When I got back from holidays, it was pretty clear that my potatoes were done. The leafy tops had been dying for a while, and I’d been sneaking the odd new potato here and there, but until last week, you could still pretend the tops were green. No longer.
Have you ever harvested potatoes? No? May I suggest you try growing them next year, simply for the pleasure of the treasure hunt that is a potato harvest? At first, I found spuds just by brushing aside the top inch or two of soil. Once the easy pickings were, well, picked, I dug down, uncovering plump tubers with every spadeful. In total, I harvested 20lbs of two types of potatoes (from about 12 sq.ft.!).
Exhibit A: Russian Banana fingerling.
Exhibit B: Sieglinde.
Aside from the obvious difference in shape, these two potatoes actually taste quite similar. And thankfully, that means both are delicious, tender, and buttery, with thin skins and yellow flesh. But not all the spuds I harvested were quite as perfect as these two samples. No. Check out these suckers:
The modernist sculpture.
The alien.
The lovers.
The premature babies.
The damaged.
The conjoined twins.
The, um…
What are you harvesting now?
Dan Eskelson says
Cool photos…thanks for sharing!
For the first time ever, our spuds did not flower!…but I dug into one plant of each of two varieties and found prolific production! And very tasty.
Given a few more weeks of decent weather, we should have plenty of spuds for winter and beyond.
Kristin says
I wish I had grown potatoes this year. Have to be content to get a few from the children’s school garden. So much fun to harvest.
Elise says
I just pulled up the last of my potatoes today,this was the first year they “worked” a 500g box of seed potatoes turned in 16 lbs of beautiful yukon golds what magic! Such a fun time of year, seeing all the produce come out of the ground, makes all the weeding watering and sun burns worth it!
meemsnyc says
The treasure hunt is a lot of fun. Even if it’s for a few nuggets. I’ll definitely grow them again next year.
Farm with a View says
Love the photos! Just stumbled across your blog by way of another gardening site – now can’t remember which one – sigh! So glad I did. Am just starting to make my way around the gardening blog community and am amazed by all the green thumbs out there. Lots to learn!
Connie
lindsey says
love this post!!! the deer ate everything this year…so I can’t brag about my garden. I did manage to harvest some wild blackberries!!! enjoy the rest of the summer!
rebecca says
hee hee! Great photos!
Our little urban garden has given us 80+pounds of tomatoes this year…we are in heaven!
Toni @ BackyardFeast says
I love the magic of harvesting potatoes–it feels like an Easter egg hunt to me! And I love the personality of the ones you’ve photographed. Is the last one a mushy seed potato? We had those in our early bed this year; the seed potato that hadn’t quite disintegrated in its destiny to feed the new growth…I’m excited to do the harvest count in our patch!
Laura says
Fantastic! What a haul! Your putting my modest harvest to shame :) I love the modern art! I got a few of those myself!
Sydelle says
and now i’m wondering – what should i do with these lovely potatoes you shared with me? any suggestions?
Kristi says
I grew potatoes for the first time this year. I grew mine in containers since I lack space in the garden. I found it very therapeutic to dump the container and go hunting for my potatoes. Where did you buy your seed potatoes?
Andrea Bellamy says
Dan – Funny you should say that: mine BARELY flowered. I was worried, but obviously didn’t need to be!
Kristin – This would be so much fun with kids! I hope they enjoyed it.
Elise – it’s total Super Potato Magic! Just a great exercise in multiplication.
Meemnyc – I LOVED the treasure hunt. You’re right: definitely worth it!
Connie – Great to have you – so glad you found me, and welcome to the gardening blogosphere!
Lindsey – thanks! You too. :)
Rebecca- 80lbs! Hope you’re up for some food preserving!
Toni – that’s totally it! An easter egg hunt…but with potatoes. Love it! And you’re right – I think it might be a defunct seed potato.
Laura – I was pretty pleased, too, considering they grew in a tiny raised bed. :)
Sydelle – Eat them! No, seriously, I like them with just butter and salt. Or make a German potato salad.
Kristi – Super fun, eh? I got my seed potatoes from West Coast Seeds – a great resource for those in the Pacific Northwest.
Lisa O Shea says
Wow i have no idea how to start growing potatoes, I only got sweet peas this year, my corn isint ready yet and neither is my pumpkin, i dont know if they will make it as I;m Irish and have never seen either grow, the floers are out on my pumkin, only just , is it too late, I’m in Calgary, we got the first snow on October 3rd last year, cos i had just arrived. Fingers crossed. Love the blog by the way only found it today, it will help next spring. My idiot boyfriend told me to put the pepper and tomato seeds straight into the garden. WRONG!I should have potted them 1st, anyway you live and learn, i will know for next spring.