That sounds like a pretty disappointing harvest, RpR !

Do you buy new seed potatoes every year? I've just been planting some of my smaller potatoes that are left at the end of the winter, without any problems that I could see. In fact, this year I just grew a couple of short (8') rows, one of Red Gold and one of German Butterball, mostly just to get seed in case I decide I want to grow them next year -- because I've been thinking that for the work involved with them, and how cheap potatoes are in my area (several local potato farmers, pretty common to find 10-pound bags of them in the store for $1.99 and sometimes even less), along with the amount of room they take up in my garden, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to grow them. Except, of course, for the fact that I like being able to grow varieties that aren't found in the grocery store...

At any rate, still need to dig mine and see what's there.

I harvested my last two Smart Pots with potatoes today, getting about 3# from each bag. I also started these from potatoes left from last season, so no cost involved. I really like this variety (although the name is escaping me right now). The skins are rose and gold--some are more mottled than others, and they are so pretty. Taste is also really good.

Someone in a previous post mentioned how it was getting more difficult to find some varieites, and I agree with that. For a few years, I grew a variety called Caribe that we really liked. I did find a few places that carried it, but it would have been so outrageously expensive with shipping that it just wasn't worth it.

My smart pots don't take up too much room, so I enjoy growing them. Here at our local farmers markets, new potatoes sell for about $3-$4 per pound, so it's a worthwhile investment for me. I also try to grow varieties not readily available in the stores. I had a bumper crop of purple potatoes this year, and my husband and I love the taste of them, but my 91 y/o mother is a little leary of trying them.

I didn't plant any potatoes this year as I have a smaller garden. I sure do miss those first early potatoes. I might have to go to the farmer's market and pick some up. Next year I will hope to plant a few hills. This is the first year I didn't plant any potatoes in more years then I can remember.

Our Yukon Gold did OK but the russets had white mold when dug . Not a good year for potatoes or tomatoes in Iowa.

I feel that I just don't have room for potatoes. And really they are fairly inexpensive in the grocery store. I know it is not the same but unless one has acreage one really can't grow everything.

I have actually never tried growing potatoes.

Rita,
Like everything else they are creamy and good, fresh dug from the garden. They do take up room and need to alternate from tomatoes because the same diseases and pests get on both.

billyporter said:Rita,
Like everything else they are creamy and good, fresh dug from the garden. They do take up room and need to alternate from tomatoes because the same diseases and pests get on both.

That's it, not enough room!!!

Mine only made two tiny taters there's always next year

I've never had whatever disease my tomatoes get affect my potato plants (and have never done a proper rotation, usually the potatoes end up where there were some tomatoes the previous year. But, after growing them for the past few years I do find them to be more work than what I consider them to be worth, so I'm not planning to put any in next year. DH dug ours today and got maybe a little over 15 pounds or so from the two 8-foot rows that I planted (one of German Butterball, one of Red Gold).

Weedwhacker said:I've never had whatever disease my tomatoes get affect my potato plants (and have never done a proper rotation, usually the potatoes end up where there were some tomatoes the previous year. But, after growing them for the past few years I do find them to be more work than what I consider them to be worth, so I'm not planning to put any in next year. DH dug ours today and got maybe a little over 15 pounds or so from the two 8-foot rows that I planted (one of German Butterball, one of Red Gold).

It doesn't sound like a lot for the amount of plants to me but I don't really know as I don't grow them. It would be near impossible for me to find spots for potatoes that didn't grow tomatoes (and vice versa) the year before.

Rita,
That's a shame because they are good :o)

Shannon,
Yep, next year I'll be planting again too.

Sandy,
I'm pretty lax about keeping them separated and I don't get the diseases either. I have little room to keep them separated, lol!
Last year I had quite the haul and we ate the last of them this spring.

Weedwhacker said:That sounds like a pretty disappointing harvest, RpR !

Do you buy new seed potatoes every year? I've just been planting some of my smaller potatoes that are left at the end of the winter, without any problems that I could see. In fact, this year I just grew a couple of short (8') rows, one of Red Gold and one of German Butterball, mostly just to get seed in case I decide I want to grow them next year -- because I've been thinking that for the work involved with them, and how cheap potatoes are in my area (several local potato farmers, pretty common to find 10-pound bags of them in the store for $1.99 and sometimes even less), along with the amount of room they take up in my garden, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to grow them. Except, of course, for the fact that I like being able to grow varieties that aren't found in the grocery store...

At any rate, still need to dig mine and see what's there.

A late reply.

Yes I usually buy a few pounds of new seed every year mainly for the sake of trying a type I have not tried before.
The end result this year was actually terribly poor as approx. the same number of plants as last year produced only three tote boxes where last year I had well over five.

This was the first year I can ever remember not buying new seed as I had so much left over from last year. Last year just the left overs from in one row gave me over one tote box full; this year the best two rows gave me only one tote box full.
I am either going to have to put a lot of something on that bad side of the garden or due to the fact that decades ago dad put all the dirt from the old horse barn floor, before it was turned into a paved garage, into the side of the garden that does so well its chemical composition is simply unique.

RpR,
There is something about horse manure.

billyporter said:RpR,
There is something about horse manure.

Could be but it also included coal dust.

RpR,
Hmmm, coal dust can't be good can it? It would be acidy so maybe good for potatoes.

I am posting on this old thread, because I can.
As I wrote in other threads, 2017 was a good year, compared to 2016.
The two gardens produced at least five bushels, I have a real bushel basket now, and the South one three again but with fewer plants and much larger potatoes.
I am going to start looking at garden sites for new varieties next year as it is nice to have well producing carry overs but it is nicer to try new ones.
Now I am sure I will have carry overs, the only way I can tell the difference in the two main carry overs, is one is white and the other is off white and even at that there may be one or two odd ball carry overs in there.
I actually may just try some I have not planted for ten or twenty years as , to me, as I get older, ten years ago seems like two or three years ago and twenty seems like eight or nine.
There is one beer, Sierra Nevada, I really like and have not had one in well over a decade, so maybe it is time to go forward to the past.

RpR,
I have hampers Dad gave me, but no bushel baskets. Mom used a bushel basket she lined, to carry clothes out to the clothes line.
I had a good crop too, but gave a lt away since I don't have a good place to store them so they keep.
I do well with the Kennebec and Russets. I may just stick with them.
Smiling over the beer. Let us know how it tastes.

Having looked through the potatoes already available choices so far are:
Dakota Pearl
AC Chaleur
All Blue
Peruvian Purple
Desiree
Maris Piper

May change but all but the first two are ones I grew a decade or more ago.
The Peruvian Purple are absolutely the best tasting potato on the market.

"The Peruvian Purple are absolutely the best tasting potato on the market."

Do they stay purple when they're cooked?

Weedwhacker said:"The Peruvian Purple are absolutely the best tasting potato on the market."

Do they stay purple when they're cooked?

They don't for me when I French Fry them and used them in potato salad.

AAARRRRHHHHHH-- I am still typing with bandages but I am sure I had the above last sentence correct last night!!!
ANYWAY, they DO NOT fade.