First Time for lots of things

[Two Chicksahs]

This last year was a first for a good many things. I got my first house, stick built that is. We got chickens which I've/we've wanted for quite a long time and upon my mother's urging I finally planted potatoes! Wow! Its like a treasure trove when you pull 'em up! I planted Russets, Rose and Yams. Most were from eyes we had from regular potatoes we had around but I also bought some "seed" potatoes or whatever you call them from the feed store.
Of course some were a bit green and we'll save those for growing more taters but one was a "Freakazoid" Potato! I know I didn't plant any creepy freaky potato like this one. Well the copy paste concept is working but it is very bizarre looking! Perhaps I can post it somewhere else on this site but I seem to have problems posting photos here.

 

[lazy gardener]

Congrats, Two on your recent life changes. Your mother knew what she was talking about, didn't she! Potatoes are my most fun crop to grow. So labor free, and so much yield. I feel like I'm finding treasures when I dig under the mulch, and find a nice big potato. Even better yet to know that the remaining spuds will continue to grow until fall harvest.

 

[Two Chicksahs]

Thanks lazy gardener! The only problem with the potatoes is that my girls love the leaves and when I try to put the stalks back into the ground for the pebble sized taters to continue growing the chicks grab and pull on the row closest to them. Don't you just love the taste and the firmness of fresh picked potatoes? Have you ever tried boiling them or baking them and then adding Boursin garlic chive spread on them as you would sour cream? It's over the Moon delicious!
Say, do your EE's lay during the winter up in Maine? I heard that EE's don't lay in the Winter and I have two regular sized and a Banty and that makes up 3 out of my seven hens. My chicks are just a bit over 3 months old and I know they are too young just yet... We live in Western Washington and are crossing our fingers that we at least get four eggs per day. I like the Dominiques too, but then I like a lot of variety. I'd have 20-30 if we could have managed it and afford it. We're on our first flock so we are using our girls to get accustomed to raising a flock. Anyhow thanks for the encouragement and support!

 

[lazy gardener]

You're not pulling those potato vines out of the soil to harvest those baby potatoes, are you? That would stunt any further tuber formation. Usually, to harvest new potatoes while leaving the rest to continue to maturity, you can just pull the mulch or hilled soil back from the base of the plant. Then, you feel around at the base for the potatoes. They'll usually be tucked right up under the plant, and you can use a trowel to pull them out. Yes, new potatoes, especially served up with fresh peas or green beans with butter and milk are a meal all by themselves. LOVE fresh garden produce!!!

The first winter, without supplemental light, one of my EE faithfully gave me 3 eggs/week. She was the only one. Last winter, they had 14 hours of light/day (I used a 7W CFL) and they all laid very regularly all winter. I only lost several eggs to freezing, b/c they were on and off the nest so often, and I went out to gather eggs often as well.

 

[Two Chicksahs]

Quote:
Thanks for the advice! Yes I was pulling the stalks out. I guess from what you've said that's a big Bozo No No. Oh well, live and learn. I put two of them at the edge of my compost pile cause of the girls attacking the leaves when I tried to put them back. I'll be making a new section for growing more potatoes. I'm not the best gardener. I love the reaping part but Lazy Gardener applies to me when it comes to weeding because it's hard on my back. This time around I don't have a raised bed due to how much dirt it took to filling 'em and the cost of the framework. Again thanks so much for the helpful advice! It's much appreciated.