Intensive planting of potatoes - Red Norlings specifically - anyone?

[Life is Good!]

Has anyone ever tried to intensive plant potatoes?

Last year, I tried the feed bag method (open feed bag both ends, roll down, fill bottom with soil over prepared bed. Plant potatoes. As they grow, roll feed bag upwards. Harvest at end of season by removing bag). Well, not sure if it was the drought, the soil I added to the bags or what....but I only harvested less than a 5#bag from 8 plants. Seriously disappointed.

So this year, I'm trying intensive planting. Our raised bed is 8' square, and I've got two bags of seed potatoes planted in it. Not quite sure what'll happen...but every garden year is an experiment at our home!

Anyone ever try this before? Success? Failure?

 

[erinszoo]

How close are they planted? We space ours about every 6-8 inches in raised beds. All the literature on growing potatoes will tell you that you should hill them up several times because the potatoes will grow along the stems but in 18+ years of gardening we've never found any potatoes growing except from where we planted the potato and down. Yes, they need covered at least once with dirt to keep the forming tubers from turning green. But that's it. Filling a bag is not possible unless you plant multiple layers of seed potato. And yes, last year was crap for potatoes everywhere from what I've been reading on all of the garden forums. I don't think we harvested 5 lbs from a 6x6 raised bed.

 

[Life is Good!]

I planted the potatoes mostly 4-6" apart - done four days ago and I've already got 2 plants shooting skyward. Out of about 50 potatoes, that's better than last year!

I agree - each season is different. Potatoes did not perform last year - but pumpkins surely did! So, I keep learning and trying new things. As I hate weeding, I'm hoping closer spacing will reduce that chore in this one bed. Maybe. Ok, somewhat? Please?!