This Will Change the Way We Grow Potatoes!

[@LazyDogFarm]

GET SEED POTATOES HERE: bit.ly/3U1p4Hj Use code "LAZYDOGFARM" for a 5% discount 0:00 Intro 0:52 Recapping Our Previous Potato Harvests 2:05 Digging Elba Potatoes in Raised Beds 4:18 Digging Fingerling Potatoes in Raised Beds 5:45 Digging Sarpo Mira Potatoes in Raised Beds 7:47 Weighing our Raised Bed Potato Harvest 7:49 What Was Our Return on Investment? 8:41 More About Elba Potatoes 9:36 More About Sarpo Mira Potatoes 10:30 More About Rose Apple Finn Fingerling Potatoes 11:11 2023 Potato Season Recap 11:58 Why Were the Raised Bed Potatoes So Productive?

[@auntiereeses5864]

Harvesting potatoes is so dang exciting - it's like a treasure hunt! In our tiny space, the hunt is over in 10 minutes, just when you're wanting to gear up, so I'm extra happy that you included footage of pulling yours. Makes me feel a little silly, actually, but I don't care. I'll take big fun wherever it presents itself. Thank you!

[@MissBetsyLu]

I'm with you in gardening fun. Many blessings everyone.

[@mattpeacock5208]

I got 6 to 1 on some yukon gold from the grocery store that sprouted eyes last December in the kitchen. Not a huge result, but better than tossing them in the trash.

[@trippnbilly7130]

I just dug some of my Taters today.. I followed your videos and tried to do everything you told me.. Thank you. This will be my best Tater harvest ever.. I'm in South Carolina.

[@waynec3121]

Congratulations Travis on 50,000 subs, and a great potato harvest.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Thanks Wayne!

[@Happy2Run4Me]

I have only harvested one grow bag of russets that I planted in March and I got about 20 potatoes from 2 seed potatoes. I was pretty happy with that though I harvested a little early as they’d just started to die back. I just couldn’t wait to see how they grew and they grew wonderfully! I then planted 9 more seed potatoes a month and a half later (mid April) of the same batch of seed potatoes that I let sprout a bit longer and they’ve all grown so huge! They are as tall as my chest and are all in grow bags on the ground. I’m excited to see what they produce. If they do really well then I’m definitely going to save some of these as seeds for my next batch. Russets are honestly my favorite variety. I got these from the grocery store last year and they were locally grown which I took as a good sign that they’d do well here. They grew sprouts pretty quickly over the winter in my cupboard so I decided to plant them in the spring. It’s really done well in my opinion. I’ve also grown a few other varieties via TPS this year and those are growing quite well in grow bags as well. I’m excited to see how they produce. They’ve all flowered but haven’t started to die back yet so I wait, albeit impatiently, but I’m waiting! I have Yukon golds and two other red skinned varieties so it’s an experiment for me.

[@michaelmanculich4004]

A great harvest 😊

[@dvrmte]

Kennebec is a favorite in the upcountry. It was so commonly grown 40-50 years ago, that I always tried other varieties when I could get them. The only other varieties available locally were Irish Cobbler and Red Pontiac. Cobbler had low yields compared to Kennebec and Red Pontiac isn't an all-purpose tater. This year most of my tater vines were hit with brown spot disease, which is similar to early blight. Asterix, a European variety was hit worse. Yukon Gold was nearly as bad. I killed the vines earlier than I wanted to, in order to prevent the disease spores from infecting the tubers. My Kennebec are still growing and only have a few spots on the older leaves. Kennebec keeps reminding me why I grow it every year. I've grown Elba before and it grew lots of baseball size taters on unirrigated land for me. Kennebec had larger taters with less consistent sizes on unirrigated land. Yukon Gold is the only variety that I've completely dug at the moment. The seed taters came from the tractor store and were the worse quality I've ever planted. I only planted 3 of the 4 lbs. I bought. They were soft and weakly sprouted. Most seed only had one sprout after chitting. I also had several skips in the row where the seed piece rotted. I haven't weighed them yet.

