Sneak peek Potato reveal of whats to come

Harvesting Yacon after frost Nov 2016

Time to harvest monster purple Okanowan sweet potato

 Wow, I had no clue the Okinawan purple sweet potatoes were going to be this big. They are monster size. If you take a look at the video you can see them harvested. I thought the smaller ones were Malaki. But they too are Okinawan. They were developed later than the big ones. The tubers are more than 18 inches from the plant, so you have to hunt them down. I found one 4 feet away from the plant in the back yard. It was like it was looking for the perfect place to grow. It is best to plant these in loose soil. So, they will not break at harvest time.

Harvesting Malaki Purple Hawaiian sweet potatoes

I am so happy with my harvest of sweet potatoes this year. I bought both Malaki and Okinawa purple sweet potato slips. And they were worth every penny. I have 2 posts showing the results of there harvest. I hope you enjoy the videos and photos. Feel free to ask questions.  

The malaki sweet potatoes are amazing size. They seem to grow right under the plant. If you tale a look at the video, you will see it had some runners grow away from the plant. But, they were not as big. You have to be careful harvesting them. They break easy.

Record breaking tomato harvest.

Removing Eastern Tent Caterpillars We call them bagworms

Coral Sorghum

I received seed for the the rare Coral Sorghum from The Experimental Farm Network. I will be growing them out and returning most to them. seeds can be popped to make miniature popcorn, you can grind them for grain, and you can press the cane for syrup. The USDA received these seeds in 1965 from Malakal, South Sudan,

I also received a perennial sorghum to grow out and cross pollinate with the coral. I look forward to what can be created from this mix.

Sauromatum venosum “Voodoo Lily”

Plant breeding for beginners {Potato TPS)

Have a wonderful day and remember to laugh and play.

Planting long season potatoes and Mars piper (TPS Tubers)

Lets grow a Dills Atlantic Giant pumpkin

Time to plant Oca and set up a hugalkulture like raised bed

Expanding the potato garden in missouri

Have a wonderful day and remember to laugh and play.

Planting pre rooted potatoes and fingerling tubers

Easy no dig ways to start or expand your garden

What do you need to know to start a garden?

 I am going to do a number of posts and videos to help the beginning gardener get started.  In this first post. I will post questions for you to think about and answer.

1. What planting zone are you in? Look at this map if you do not know the answer. http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx
 The map has changed my part of Missouri from 5b to 6a.
our last frost date is still April 15.
You can look up the date for your area here. http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/

Now that you know when it is safe to plant.

2. What do you want to grow?
For your first garden keep it simple.
3. What do you like to eat?
 Pick an area to plant
2.Where do you want to place your garden?
   2.b.Is there enough sun there?
3. Do you want to grow in the ground or containers?
  3.b. Maybe both?

           Budget
4. How much money do you want to spend?
 keep the cost low, and build up your garden year by year is the best choice.  Maybe start with a few tomato plants. Peppers, beans and potatoes. Lettuce? Corn needs more room. I think there are around 28 seeds in a normal packet of corn seed. 

Growing Yacon Ulluco and Oca tubers (Part 1)

 I will put a link to more info for each from the expert I bought them from.
Ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus), pronounced oo-YOO-ko
 https://www.cultivariable.com/instructions/how-to-grow-ulluco/
Yacon (also yacón or yakon, Smallanthus sonchifolius; previously Polymnia sonchifolia), pronounced yah-CONE
 https://www.cultivariable.com/instructions/how-to-grow-yacon/

Oca/ New Zealand Yam (Oxalis tuberosa) pronounced OH-kuh,
 https://www.cultivariable.com/instructions/how-to-grow-oca/

Something is growing in the Zero cost worm bin

.

 I look forward to find out what this plant is.

Growing TPS true potato seeds 2015

CHIAR CHOQUE PITU leaves, tuber,berry and seeds from 2015

This year I am going to keep better records on here. That way I can refer back to see how they did.

   

On Feb 11 , 2016  In grow bag number one, I placed 6 seeds on top of the cocoa coir.from (PI 604207 CHIAR CHOQUE PITU) (Origin Bolivia)  It is a primitive (cultivar - curtilobum).  It is a euploid pentaploid potato meaning it has  5 sets of parents [2 n =5 x =60 chromosomes) Which is found in wild potatoes.

