How Potatoes help New Gardens
It is often suggested that potatoes are the best vegetable for a new garden.
- Weeds will be reduced because:
Potatoes produce a mass of leaves which compete with all the weeds
The dense canopy of potato leaves shade all low growing weeds
- Soil structure will be improved by the mass of potato roots growing through the earth and drawing water up.
Potatoes are strong plants, and if they are fed well, the potatoes will grow vigorously, making it difficult for weeds to develop and at the same time, improving the soil.
I’m hoping it’s 3rd time lucky for me with the potatoes.
Year One
I planted them in a nice sunny location which got overgrown with overhead tree branches and blotted the sun out. I over watered them. They died.
Year Two
My fantastic, healthy looking plants were doing great until they were chomped through the main stem, at just below ground level, by something which was later identified as Carrot Beetles.
This year I have them under the floating row covers. Fingers crossed.
Comment by Mick - April 4, 2008 9:31 pm
Mick
Oklahoma seems to present potatoes with a lot of problems. Luckily we do not get Carrot Beetles here in the UK.
Your floating covers look good. We use similar things for our brassicas.
Good luck with your 2008 potato crop.
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - April 5, 2008 10:48 am