[@cliftonfontenot2359]

I harvested my potatoes a couple weeks back. I planted 10 lbs of red norlands,10 lbs of kennebec white, 10 lbs of Irish cobbler, 5 lbs of German butter ball. I ended up with about 350 -400 lbs total of taters.

[@LazyDogFarm]

A 10x multiple -- that's a great harvest!

[@Happy2Run4Me]

Wow! Great job! So blessed. ☺️

[@Sarah-over-here]

Just a quick tip for future planting of Sharpo Mira - they will just keep growing until the frost gets them so the tops don't die back like other potatoes when they are ready. You can leave them for longer if you want bigger potatoes or crop them with your other varieties while the tops arre still green. Here in the UK they usually have red/pink skins though.

[@dann1232]

I got my seed potatoes from wood prairie I got the mountaineer which had the Sarpo Mira , huckleberry gold and Baltic rose last year and planted them in February , I had small 4 small seed potatoes all weighed a lb and the harvest in my grow bags were the best I I have had I got 4 lbs from each varieties a total of 12 lbs, waiting to harvest my 1 lb of Elba that was ordered later. My best harvest yet.

[@meharris0925]

Glad you mentioned about the water. I grew potatoes for the first time this year in raised beds, with a few in grow bags. The grow bags got more water as I was afraid to water the potatoes due to them rotting (following your advice on a previous video). The grow bags did really well, while the raised beds did okay. Now with this new knowledge and experience, I will give them more water next year.

[@reneebrown2968]

It may also have alot to do with the light loose soil in the raised beds. I've gotten bigger taters and sweetpotatoes in my raised beds. And yes, daily watering due to all loose topsoil.

[@michaelmanculich4004]

It looks great, nice job

[@ivahihopeful]

I think you’re right about the water. I did that better this year, too. My potatoes are nearing 200 pounds, and I still have a row to dig. (South Mississippi, Zone B)

[@markware4933]

Between whole small seed potatoes and chits, my one-pound allotment of Sarpo Mira gave me eight seed potatoes to plant. I planted two each in four 7 gallon nursery pots. Started with about 4" of high octane amended potting soil, potatoes on top of that, and filled the pots with a quality bagged compost about 8" deep. At this time, all have poked through and are growing well. Green sprouted, drip irrigation, 20% shade. IPM program to ward off blights and potato beetles. We're high and dry at 6500' at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, good potato country, so we start with a climate advantage over South Georgia. Still, I hope to beat your breathtaking yield from a pound of Sarpo Mira grown in your raised beds. However, at $20/lb. for Sarpo Mira seed potatoes from Wood Prairie, I need to learn the absolute best method for saving about 10# of my homegrown Sarpos for next year.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Can't wait to hear what your final yield is.

[@gailgrice8979]

Thank you so much for all the advice and directions! I dug my Huckleberry Gold potatoes today between rain storms and cooked some for dinner. Wow, delicious, creamy potatoes. I was afraid they were going to rot with all the rain we’ve had. Garden paths were standing in water. Thank goodness I hilled them pretty high. Still have Caribe and Baltic Rose to dig.

[@sn232]

Raised bed advice: mushroom soil when hilled the potatoes in raised beds. fertilized 3 times thru the growing period. watering he would water when they looked like they needed it however importance especially during the end. watering consistently every other day even if didn't look like they needed it, if it had not rained. Great advice thank you!

[@jamesconley6715]

We planted Kennebecs in the foothills of NC they did very well you got a lot of nice potatoes this year keep up the great work

[@davidgraf197]

Another excellent video!

[@wandawheeler5331]

I really enjoy your podcasts. Thank you

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

That really was a great tater year for you! Mine still need more than a couple of months. I’m sure getting out there to give them a drink tomorrow! Could I suggest one more point to add to your three: use high quality disease free seed from a reputable supplier! Klaus

[@MissBetsyLu]

Seed Potatoes have to be certified disease free to be sold in USA. Many blessings everyone.

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

You and I both need a few more months Klaus. 😀

[@debramccarthy2182]

Tried that Rose Gold in the ground and got 18.5 for a one pound bag. Planted in a 3 year old horse manure mix and watered 2x a day for 20 minutes each time. I'll fertilize next year as I forgot all about it trying to keep up with everything. Thank you so so much.