Note:  Most commercial potatoes are a tetraploid 4 parents. (2n = 4x = 48)  

Where a diploid has 2 parents ( 2n=24) or hexaploid (has 6n=72)

 Humans, are a diploid species, n = 23. A typical human somatic cell contains 46 chromosomes: 2 complete haploid sets, which make up 23. 

I spray a mist of water 2 or 3 times a day on them. Today, Feb 18, 2016. I find 3 of 6 seeds sprouted.  Here is a close up of one of them.

 

1 of 3 seeds sprouted today.

My room and soil temperature is 70-74f at times. But seed can germinate in temps as low as 60. They prefer a lower temp at night but, not going to happen in my house. I have put a CFL grow light over then tonight. They are also in a south facing window. It is important to have light when they sprout, for leaf and stem development. It is also important to use sterile soil. I made the mistake last year of using a commercial seed starting mix. I has dropping syndrome and fungus all over one of the containers. I found no issue with the grow bags I made using cocoa coir.  The plants came out healthy and stronger.

 Feb 14, planted the rest of the bags
Bag 2 has Mount St Helen in the front and Pam Wagner 3 seeds in back.  Both are tom Wagner seeds. 2014
Bag 3 Has touch down 12 seeds
Bag 4 has 6 seeds of Chaucha Amarillo inn front
6 seeds Purple Vally in the back
Bag 5 has  6-8 seeds Tollocan front. Back has a mix 10 seeds of 320370 or poor dog. Last year the package of seeds got wet. so both of these were mixed together to dry.
Bag 6 has UKS 12 seeds. 

Time to start cold crop and (TPS) Seeds. True Potato seeds

Have a wonderful day and remember to laugh and play.

The crazy seed collector looks at ways to organize seed

Saving seed from Blue Hubbard squash

There are five families of cucurbits , The 5 families do not cross pollinate, but members within the sub family will. So it is necessary to recognize what family the squash belongs to and then only plant one of members. Separate different squash varieties in the same species by at least 1/2 mile to ensure purity. (Some crossing between C. mixta and C. moschata has been reported recently. If you plan to save the seed, pick one flower on the plant and hand pollinate. Make sure you cover it till it starts to develop fruit. Then mark it so you know this is the one to save for seed. The cucurbits are a family of vining plants that includes cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, watermelon, luffa, melons.and gourds All edible plants from this family are actually fruits, deriving from the ovary of a pollinated flower, even though we might call them a ‘vegetable.’Many of the plants contain separate male and female flow Cucurbita (Latin for gourd)] is a genus of herbaceous vine in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, also known as cucurbits, There are five domesticated species are Cucurbita argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata, and C. pepo. All of these can be treated as winter squash because the full-grown fruits can be stored for months; however, C. pepo includes some cultivars that are better used only as summer squash. The hobard falls in the Cucurbit maxima family whish includes Buttercup Banana Golden Delicious Atlantic Giant Hubbard Turban marrows Cucurbita maxima varieties with large, hairy leaves, long vines and soft, hairy stems Cucurbita mixta varieties with large, hairy leaves, long vines and hard, hairy stems and include the cushaws Cucurbita moschata varieties similar to C. mixta with flaring stems at the fruit and large, green sepals surrounding the flowers and include: butternuts Cucurbita pepo varieties with prickly stems and leaves with a hard, five-angled stem and include: acorn squashes, cocozelles, pumpkins, crooknecks, scallops, spaghetti squashes and zucchini.

The things a house Rooster has to put up with

This is an attempt to put humor into my video. I need to learn to change my voice and put words into the video. I used captions in this one. Kinda like a silent movie with words. But it is fun to pretend the rooster rules the house and becomes the one to take over the house cleaning and taking care of the kids. Don't forget. He has to boss the human man around too. LOL



Thanks for watching my video.

I Ordered purple Sweet potato slipps today

I have already ordered and received all my seed and Potatoes for spring of 2016,
I am still waiting on some potatoes to arrive in spring. I thought I had all I needed. Then I learned more about the purple sweet potato. So I started looking.  I was really hoping to find purple sweet potato tubers. but had to settle for slips from Bakers Creek. . They say April 1 or so for shipping. So I am recording my order here. I do this for my records. And you may learn from my notes. I also want some other things from cultivariable.

