- No-Dig Potato Gardening Technique: Charles Dowding emphasizes the simplicity of growing potatoes without digging, utilizing undisturbed soil covered with a few centimeters of compost as a mulch. This method facilitates easy growth and minimizes physical effort.
- Potato Types and Planting Time: There are three main categories of potato maturity: first earlies, second earlies, and main crops, maturing at different times during the growing season. Timing is crucial to avoid pests like slugs and to ensure potatoes don't overstay in the soil post-maturity.
- Mulching and Plant Management: Dowding describes the process of planting seed potatoes by making small slits in the compost rather than digging holes, which aids in easy root and tuber development in the soft, fertile compost.
- Harvesting Insights: Harvesting should ideally occur when signs of plant maturity appear, like yellowing leaves or flowering in some varieties. Dowding also advises adding compost around growing tubers periodically to prevent them from greening, which can occur if exposed to light.
- Crop Rotation and Yield Observations: Dowding discusses ongoing experiments with growing potatoes in the same soil for multiple years without rotation, noting the effects on yield and soil health. His no-dig method seems to maintain soil integrity and leads to cleaner tubers at harvest.
Video source: Charles Dowding / Youtube
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I was told to snip flowers off the Plants and also snip off smaller stems.. is this helpful to the plant and will it grow more potatoβs?
Without watching this video beyond his first sentence, I have made an observation nonetheless. I think there will still be plenty of labor to go around, along with shovelwork. How else could it take so long of a video to describe something so easy, without a lot of bs hmm?
After 40+ years of gardening the traditional way, my wife (aided by me, the labourer!) has decided to try the No-Dig route for our potatoes this year (2023). So, we came late to Charles' series of videos, but have really enjoyed them so far. At the moment our potatoes are looking fab and seem to be doing better than previous years. We're looking forward to the harvest and, planning on more no-dig stuff in the future. Thanks Charles!π
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… a link to teach me how best to reward those genuinely generous with their teaching?
Regarding watering
Is it best to just leave them be without any additional watering, unless the prolonged lack of rain situation at 11:00 occurs?
I switched to no dig last year and this was my first year trying out no dig potatoes. I am trying purple, reds, yukon golds and russets. Life has never been easier and more fulfilling after utilizing these simple no dig principles. My family is eating healthy foods for pennies and I'm still able to keep planting more potato seeds, tomatoes, and fruits because my time is so drastically freed up with no weeds nor digging. Thanks again Charles
Hello Charles. Just harvested my first no dig potatoes. Have done bags before and trenches – this was my best ever and not even close! I got 17 pounds from 12 seed potatoes and was very happy with that. What is a good benchmark for pounds from each seed potato? I thought 1.5 was pretty good- correct? Also, I just took out my garlic – some of them are massive and I got 100% growth from organic store bought cloves.
Every book I have ever read about growing vegetables recommended growing them in a set rotation . Trouble was I dont think any two of them could agree on what that rotation should be
Great video on no dig. Many thanks
This is so interesting. Thank you for this video
So what do you do with all of those potatoes now ? You can only eat so many. You state. They store in bags but, wonβt eyes start growing ?
First year grower here. Gone quite well so far. We are growing in a very small suburban garden, was thinking of filling in any space I have with some potatoes or isa it too late to be planting potatoes now? Thinking the same with carrots.
Thank you for another fine video, Mr. Dowding, I will try your no dig technique. A neighbour of mine told me that to increase the harvest, potatoes should be watered when in bloom. Would you agree and if so, would you mind explaining this process to me?
Didnt we use 2 broken grave stones? To cover the middle crown finger print ?
Great video as usual. Just curious why don't you grow sweet potatoes ?
Q: are they determinate or indeterminate potatoes? If theyβre indeterminate Iβd still want to hill them to get lots more potatoes.
Hello, Iβm very inspired by your videos, but I have a question about potatoes for seeds some people say that you need to cut down the plant and the potato need to lay in the ground to mature the skin for better storage what do you think about that?
No dig, but 30 seconds in and bro is digging a hole.
My seed potatoes are now 23JAN already with some long white sprouts. They can't go into the ground here until mid-April. What should I do with the sprouts that are too long? Should I take them out or leave them? Should I only take away the long white ones and keep the strong ones? Thank you for your help.
Hi M Dowding, if I put the compost now, is it a good idea or it's to late ? Thank for your answer Vincent from Belgium
Hi Charles is it ok to plant potatoes in a new no dig bed when there is cardboard under the compost layer? Thanks Jackie.
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I'm here to show my appreciation π―. Loving your channel and this year I'm being pro-active instead of reactive. Hence I'm here in February π
What date should i grow maincrop? Is today the 22nd march too early? Thanks π
Hi. Is it true that the harvested potatoes are generally smaller in no dig? What have you found in your trial beds?
Awesome harvest of potatoes, from the no-dig method. I will definitely be trying this. Enjoy your spuds.
Hi Charles I imagine it must break your heart when you see farmers year after year turning over the same soil and disrupting the ecological system of it's structure?
Just invite all the grandchildren around : ) and lots of honey
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