[@LazyDogFarm]

That's pretty dang good for 1 lb bag!

[@debramccarthy2182]

@@LazyDogFarm That's because you're a good teacher for us old peeps!! 🫂👏🫂🤠

[@melissakingery4393]

Missed one at the first hope you got that fingerling

[@ahabthecrab]

I planted 1/2 pound of chitted grocery store baby reds and whites in October in a small raised ned and harvested 7 pounds last week. I guess that was pretty good for my first go at growing taters😃

[@melissakingery4393]

Travis the heat got away from me and it got too hot to plant my potatoes so hopefully next year

[@kirstmlarson1]

I think Kennebec is a northern potato. They are our family favorite, and grow well even in when we have a really wet spring. I always try one other variety that’s new to me, so I’ll get my Wood Prairie taters preordered early 😄

[@MissBetsyLu]

usually, a northern veriaty in vegs means it matures in 100 day or faster. Kennebec was my dad's favorite in VT, 35 yrs ago or so. Blessings everyone.

[@rebeccawatson9284]

What a great harvest!

[@SouthernRiverFishing]

Travis, the potato fields in Idaho all have pivots on them. That tells me water is key because pivots are expensive.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Very true!

[@mattbrown837]

CO same

[@whitestone4401]

What a great year you’re having. Great job.

[@matthewking2209]

My Sarpo Mira look pink and rather flat, Butte was my best producer. I planted about 6 inches deep then use straw as mulch which works and is low low effort. I also grow wine cap mushroom in the straw at the same time. What I have found though is that the straw would be moist but if I dug down the soil was dry. The plants would be drying out the soil and it was hard to get water back down there through all the straw. This fall I plan on trying the trench.

[@jillclark1744]

Thank you for a very informative video. My potatoes never produce well but I am very optimistic about my future crops after watching this. I'm in Stephen's County Georgia which is zone 8 but right at zone 7. We tend to get more cloudy days, more rain and more suprise frost than the rest of zone 8 and I have had to replant potatoes more than once because of it. I am thinking of doing an experiment with planting a tub of potatoes the end of July but keeping them in air conditioning under grow lights until mid September and see how they do. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks again, you have really helped me alot with my garden this year. Oh and Florida Weave is the balm. 👍

[@patchitwood7428]

Thanks for the informative video. Kennebecs do really well for me here in Zone 6A. We typically plant the first week of April and harvest in early July. It is interesting to see how things are done in other zones.

[@irmasterner2521]

So Very nice garden❤

[@TheasGarden]

Hello, man I enjoyed seeing you dig them Taters! 😁 Went over to WoodPrairie looking for Sarpo Mira potatoes and of course they're all gone, well maybe next year Lord willing, God Bless 😊

[@tammyohlsson7966]

Me too! :(

[@MissBetsyLu]

Well of course everyone that watched this thought the same thing. Many blessings everyone.

[@lisafahrner8257]

That’s so awesome!!

[@Jan-Boer]

Thanks for the interesting video, could you also tell us a bit about the cost per pound?

[@kate739]

excellent video thanks

[@catherineparsons20]

Red Pontiacs do best here in north Texas. I got about a 13 times multiple. It was pretty dry through the spring here.

[@pd8559]

Travis, ever though of growing some TPS for funsies? Or a video.

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

Wow Travis, what a great harvest! I waited for years to get my hands on the Sarpo Mira. My Sarpo Mira potatoes got a disease and started to die way to early and I was keeping them watered. I did get a harvest but none were as big as yours. I was under the impression it was the most disease resistant potato out there. My Baltic Rose did pretty good but not as good as I would have liked. As for the red Norland I was very disappointed in them. I've never seen them grow small green potatoes way up the vine, I bet I had 2 ft of dirt hilled up around them and they still grew little green potatoes up the stalk. The Norlands didn't come from Wood Prairie. I think I'll stick to the red Pontiac for my red potatoes.

