General information and discussion about cultivating all other edible garden plants.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b
Posts: 1,685
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The old and very sprouted, egg-sized potatoes that were tossed into one of the compost bins a month ago are sprouting. I think I'll keep hilling them with leaves and start using the adjacent compost bin. If it gets real frosty I'll toss an old sheet over them.
It's nice to see something actively growing! ![]() |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b
Posts: 1,110
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I love when LIFE unexpectedly happens!
Jeff |
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#3 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Looks pretty happy!
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 903
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Nice bonus, unexpected and free ;>)
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: north central B.C.
Posts: 2,310
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Such a pretty sight when I am looking at a lot of snow!
__________________
"He who has a library and a garden wants for nothing." -Cicero |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b
Posts: 1,685
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Well, just keep that image going. This morning it got down to 28 and the plants are sort of blasted. We'll see how or if they come back. I didn't cover them on purpose just to see if they will or won't. An experiment that didn't cost me anything.
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 3,194
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We all buy the best potting medium, mix up our own special blends of ingredients for potting mix, and all they really need is compost?
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Southeastern PA
Posts: 1,420
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I have had potato plants mostly killed by frost and they came back.
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b
Posts: 1,685
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I also wonder if there are any sweet potatoes in that pile. All summer that bin was covered with sweet potato vines up until frost. All will be revealed when I fork the bin contents into it's next door neighbor in March.
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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I tried to grow potatoes when I first moved here, and they just turned black and perished, I gave up trying to grow them in the soil as it seemed infested with some dreaded potato disease. But many times I have had potatoes volunteer in my lazy compost piles, and got some very clean and lovely potatoes from them!
![]() ![]() Also if there is any heat left in the pile just now, then they may have a better chance against that bit of frost. Lucky you with potatoes growing in January!! ![]() |
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 903
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Bower, I've had similar positive experiences growing straight in a compost pile. For experimentation a few years ago, I had many tomato seedlings left and zero space to plant them (I always start many more than I can plant and give away.) So I had 2 choices, either terminate them, or grow them in the compost pile. And it was a batch that wasn't ready -else I would have used it/spread it in the rest of the garden.
Well I grew 4 or 5 plants, in a tight 5x5 box, and they all grew and produced. Zero watering (except from rain), zero maintenance, and they still survived diseases better than the ones I baby'd. |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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Taboule, I planted some leggy Peacevine seedlings in a compost pile one year.
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 903
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Bower, wonderful story. The magic of low expectations, coupled with good luck
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