for future use. Very easy to harvest.🏆🌱🥔

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Well done it is fantastic! Also a great method for sweet potato!

[@NasierOmran]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture i think our climate is a bit to cold for sweet potatoes. Ill try them with dark plastic this year to absorb and hold heath.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Good luck!!

[@NasierOmran]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture thanks i tried it 2 years ago without the black foil without succes. I got 2 sweet potatoes in water for seedlings, ready to kick off 🤞🏽

[@The_Fletchers]

Your amazing Linda. Well done your potato harvest is something to aspire too 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💚💚💚

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thank you for that!! I'm also amazed at my potato harvest haha!! Thanks for watching

[@joolzmac1]

Why grow so many potatoes? You said it - because it is fun! 😊 Nothing better than some homegrown potatoes with butter, salt and pepper. It’s lovely of you to share with others in the community in need. 😇

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Exactly haha

[@countrymousesfarmhouse497]

Wow, there was some whopper potatoes and a fantastic harvest all around! Community is so important. Your friends and The food bank will be so happy with that beautiful produce. That's so interesting about the potatoes protecting themselves by turning green , I wonder if they'll make better seed potatoes because they're already protecting themselves??😍 Thank you for sharing lovely ❤

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Mmm don’t know about that but they were already growing again so probably better as seed spuds as they were good to go 😄

[@Hhaahland4]

Hi Linda, what variety of onions did you sow? I planted Australian brown this year (SA) and they all went to flower, later sowings of different varieties did better. Still learning about onion growing so not sure if it was variety or timing. Last years crop got hammered by aphids so still none the wiser what I might be doing incorrectly. No doubt I’ll keep trying until I get it right…my new Holy Grail of veg.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

I think it was called Melbourne Brown onion which I got a year or so a go from diggers club but I tried looking it up and all I could see was Australian brown - so not sure if there are the same. This is only my second year of successful onion growing. Same issue as you previously of going to flower that’s why I experimented with different timing. I think it’s the luck of the weather at the time.

[@Hhaahland4]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture Mine were Diggers too so I think it would have been Australian Brown. Horses for courses I guess.

[@harriettejensen479]

I love growing and harvesting potatoes, but I hadn't thought of freezing them parboiled and ready to use. Thanks!

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

It’s the best thing to be able to pull them out and throw them straight in the oven - no defrosting!!

[@williamreeder3660]

Great video

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thanks William!

[@backtonature433]

You're awesome Linda,,,,sharing is caring🤗🤗🤗🙏💚🌱💚

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thank you kindly

[@backtonature433]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture 🤗🤗🤗🙏💗💗💗

[@rubygray7749]

My chooks free ranged into my no dig spud patch and unmulched some of them. But where I had put cardboard on top of the compost and straw, they couldn't disturb anything. Chooks LOVE raw potatoes!! I find that they can sense when the spuds are ready, and if not restrained, they will scratch down and peck out the inside of every tuber. So don't throw damaged ones on the compost heap! Of course potatoes are more nutritious for chooks if they are cooked first. Mum and grandma used to have a big pot of potato peelings and wheat simmering beside the fire at night so the hens would have a lovely thick warm breakfast on frost mornings.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Thanks another great idea Ruby. I've got quite a few green and not quite right spuds. I'll definitely boil them up now and feed to the girls!!

[@rubygray7749]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture I don't know about feeding green ones to chooks either! I think they'd be affected as much as we would. But they can certainly have all the scabby or sluggy or wrinkled ones that we don't want.

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

👍 thank you 😊

[@MartinaSchoppe]

Oh damn. I dared to mention the name of an alternative search engine in my previous comment, so YT "disapeared" said comment (that one is better and they even plant trees...). I hope you can find it somewhere... (tell me if you don't, I'll try to remember what I wrote 🤣) But I wanted to add: Don't wash potatoes before storing. A bit of soil on them apparently makes them keep longer. Only wash them right before using them. We stored our potatoes in the (cool, dark) cellar in a big box made out of wooden slats and once we used the potatoes and the "Kartoffelkiste" was empty it was my job to sweep up the soil that fell of during storage, and return it to the garden 😂 And I also would love a video of your prepping you "convenience potatoes" for storing in the freezer. (I'm afraid, I'll need another freezer *seigh*

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

I didn't see the other comment!! The potatoes don't have soil on them but some compost - has life in it just like soil so hopefully without the washing they will keep better. I don't have a root cellar unfortunately so eventually they all start sprouting and the cycle starts again. Tending the soil and returning it - love it!! Have a great week Martina x

[@MartinaSchoppe]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture moa.... love google. Not... Okay, trying to remember what I wrote in the censured comment.... Okay... GOOGLE 😂"Hilling Potatoes! more later because...

[@MartinaSchoppe]

HA! Okay, back on topic: Hilling potatoes is not really "no dig" so to have the same effect, I think you need to use much more mulch of a kind that can not so easily moved by birds. Like straw or hay, maybe even weighing that down with some long branches? The rest of my comment was probably just some rambling about being so inspired by your video, that I want to plant my potatoes RIGHT NOW. But: 🥶🥶🥶 still winter... And also my ordered seed potatoes ("Blauer Schwede" aka "Blue Congo", "Blaue Anneliese", "Rote Emmalie", "Mayan Red" and "Nemo" (yes, they look a bit like the fish 🤣) even the names are fantastic 🥰) have not been delivered yet. And isnt it amazing how many potato varieties there are, because in the shops there are only "floury" and "Low starch"... 😒) I plan on planting them under the leaves I mounted up in their future bed, and hopefully "my" horsemanure "dealer" still has those too-old-for-anything-else haybales he promised to bring around, to do the "hilling" with - otherwise I need to get creative 🙃

[@huttonsvalleypermaculture]

Hey I love the sticks idea!!! I’m actually doing just that with some carrot seedlings that are finely taking off. All the sticks definitely stops the birds. And yes, a lot more mulch would help of course!! Exciting potato times ahead for you 😄

[@MartinaSchoppe]

@@huttonsvalleypermaculture YT actually censored another comment. Un.F.Ing.Believable - They must be in panic of somebody else taking away their world wide web supremacy... There are other thingies, with which you can goo looking for thingies on the internet. Some (well, one...) are run by people with a conscience and by using it, they finance tree planting. Next thing will be, that they put me in KZbin lock-down for not using... you know what 🤣🤣🤣