This season we decided to implement a small test of change in the growing space with the intention of accomplishing two goals. First, we needed to increase our potato yield, and second, we were looking for a good no-till strategy to use for growing our potato crop. For several seasons, the job of furrowing and hilling the beds has been handled by our trusty draft mares, Valerie and Vonda. But the past few years we've been questioning our use of horsepower to disturb the soil. As we move the farm further away from tillage practices, it makes sense to find a way to grow potatoes that keeps the soil biology in place and reduces weed pressure.
Our experiment involved using 2 of our standard 100' x 30" growing beds as a test plot for a radically different approach. After the bed was prepared for planting, a furrower was walked down the center to create a shallow trench into which a seed potato was placed every 6 inches (our test subject being my favorite variety, Peter Wilcox). The soil was pulled over the tops of the potatoes, and then a thick layer of straw mulch was laid on top till any sign of the soil or the potatoes vanished. As the plants grew, we added 2 more thick layers of mulch while simultaneously, on the north end of the growing space, we were busy hilling the main potato crop using the horses and hilling discs. The hilled potatoes grew well, but not vigorously. The potatoes growing in the straw exploded with growth.
When it came time to fully assess the results, the proof of no-till success was in the digging. The potatoes growing in the hilled soil had to be dug using digging forks and required 2-3 crew members to harvest the necessary pounds. Our straw-mulched potatoes were dug by hand with minimal pulling or lifting required. We simply pushed back the straw, gave the plants a light tug, and pulled up impressive clusters of good sized purple gems. The first time I harvested in the mulched beds I was giddy! The labor was minimal, the yields were huge and the condition of the beds was actually improving as the potatoes grew. We can't say the same for our hilled beds, which are currently growing more weeds than I would like to admit to.
Now we know that next season we can safely make a bigger change that will help us work smarter, not harder. Less work and more potatoes? I'm in! Especially since they taste SO GOOD!! We hope you enjoy them too!
Your Farmer,
Danielle