[@markware4933]

Mary, it's said that those Sarpo Mira are highly blight resistant, but nowhere can I find if they mean early blight, Alternaria Solani, or late blight, Phytophthora Infestans. Both are called "potato blight" though they're distinct fungal diseases. The late blight is the one that de-populated Ireland in 1852. The best defense that I use is Bonide Liquid Copper which is listed for both diseases. I use 3 Tbs./gallon of spray and begin the spray program before symptoms are visible as a preventative. I use the same spray on tomatoes as part of our IPM program. Best of luck this season.

[@MissBetsyLu]

Seems to me that's an awful lot of hilling. Many blessings everyone.

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

@@markware4933 thank you so much , I have liquid copper in my gardening paraphernalia. I'll have to remember your regimen for my fall potatoes and next season for tomatoes and potatoes.

[@jasongoodman3174]

Are going to fry fall potatos in a raised bed this year

[@LazyDogFarm]

We probably will do some fall potatoes, but not sure yet where they will land.

[@rickthelian2215]

Nice potatoes, must be the raised beds, better results than on ground even with those factors encountered😊 Jim send some to Australia 😊🇦🇺

[@mattshepherd8586]

Tater envy here. We had a wet spring here and that wasnt great for my yield. I had more blue taters than any of the standard varieties which was a first.

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

I saw at least 1 small potato you missed in the 1st bed. 😀 This was really good Travis. You had a nice selection of potatoes you grew this year. I do well with the Kennebec and am interested in seeing how Elba does in my garden next year. (I use 10 G root pouches for potatoes with dip tape on a timer) Might also give the Sarpo Mira a try too. Are you going to save the 1.5 to 2 oz potatoes to replant for a fall crop?

[@laurieschapro6036]

I SAW THAT LITTLE POTATO THAT WAS LEFT IN THE RAISED BED , TOO !!!! I'M GLAD THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO SAW IT !!! I KEPT ON TELLING HIM THAT IT WAS IN THERE , BUT HE JUST DIDN'T HEAR ME SAYING ANYTHING THROUGH MY PHONE !!!! 😊😊😊😊😂😂😂😂😂 !!!!

[@edwardmarkel4018]

Hi Travis I enjoy your videos and watched your potato series with Woodprairie. I am in the midwest and have grown the Caribou Russet and Elba. So far they are doing well in containers. I dont recall you mentioning in any of your videos. Do you remove blossoms buds and flowers from the potato plants to increase production? Has it made any difference either way? Thanks Ed

[@LazyDogFarm]

I tried it one year but didn't seem to make any difference. So I no longer do it.

[@brucemullis479]

Hope your jammed finger gets better. Be good to know which tasted best if there is a difference.

[@bobfrye8879]

Almost 10:1 In my red Caribe 8A AR)

[@doylemarkham1010]

Where can we get some potato bags for storing

[@SPshaun]

Just curious, never have grown fingerlings. What’s the reason people like to grow those and how would you use them?

[@MissBetsyLu]

Taste, I'm almost certain. Many blessings everyone.

[@LazyDogFarm]

They have an exceptional taste and are great for roasting. We take the smaller ones and roast them whole and they're so good!

[@davidward1259]

Travis, is there any reason not to use some of the smaller ones for a 2nd planting once they sprout? Or is it better to cut a large one into sections instead of using a small seed potato? We did a "Southern Belle" sampler in 15 gallon grow bags this year. It give you 3 small seed potatoes which I cut in half and planted 3 sections per 15 gallon grow bag. For the size of the seed, the harvest has been great so far. I just have a couple of small ones I can use for seed in a 2nd crop for this fall if size of the seed does not really matter (considering the sampler pack had small - about the size of a small egg and I cut those in half, I'm thinking it will not matter). We planted later than you did and harvested the Caribe' and Red Norland this weekend with our grandson on Fathers Day. He had a grand time digging for 'taters. I'm hooked on taters in grow bags since we have a smaller garden space in raised beds (240 sq ft total). Easy to harvest, just dump the grow bag on a piece of plastic, hunt for 'taters and when done, dump the soil back in the grow bag. I did not put the bags on our drip system and I think we only watered by hand twice during some dry times when the soil felt dry. I may put the 2nd planting on the drip based on your findings.

