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Re: Perenial Potatoes??
On Mon, 26 Aug 1996 11:23:23 -0700, "Duane C. Johnson"
<redrok@pclink.com> wrote:
>This is way outside of my field but I have a question about this practice.
>I have read that you are supposed to keep potatoes in the dark. If they
>are exposed to light they will form a toxic substance under the skin in
>a green layer. It was something like "selinization".
Potatoes are close relatives of Deadly Nightshade. Yes, green parts
of the tubers can form a toxic substance. All parts of the potato
plant, except the mature tubers, are toxic to humans.
>If the growing potatoe is growing outside the basket won't it have
>a similar problem?
Most likely. I prefer to use a stack of discarded automobile tires to
grow potatoes. Lay cardboard from an old brown corrugated box across
the bottom opening to prevent 'growing medium' from washing out. Lay
'seed' potatoes on the cardboard. Stuff tire with compost and soil
mix. Repeat stuffing process until you have a stack of two to three
tires. Allow to grow for a season. To harvest, remove one tire at a
time and sort contents for potatoes. Save the very small tubers as
next season's 'seed' potatoes in a cool, dark, dry place to start next
tire stack. Cover partially harvested stack with tarp until needed.
The black tires will allow a longer growing season due to heat
retention from the sun. This may slow growth in the hottest months.
I am in Georgia, so I place my tire stacks under hardwood trees. This
allows more sun in the winter and less in the summer. Now, if I could
just convince my range chickens that the potatoes are not for them, I
might get a decent harvest. :^) Have fun growing your potatoes.
Some folks start them now with this Autumn's leaf fall.
Vandy Terre
vandy@avana.net
Georgia, USA
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