Mulching the potatoes
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
May 6, 2016 10:49pm CST
I am pleased to work with several knowledgeable friends in the community garden. This photo shows part of the work we did yesterday.
One woman watered almost everything, for four hours. Five more of us did the mulching of the potatoes. First we put down soaked newspaper as a weed barrier and then we covered it with fresh straw. This will keep out weeds, deter potato beetles, and encourage growth of potatoes and enrich the soil for next year.
Another worker came in and planted more sweet corn. They have done that every two weeks for a while now. That way the corn will come in at different times for all to enjoy.
I love the smell of sweet fresh straw.
8 people like this
10 responses
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 16
The plans for the produce are three fold. All the people who work, pick what they would like. Extra items are sold at community markets on Tuesdays, and that money goes to pay for seed and other things we need like equipment. If there is more than can be sold extra food goes to senior housing complex or food banks in the area.
2 people like this
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
7 May 16
@GardenGerty Excellent idea to have the rewards shared that way.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
7 May 16
I live in the boonies in a farming community where the main crop and livelihood is hay - I smell it in my sleep.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 16
The way I understand it that is much better than smelling a pig farm or a cheese factory. I could smell hay, and blooming things various places we stopped yesterday. It also beats factory smells all to pieces.
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
7 May 16
@GardenGerty Thankfully there are no pig farms or cheese factories...just horses, pastures and hay fields.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 16
Hubby and I eat very little corn but I know others love it. I have never grown it. The mulching of the potatoes is to take the place of having to hill them up.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 16
It keeps it from blowing away when you are adding the straw on top. I also feel it keeps it from drawing moisture from the soil.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
7 May 16
@GardenGerty Yes, I am sure that this is the reason and now I think to remember that my grandmother used the same method.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 16
Even shredded office paper is good. Because of the grants, etc. and the fact that it is a community garden, we do not use any chemical controls for weeds and bugs. Natural things, yes.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 16
I think it is really healthy for us to work together this way, enjoy the fresh air and fresh food.
1 person likes this
@trivia79 (7827)
• El Segundo, California
9 May 16
@GardenGerty by means of those, we can preserve our fresh nature so future generation can still experience what we are experiencing....loving the nature 
@rusty2rusty (6771)
• Defiance, Ohio
8 May 16
You are giving your garden much nutrients. It looks great!!
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
7 May 16
potatoes are one thing i haven't tried growing yet.i've heard of people growing them in bags as well..
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 16
I grew them once, well over thirty years ago. In my previous location that I left last year I did not have good space for a garden. I have planted blue potatoes, just a few, in a bed at my new house. Mostly for fun.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
7 May 16
No, we have a very large space for gardening and there is a huge field they are planting with corn.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 May 16
I know I keep saying this, but I am SUPER jealous of your community garden
