Wow, I'm excited. I got an email today that made my day! As great as it is to be "published" in Patti's newsletter every month, this seems more real... I got a post over on my Build-As-You-Grow-Bin page from a reporter with the Seattle Times. Yep, the paper that ran the article that started it all in 2005 is doing a follow-up of sorts. They're writing about the 20-30% increase in seed sales this year, focusing on Greg Lutovsky's seed farm over in Ellensburg. They would like to use my page as an example of someone using his design in the local area! How cool is that?
Anyway, I may very well have to buy new seed from him this year. I checked my seed boxes that I saved from last fall, and unfortunately all my seed potatoes have sprouted, along with the ones left in the storage boxes. Seems they don't last quite as long as I'd like, even in the proper conditions. I sure would like to make potato soup out of the remainder of my eating potatoes, if they're edible. Any ideas folks?
Well, on the seedling front, three of my four Red Sails lettuces sprouted today, so they went up stairs. And one of my mustard greens is considering poking it's head out of the dirt. I'll wait til tomorrow to see if others join it. Oh how I look forward to checking my seedlings when I get home after a long, stressful day at work. Man I'm glad gardening season is upon us. I don't know how I would survive without it.
Guess that's it for tonight. Busy weekend planned. Take care all, and enjoy your garden!
That is awesome Rich!!! Yeah!! Please let me know when the article is online, ok? I want to read it!
ReplyDeleteIsn't cool though how this potato bin has "traveled around"? From Seattle WA, to Mobile AL and even to Hustonville KY (where we built my MIL's bins). Then there is all of the gardeners inbetween who used your Potato Bin page to build their bins all over the place! I wonder just how many people now have build-as-you-grow potato bins now? Your blog page is awesome and has inspired so many people! Great job!!
Oh, I know what you mean.... being able to do something (even just walk around) in the garden sure does bring the stress level down a few notches. And I think everyone could use that in this day and time especially with the state of the economy!
Hope you have a great weekend!!
I read somewhere recently (Cook's Illustrated?) that keeping an apple with stored potatoes will suppress sprouting. Something to do with the ethylene gas that the apple gives off. It's worth a try. I am going to grow potatoes for the first time this year and I am hoping to save a few to grow on next year.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! I know that means a lot to you. Keep records and hard copies of your blog and all of the other media you've been published in to share with your kids one day. Ok, so your kids may not care, but their kids will find you pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
ReplyDeleteI've heard you can't eat sprouted potatoes (but I have). I think I'm going to save mine and try planting them to see what happens. I'm hoping to make some potato bins from landscape material (kind of like the ones they sell at Gardener's Supply).
I'm growing potatoes this year for the first time and bought some of the cloth bins that Chiot's Run mentioned.
ReplyDeleteHey Chiots, if you come up with a good pattern for making these yourself, let me know. I'm pretty handy with a sewing machine and would like to give it a try to have some extras.
You can eat sprouted potatoes if they do not have "greening" or if they have not gotten very soft (wrinkled) too. If they are still fairly firm and just sprouted a bit - then scrape off the sprouts and use a paring knife to dig out the dark growing point (eye). If it is very soft or wrinkly too much of the starches have been converted to sugars and it will not have good taste, texture, and much of the nutrition will be deteriorated. I would not eat a potato that was that far gone by. If it has turned green - then it has received too much sunlight and is developing an alkaloid toxin that is poisonous and should not be eaten.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the article inclusion! That is very exciting!
That's great, dude! The papers in my area don't even want to look at my photos from last year....bunch of retards.....Anyway, you deserve the article, and I can't wait to see it....
ReplyDeleteEG
That is exciting news, I'd love to see the article when it is published.
ReplyDeleteYou may be about to save the spuds for replanting even if they have sprouted already. I remember my Dad planting potatoes that had sprouts almost 8" long and they did fine.
I've used sprouted potatoes for planting. Actually, I have planted potatoes really early and have harvested new potatoes in May. There's nothing that tastes better! In addition, I have had potatoes growing in the garden that I had forgotten about and they grow early in the spring and have been a treat. Congrats on being a published author. Your blog IS good.
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