The most satisfying garden experience to date - harvest pics

13 years ago

Maybe not the MOST amazing, but close...

I grew potatoes for the first time this year.

Four varieties. One bunch flowered, and I harvested some little fingerlings. Thought they were too small. All other plants were smaller and I thought had a ways to go.

Then yesterday, outside picking strawberries, and what is sticking up out of the ground? a big yukon gold!

(small plant)

So I felt around some of the other plants and Voila!

I don't think I have been that excited in a long time.

These are absolutely beautiful.

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Comments (10)

mangledmind
13 years ago
Nice :)
spaghetina
13 years ago
Getting potatoes almost makes you high off the giddiness, doesn't it? I planted some late last year, and found them in May, I think...I didn't know the plants had even made potatoes until I was trying to prepare the spot for something else. I kid you not, I screeched, screamed, squeaked, danced, and jumped up and down when I found them.

Congrats on your harvest - they really are gorgeous!
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dgbeig
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks Spaghetina, for indulging the craziness.
My husband is still laughing at me for talking about it and telling the world.
What is it about potatoes? I really felt that "giddiness" you were talking about.
I guess it's like finding gold.
daisydawnny
13 years ago
Love it!!!! I grew potatoes for the first time last year really not expecting much....I was so excited with my little harvest I took pics with my phone and sent them to everyone, lol.....it is a MOST exciting thing.
spaghetina
13 years ago
It's the thrill of finding buried treasure! You never know what's going to come up, and you're half expecting for nothing to be down there, and then you hit that first tuber... and then the next... and the next...

I actually think it's the most giddyiness-inducing thing I've ever grown, even though I only got about 5 small potatoes from my tiny experiment. I thought it had something to do with pulling something out of the ground, but thinking back to it, it's not even a root crop thing, since I grew some big 'ol daikon radishes over the winter and I didn't care that much. Now I wish I'd started some potatoes or sweet potatoes for this year. I've been continually thinking about it, but I just have no space left. :(
talonstorm
13 years ago
Wow, great looking taters! I planted potatoes for the first time this season also. I am zone 5 though, so I have a while to wait. The plants seem to be growing well though, so I am hopeful I will get a good harvest too! :-) What varieties are the ones you all have planted? I am growing Katahdin, All-Blue, and German Butterballs.
dgbeig
Original Author
13 years ago
talon:
they are yukon golds, ruby crescent fingerlings, and colorado rose....and the ALL BLUE - just like you. That color is unbelievable!

So far, the reds win the taste contest though...but I just did a quick steam on all of them, to do a little comparison.
Its possible and probable that they have different cooking methods that best show off their individual qualities.

Spagh- these will be a regular thing in my garden now...esp. with my climate.
where are you anyways? maybe we'll meet up one of these days?
spaghetina
13 years ago
I'm starting to feel pangs of regret for not having bitten the bullet on seed potatoes earlier. *mope*

I'm in San Carlos right next to Redwood City, so maybe 20-25 mins. south of you - depending on how speed demon-y you are, lol. I'd love to have a little Bay Area GW get together one of these days... never heard of it happening, but there are a lot of us that hang out in this forum!
beachlover2
13 years ago
This is our first year also. The plants are just beginning to turn yellow. Are we supposed to wait until they die? We can see 3 or 4 potatoes breaking through the ground. When do we dig?
jonhughes
13 years ago
Hi beachlover2,
First thing is..... cover them up, they should never see daylight while growing (maybe ever) they turn green and are then poisonous... if you have the patience to wait...then wait for a couple of weeks after they die off ... of course ...I have never waited ,just can't do it.... but maybe .... just maybe... you're the man ;-)

{{gwi:14264}}

The most satisfying garden experience to date - harvest pics

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The most satisfying garden experience to date - harvest pics

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