Thankful Thursday, June 24, 2021

Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

I am thankful today for new potatoes!

Do you sometimes reach into your potato bin and find that the last few potatoes have sprouted?
Do you know that you can plant them and grow new potatoes?

In early March I put four sprouted red potatoes in a few inches of potting soil in a huge plastic flower pot set in full sun, and covered them with a few more inches of potting soil. At the plants grew, I added more potting soil until the pot was full. (Similar to 'hilling up' if planted in the ground). We had plenty of rain, so no additional care was needed.

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, June 16, 2021

When the tops died down three months later, I dug them up.

After I brushed off the dirt and adjusted the scale for the weight of the plate, two pounds and five ounces of new red potatoes!

The first time I grew potatoes, I used a grow bag and seed potatoes, but the basic process is the same with kitchen-sprouted red potatoes and a big flower pot. 

If you are interested, here is my post from last year: A Garden Experiment

Have a blessed day!

I am joining in today with Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Potatoes, May 24, 2021

Harvest Monday and Our World Tuesday

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, May 24, 2021

I harvested my first potatoes today! From four 'Red Norland' seed potatoes, I have one pound and one ounce of new potatoes. I spaced out my plantings so I should have some more ready to harvest in about ten days. In case you think the tiny potatoes are too small to use, they will be good dropped whole and unpeeled into a pot of vegetable soup.

Have a wonderful week!

I am linking in today with Harvest Monday and Our World Tuesday

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

A Garden Experiment, June 1, 2020

Harvest Monday and All Seasons

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 5, 2020

My brother gave me this Potato Planter for Christmas. Basically, it is just a sturdy plastic bag with a Velcro flap on the side. I bought 'Red Norland' seed potatoes.

On March 5, I planted 4 seed potatoes in the bag. As the plants grew, I added more soil until the bag was full. We have had plenty of rain this Spring, so no additional care was needed.

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, May 30, 2020

The tops of the potato plants began to die about a week ago, so on Saturday the moment of truth arrived.
I opened the Velcro flap, removed some soil, and...

… there they were - Potatoes!

Big ones, little ones, and all sizes in-between!

After brushing off the dirt and adjusting the scale for the weight of the glass plate: 2 lbs. 4oz. (1 kg.) of potatoes with hardly any effort at all on my part!

Here is the recipe I used to cook a few of them, though for just the two of us, I reduced the pan size and ingredient amounts. They were delicious!

I am not physically able to grow a large garden; this Potato Planter bag was easy and fun.
I have more potatoes in a large flower pot that will be ready soon. Wish it had a side flap to open!
Also in containers, I have tomato plants, pepper plants, and cucumber vines.

Happy Gardening!

To see who is harvesting what, visit Harvest Monday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit All Seasons: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Willy Nilly Friday, April 17, 2020

Willy Nilly Friday 5, Sky Watch Friday, Floral Friday Fotos, The Weekend in Black and White,
and on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

1. The View from our Mailbox (Sky Watch Friday)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, April 16, 2020

The road is calling, but we have to stay home. Sad, but thankful for the sunny skies!

2. Oxalis (Floral Friday Fotos)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, April 6, 2020

Oxalis can be found in many parts of the world and are known by several different names: Wood Sorrels and False Shamrocks are the most common names.

I think the specks on the petals is where rain has splashed dirt on them.

3. My Vegetable Garden

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, April 17, 2020

My 'Red Norland' potatoes are growing very well. Let's just hope they are making potatoes, too!

I have bought 4 Tomato plants, but they are still in their small pots. I hope to get them set out this weekend. I plan to plant Cucumber seeds, too, but I am undecided about Okra. It did not grow well for me last year, so I may rely on the Farmer's Markets for Okra this year.

4. Crane Fly (Saturday's Critters)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, April 9, 2020

The Cranefly is a small fragile insect, larger than a mosquito, but it is not a mosquito, and it does not bite.

5. Crow in Flight (I'd Rather B Birdin' and The Weekend in Black and White)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, April 12, 2020

I intended to get a photo of this crow perched on a dead tree, but just as I clicked the shutter he took off! American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Hope you have had a good week!

For more weather-related photos, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

For more flower photos, visit Floral Friday Fotos: Click Here!

For more black and white photos, visit The Weekend in Black and White: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

And on Saturday,
For more animal photos, visit Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

The Winter Garden February 2012

Winter Gardening Experiment
and the 52 Week Salad Challenge
 This is my first year to attempt growing a Fall/Winter garden. On August 31, September 13, and September 24, I planted radishes, onions and carrots in containers - just a small experimental garden.

Home-grown salad ingredients February 22, 2012

My harvest from October 2011 through February 2012
'Early Scarlet Globe' Radishes - 34 (they were ready to eat in 6  to 10 weeks).
'Little Fingers' Baby Carrots - 65 (with a few more still to be pulled).
'Evergreen Long White Bunching' Onions - 4 (The onions are just now getting big enough to eat.
                                                                      Many more to come).

Not a great total, but pretty good, I think, for a small experiment in winter gardening.

On November 24, I planted a container of potatoes. They have had a stuggle to survive. The foliage was frozen twice in January, despite being covered at night. (One night 22F, -5C, another night 19F, -7C). However, with warmer temperatures, they put up leaves again.

When, and if, I have new potatoes to eat, I'll have rosemary to season them with.

February 5, 2012 - The Rosemary seems to enjoy the winter weather!

On February 1, I planted more radishes in the container that has only onions left in it.

Of course, the weather immediately turned much colder!

They poked their little heads up on February 13 and seem to be growing well.

I sowed more radish seeds on February 20.

The first of March, I plan to plant more containers with lettuce, onions, carrots and radishes. It will be another two months before the weather is right to get started with tomatoes, peppers, and other warm season vegetables. But I may try to get an earlier start. We'll see how it goes! 

Veg Plotting has issued a challenge to grow our own salads all year round.

For more on the 52 Week Salad Challenge Click Here!