	Asian Winged Bean Item No: AB112  (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) This is one of the most unique beans; it produces delicious pods with four winged edges, the leaves are cooked like spinach and the roots have a delicious, nutty flavor. This high-protein bean is an excellent crop and is so useful in the kitchen. The plants are tropical and do best in warm areas. They will not produce well when the days are long, so it may not yield until fall. Soak seeds 24 hours before planting. Notes:  Little hard to germinate so best started indoors. Of all the reviews North Carolina, Was the only state that reported harvest. Some could not get seed to grow. Some got vine no bean. So It may be heat and day length sensitive.	1	$3.00
	Longevity Spinach (PRE-ORDER) Item No: PL103  (Gynura procumbens) Related to Okinawan Spinach, but lower-growing and more spreading. Reputed to have anti-viral and anti-cancer properties, and to be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes and numerous other conditions. Cultivated throughout southern and eastern Asia. Can be used raw, juiced or cooked. Also frequently made into a tea. Grows in frost-free, warm conditions. Easy to propagate from cuttings. 2 plants Notes:  attracts aphids, Survives drought. Survives poor drainage. I read that it does taste better if watered and in part-shade, just like other spinach. You can hack it down to the nub and it will come back. Very easy to root from cuttings	1	$10.00
	Molokai Purple Sweet Potato (PRE-ORDER) Item No: PL115  Purple-fleshed type that is a locally-developed, signature type on the islands, but seldom offered elsewhere. Much higher in antioxidants than orange-fleshed types. Very sweet-fleshed and creamy, with overtones of chestnut in the flavor. Perfect as-is when baked or roasted, needing no further adornment. Deep purple flesh and skins. 3 plants. Notes.  Not a long keeper, harvested in early November they were sprouting by New Year's day Taste ( sweet and with very "nutty" overtones. Not your typical sweet potato flavor )Flesh is drier/denser and takes longer to cook	1	$9.00
	Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato (PRE-ORDER) Item No: PL117  (Ipomoea batatas) Descended from the first sweet potatoes to reach Japan, prior to 1500. The purple coloration is connected with the high anthocyanin content. This one is documented to contain more of the potent anti-oxidant than even blueberries! Ivory-colored skin, brilliant purple flesh. 3 plants. Notes. dry flesh, high antioxidant levels.	1	$9.00

$31.00 Shipping $3.50 Tax $0.80 Total $35.30

 Notes: Leaves are also edible as with other variety sweet potatoes
 Sweet potatoes of all varieties are high in vitamin A, vitamin C and manganese. They are also a good source of copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, potassium and iron. The antioxidant known as anthocyanin is the pigment which is responsible for the brilliant purple color of the flesh. It is the same pigment that gives blueberries, red grapes and red cabbage their color.⁵ Blueberries are well known for their high antioxidant levels, however, the Okinawan sweet potato actually has 150 percent more antioxidants than blueberries.⁶ Antioxidants help to guard against cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Growing sweet potatoes

This is my first time ordering slips.
But, I have a jar with water. 1 potato cut in half. I will pull slips off when 7-10 inches tall.If they have some roots. I will place them in some compost.

I have another sweet potato laying on top of good compost. Then covered with peat moss. Removing slips when ready to plant or at 7-10inches tall.

Sweet potatoes mature in 90 to 170 days and are extremely frost sensitive. Plant in full sun 3 to 4 weeks after the last frost when the soil has warmed.
*GROUND TEMPERATURES NEED TO BE AT LEAST 65 DEGREES- HOWEVER A HIGHER TEMPERATURE IS BETTER AND WILL MAKE FOR A MORE BOUNTIFUL CROP. AT NIGHT THE TEMPERATURE SHOULD BE ABOVE 50 DEGREES. I have also read, planted late in the heat of July may produce better results than planting in May if temperatures are not hot enough.

Make holes 6 inches deep and 12 inches apart. Bury slips up to the top leaves, press the soil down gently but firmly, and water well.
Do not use nitrogen-rich fertilizers they will produce lush vines and stunted tubers. So just a good aged compost will work fine.

I have read (CHILLED PLANTS WILL NOT YIELD 100%.)
"Northern States must use black plastic, cover bedded rows 2-3 weeks before plants arrive." So I am going to try this. With our weather last summer we were in the 70's till August. So this would have delayed tubers.


They also need lots of water. Which will not be an issue in Missouri, if we have another summer of rain. 

Storing sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes can be used soon after harvesting, but they will store well for several months if the skins are cured properly. Lay them out in the sun for a few hours immediately after harvesting and then move them to a warm, humid place for 10 days - a greenhouse is ideal. Once the skins have cured they can be stored in cooler conditions provided that they are kept dry. unlike normal potatoes. They do not keep well in cool dark places. They prefer temps of 65f 18c.