Hi, Annie, I was interested to read about your Utah celery. I thought celery was a two year plant, so haven't planted any since I moved to NM. I'll have to do a search on this Utah variety.

You can mound soil around your potato plants as they grow. That way you'll make sure no sunlight hits your potatoes.

Lorna

I think the challenge of starting potatoes this time of year is that they will be growing and maturing thru some pretty hot weather. Sufficient water I think would be crucial. But I like the idea of harvesting potatoes as late in the year as possible so that I can store them in cooler weather and hopefully they'd last longer.

I'm growing some late-start potatoes myself. From my research (as this is the first time I've grown potatoes) it seems like the challenge is not that they won't grow, but that it might get too hot for them to produce little spuds to grow into potatoes. I'm going to start some more in a few weeks, and do a little comparison, and see how it goes. Keep us posted on yours!

Lorna,

I didn't mean the potatoes were coming up out of the ground, I meant the sprouts were coming up.
Sorry I wasn't clear.

I planted my seeds potatoes at the edge of the garden where they get morning sun and then shade all afternoon from a weeping willow tree on the west and some shade from a peach tree on the south. It is plenty cool there even on the hottest of days. I am hopeful anyhow. The soil temp is cool enough. When they all emerge I will mulch the row with hay and that should help even more...then we shall just wait and see.

I will take pics and keep you guys informed on how it is progressing.

Utah Celery seeds
Here is the seed company I buy some of my seeds from.
SeedPack.Com
Below is the Link to their Utah Celery seeds. (1,000 seeds for $.99. plus a small amount for shipping)
Great seeds - very viable. Incredible value.
http://www.seedpack.com/servlet/the-179/CELERY--dsh--Utah-52-dsh-70/Detail

Here is their LINK to their GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
http://www.growinginstructions.com/v126.html

Thanks for your interest.
~ Annie

Thanks for the update, Annie! I'm interested in keeping up on your progress. I thought about trying potatoes a couple of weeks ago when at a local nursery that still had some seed potatoes in stock, but I opted not to bother. But our mountain climate/weather can be brutal and change at the drop of a hat this time of year, with temp. changes between day and nighttime that range as much as 50 degrees difference sometimes.

Still considering them for next year's garden, and I'm thinking I'll try the bin method others have posted about here before. I'm glad yours have sprouted, and I hope you have great success with nice, tasty spuds! :-)

Jodi

Utah celery can also be started using transplants. This will help cut down the planting time. Tall Utah celery is tall with high yielding stalks that have a crisp texture. Garden Harvest Supply is a good source for potted celery plants. www.gardenharvestsupply.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Celery Plant

Thanks Joe.

You reminded me to add those to my early seed starting list. I am starting my tomatoes, onions, broccoli and peppers this week, but now thanks to you, I am reminded that I need to start a flat of the Utah Celery.

Lorna, I can mail you some of my Utah Celery seeds. I have enough for both of us. No need for you to buy any mi amiga.
I'll get them off to you this week.

~Annie

Thanks again!

Hmmm..........I think I have some Utah celery in my seed box. I might just give that a try this year.