[@LazyDogFarm]

When it comes to a fall planting, I've had better luck planting whole taters. But it mostly comes down to what's the best looking potatoes I have left and that have sprouts.

[@buddymc]

I've always enjoyed your informative videos. Have I missed something, or do y'all not grow green beans? Or any type of bean?

[@LazyDogFarm]

We don't grow green beans anymore. They're okay, but I'd much rather have a butterbean, English pea, or field pea. We usually grow one of those three every year and put a good bit in the freezer so that we don't have to grow them every year.

[@buddymc]

@@LazyDogFarm I agree with you, I'd rather have a good butterbean or some cowpeas. I prefer to dry the butterbeans or cowpeas instead of freezing them. Easy to do, and stored in a tub for a long time. Doesn't take up precious freezer space.

[@dustinadkins6994]

I’m about halfway through my potato season, should I fertilize at this blossoming state? And what fertilizer should I use?

[@MissBetsyLu]

I've been considering that also. Blessings all.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Might not hurt to give them a little more if they look like they could use it. I always recommend something balanced for potatoes. We use 8-5-5 which isn't perfectly balanced, but close enough.

[@Srhsbmet]

What type of fertilizer injection system do you use on your drip system? Seems to work extremely well!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Here's a link: bit.ly/3DUhWq0

[@tammyohlsson7966]

Not potato related but what will you be selling or having a link too this fall? I’d like to support you if possible. Blessings!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Yes. Our link and coupon code should still be good through the fall.

[@halsmith2174]

Travis, I would like to plant a late summer crop to harvest in Fall- maybe 60-70 day variety before first frost (mid October for Bartow County GA) Any suggestions on type and source? Many Thanks! Hal (Rydal GA)

[@LazyDogFarm]

You'll need to save some of your spring harvest and use those.

[@SparksWilly]

Did you use agro thrive when watering taters thru the drip?

[@LazyDogFarm]

I didn't have the taters on drip, but I did inject some through a spray nozzle when watering them a few times.

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

Where do you buy the pink lplastic basket. ?

[@LazyDogFarm]

It's made by a company called Gorilla Tub. But Tractor Supply has something similar as well.

[@buckeyegardener8969]

What kind of soil do you fill your bed’s up with?

[@LazyDogFarm]

We found some 13 yr old composted wood chips at a local sawmill and mostly used that. We did top them with some bagged potting soil and mushroom compost.

[@EGGstravagantkitchen]

These ones where you just show the Bible are the best. No apology needed. I prefer them. Not as many distractions this way.

[@rwardlaw1]

As a rule of thumb, how long do taters take to grow from planting seed taters to harvest?

[@MissBetsyLu]

Usually 80-130 days. Many blessings everyone.

[@LazyDogFarm]

For us usually 90-100 days. The longer-maturing, 120 or so day varieties don't always have the chance to make it that long before it gets too hot.

[@citylotgardening6171]

👍

[@rachelstark2391]

Greetings, Did you "Hill" the raised beds? And how deep was your trench? Cheers

[@LazyDogFarm]

We started with a trench about 8-10" deep. After planting the potatoes, we covered them with a little bit of soil. As they sprouted and the plants grew, we backfilled the trench around the plants. Then we added more soil and hilled the plants.

[@rachelstark2391]

@LazyDogFarm Thank you...

[@mutantryeff]

Is Santa already loading the sleigh up with more raised beds?

[@stevefromthegarden1135]

I had this same thought watching this potato harvest. 😀

[@LazyDogFarm]

Haha! I've got plenty at the moment. Still gotta keep plenty of in-ground space for corn, watermelons, pumpkins, etc.

[@reneebrown2968]

Personally I keep the small taters for planting next time

[@marvinbrock960]

New we all know, that Dog bucket can’t count! Gotta keep one eye closed and squint the other when using that bucket!

[@garyweaver317]

Who sells seed potatoes at a reasonable price?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Sometimes local feed and seed stores around here will have a big bag of red potatoes for $30-40. They usually don't have a lot of variety options, but you can get the red seed potatoes for cheap.