Global problems? Money woes? Simple solution.

[Denninmi]

While it won't solve all of the world's problems, I posit that the average homeowner could significantly improve their diet and cut back on their grocery bill growing a decent, moderate sized garden, say 30 x 50 feet, utilizing crops that produce good yields, are easy to preserve by canning, freezing, drying, or cold/cool storage. I think for most people, the crops would consist of tomatoes, potatoes, corn, green beans, cabbage, carrots, onions, beets, winter squash, summer squash, sweet potatoes, peppers, eggplant, broccoli, cucumbers, lettuce, other salad greens, and various herbs. Throw in some melons and various small fruits, and ideally a few chickens and a couple of beehives, and you've got food security in your own back yard.

2011 certainly looks like a good year to do this, for those so inclined. Ladies and Gentleman, please return to your seats, extinguish your cigarettes, put your tray tables in the upright position, fasten your seatbelts, and hold on. It sounds like a bumpy ride.

[Kolesar]

1. We put potatoes, onions, garlic and winter squash in cold storage with no preparation

I found a strain of tomato called Burpee Long Keeper that I can pick green in mid-September and eat them after ripening into November. The only preparation is to wipe them with a mild solution of water and bleach.

We can a lot of green beans.

A family can survive on potatoes. The waxy ones can be 16% protein. They all have vitamins and minerals (of course).

I got flamed Saturday when I said the unemployed should plant potatoes. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x293974#295349

[Denninmi]

2. Wow, People did get upset by that.

If I lost my job tomorrow, I can guarantee you I'd be dramatically expanding what I plant, and selling the excess.

But maybe that's just me.

I grew some 'Granny Smith' tomatoes a couple years ago, and had several of them keep on a bowl on my kitchen counter until March. They're green fleshed, hard and kind of sour, but taste really good in the middle of winter compared to a cardboard tomato. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to recreate my success with them the past two seasons. 2009 was far too wet in the fall, and instead of keeping, they just rotted. 2010 was the year of Bambi, when I had trouble getting any tomatoes. Thanks, Bambi.

[murray hill farm]

3. I want to put in some potatoes this year,

but have not done it before. I am expanding my garden area for that purpose. What do you suggest I start with...and will it work to put down cardboard of the field grass now to try to cut down on the growth in advance. Most of my garden is raised beds which works well for most. I just have never tried to grow potatoes before....and want to just plant them in the ground (not the raised beds). Just don't know how to start this whole potatoe process. Ohhhhhhhhhh and you were flamed. I think it is an excellent idea.

[Denninmi]

4. Yes, kill the sod now if you can.

Cardboard, black plastic, whatever will keep out the light and starve it out (if it's not dormant, that is). Then, dig the bed, amend as necessary, and you should be good to go when planting time comes around.

[Kolesar]

5. Yeah, kill the grass first like you said, then dig a trench

Dig a pretty deep trench for your row, 10 inches or more. Scratch up the soil a bit and mix composted manure in with the loose soil at the bottom of the trench. The roots will grow down into that mix. I use manure for nitrogen, and add rock phosphate per the dispensing requirements "on the bag". The rate for manure is about 50 pounds per 20 lineal feet of row. Over the years, I have put doses of greensand at the rate recommended in the bag. You would probably be putting a pint of phospate and a pint of greensand in with the "mix".

Add a small amount of lime if you soil is calcium deficient. We has over limed our garden over the years and that brought the pH up to an alkaline level. Potatoes get "scab" in alkaline soil. We have been ok, though.

The soil tester kits at the garden center are probably good enough for pH and nutrient levels.

Seed potatoes are usually undersized. It is best to place them whole into the trench, about 12 inches apart. I go with about nine inches spacing. You could cut your potatoes and let them set out for a day before planting them.

I place the potatoes in the trench, then bury them in the soil from the trench. The row still will look like a trench. When the plant grows to 12 inches high, bury it halfway with the excess soil on the side. When the plant grows another 12 inches, bury it with the remaining soil on the sides. You want the soil to keep sun off the potatoes, else they get green. Green means solanum, which is :puke:.

Water your plants during the potatoe development period. I fertilize with compost tea. I put a gallon of compost in a five gallon bucket and then fill it with water. On the next day, I dump the infusion on the plants and refill the bucket. Repeat every day. After about a week, the compost is played out, so empty the bucket into your compost bin and start again.

If you have clay soil, you are going to have to mulch the plants with straw instead of burying them in soil like I do. I have not done that. There are articles on the internet for it. You can even grow potatoes in a barrel. I prefer to grow on the soil, where the water table can bring water to the roots.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

7. Potatoes are amazing to grow

I managed last year to produce enough so that they lasted until May. I use leftover potatoes that are going to seed to plant for the new crop and don't even have to buy starters. Plus I have had people give me some of their potatoes that they buy and don't use and are going to seed. Never hurts to let it be known in the spring you are willing to take sprouting potatoes off anyone's hands for them.

[murray hill farm]

6. Thank you so much!

just the information I needed. The field grass is still very dormant so I will wait a bit on the cardboard or plastic cover. Thanks!

[WhiteTara]

8. nice box of squashes and pumpkins

that you have!

[Denninmi]

9. Thanks.

That was in 2009. They were actually kind of wimpy because it was really dry, and I grew them at the back of my property where it's hard to stretch a hose to water (pressure gets really low, since it's uphill and I'm on a well). But, plenty for my needs.

[WhiteTara]

10. Yes, a box as big as that

can go a long way in the family meal plans during winter.

Here's to a bumper crop! :toast: