Golden Taters
6February 17, 2013 by Buffy
I know Valentines day stands for love, flowers, and candy. But to an Arkansas gardener, it also means it is time to plant your potatoes! This year we chose Yukon gold potatoes.(We’ve never grown this variety.) Praying for a great crop and we are crossing our fingers the yellow jackets stay out of them this year.
Mucking Moms 
Those Yukon Gold’s do horribly here in Oklahoma, but I sure to love eating them! I have tried for 3 years and they are very disappointing. I think our season gets hot too fast… they just don’t do well. I’ve never heard of yellow jackets in the tater patch!! That thought sort of horrified me!!
We are the same way, My great grandfather always said that Feb 14 is the day you plant potatoes. So, that is what I do!
You must be further south than us. My great grandmother always told us to plant on St. Patricks Day.
We are further south, but with today’s snow I will admit I may be a little early! I’m also worried about my Yukon Gold choice. I may side dress my row with red potatoes when it dries up where I can get back in the garden.
We usually plant Kennabec and really love them. I’ve also planted Pontiac red and they do well here. It’ definitely too early here BUT I think we’re going to try to get in a early row and keep them well covered. If we can get the ground tilled! Your soil looks fabulous! Do you grow the potatoes in straw? I’ve heard of that but haven’t tried it yet.
Thanks for noticing my soil! I’m very proud of it. We grew a bumper crop of red potatoes (I don’t know what kind.) in straw last year. The straw made for very easy, and no digging harvesting. The potatoes grew under the straw and on top of the soil. One problem, yellow jackets nested in the middle of my row. I had no idea how aggressive these little pest could be. They attacked me, chased me, and stung me repeatedly! Did I mention I was too dumb to run? After all bees are our friends, right? Yellow jackets are NOT my friends!