by Noel | Jun 22, 2015 | CobraHead, Gardening
Most years I grow 2 beds of potatoes. This year, as part of my way bigger than needed garden, I’m growing three beds. They’re planted more intensively than I’d like. That’s because I got carried away with my seed potato purchase from Wood Prairie Farm, an organic supplier from Maine. I’ve been meaning to buy from Wood Prairie for many years. Jim Gerritsen, the owner, is an associate of mine in the Direct Gardening Association and I’ve always wanted to trial...
by Noel | Jul 24, 2012 | CobraHead, Gardening
Here Come the TomatoesWith this year’s warm weather, we’ll be picking things from the garden a lot earlier than most years. I’m often late getting things started, but I did a good job of getting the tomatoes, peppers, and cole crops into the ground before the end of May. The early start coupled with the hot weather is giving us veggies in July that we normally don’t start harvesting until August. All in all, it appears we will have a...
by Noel | Apr 23, 2012 | CobraHead, Gardening
I tried something new (for me) this year in planting my potatoes. Geoff mentioned this method to me years ago and I never got around to trying it. I kind of forgot that it was he who told me, but he was quick to remind me when I showed him what I did. The logic is simple. Plant your potatoes at the bottom of a trench, then hill up the dirt from the ridges of the troughs around the plants as they grow. Potatoes only grow up, that is, their tubers won’t...
by Noel | May 3, 2011 | CobraHead, Gardening
I planted a bed of potatoes Sunday, using two new planting boards that I made from a 4′ x 4′ sheet of 1/2″ plywood. I had been using some old scrap plywood for planting boards, but I decided I would be happier and more efficient with two boards exactly the size I wanted. I cut a 12″ strip off the 4′ x 4′ sheet so I have a 3′ x 4′ board for using when I’m on top of a bed and I have a 1′ x 4′ sheet...
