Hello!

I just found at the store some seed potatoes. These have some BIG sprouts!

I was wondering, should I let them grow more and then plant them, or plant them on March 7, which is when the ATP calendar says to direct sow in my area?








Thanks!

Jared

I've never grown potatoes but they're spouting, so I would say get them planted.

I would plant on March 7 (or maybe a day or two before).
I like to plant potatoes and other tubers and root veggies when the moon is waning. The new moon is March 8, so the 7th is about ideal for that. If you plan to cut and plant pieces, cut them a few days early and let them heal/harden a bit before planting. I'd keep them in a sunny window until you plant them. Great find!

Good advice, Eric -- I need to learn to pay more attention to the moon phases, but everything else in your post agrees with how I would do it

Can either of you who mentioned the moon phases, which implies some level of effect on the plants, enlighten me on how it affects the potato or possibly other plants?

Thanks!!

purslanegarden said:
Can either of you who mentioned the moon phases, which implies some level of effect on the plants, enlighten me on how it affects the potato or possibly other plants?

Thanks!!

I'm short on time right now, but check http://www.gardeningbythemoon....

I don't know if there's any real science behind it.


People have been timing their activities (including planting, growing and harvesting) by the moon for thousands of years. Since I started paying more attention to the moon, and since I've been actively trying to time things by the moon, I've had more "good years" with better quality and quantity of crops, and fewer "bad years" with poor growth and small harvests. Whether that's coincidence, or a real correlation, I don't know. I put it in the category, "doesn't hurt, might help."

I don't have any actual experience with planting "by the moon," but it seems to make sense to me that something that can affect the tides and the weather could have an effect on plant growth as well.

I actually have a bit more time this morning. I confess I didn't read much of that site I linked to, it was just the first Google result for 'gardening by moon phases'.

Another source of information is http://www.almanac.com/content...

For me, I mostly try to have my seedlings popping up on the waxing moon, close to the full moon (above ground crops) or on the waning moon, close to the new moon (root crops and bulbs). This means I sow the seeds about as many days before the full/new moon as the seed packet lists for 'days to germination.' My seeds usually germinate a few days early when I do this. YMMV

For transplants, I transplant the last few days before the appropriate moon phase (full or new).

My onions and garlic have been pushing through the surface the past day or two, and my potatoes are just starting to show their first leaves. Carrots and radishes sprung up over the weekend, and some are putting on their first real leaves today.

I planted mine in Feb. I find that I like to keep the seed potatoes out ( I keep them in the carton you buy eggs in) until there is a good amount of growth and than plant. I have cut the pieces in half and other times planted the whole potato and honestly I have not see any difference. I don't remember the day I planted, so I don't know how the moon was, but it's a fascinating theory.