First half of the stone pathway project.

My heading starts with “Planting Sarpo Mira Spuds”, but I really want to show you the hard work I’ve been doing!  I have some pictures of stones.   Lots and lots of stones!

A “before” picture showing the black sheeting between two beds.

Last year we added two potato beds rather quickly.  At the time, I was more interested in eating potatoes than making sure the garden looked presentable.  This year, I was more interested in prettying up the garden!

Small stones to fill the pathway.

Now doesn’t that look nicer? 🙂  Those stones mostly came from different flower and vegetable beds in the yard, and along the fence line.  When we first started the stone pathway last year, my kids helped out a bit.  No moss will grow on those kiddos: they discovered quite quickly that the bigger the stones, the faster they’d be finished with their “chore”.  That was fine last year, when I didn’t realize bigger stones were more awkward to walk on!  This year I was on my own with stone collection, so I stuck with small stones.  I have to say that I was really pleased with the result.

Finished stone pathway.

I prepped the soil a bit, too.  The darker soil looks nicer in pictures! I used my new favorite tool in the whole wide world.

My new garden fork.

This baby is with me everywhere in the garden now.  I had been looking around for a really good garden fork.  The fork is somewhat narrow, and sturdy.  I was surprised how prevalent plastic handles were.  I prefer a good wooden one.  With all of my new beds, the soil really needs to be turned and compost worked in.  The fork makes this job completely manageable for me.  Yay for me!

Now I was able to see that the two potato beds were quite slanted.  Better still, my husband also saw this.  He and my 13 year old daughter set to work to build a frame for our Sarpo Mira main crop potatoes.

Adding a frame to the spud bed.

Stone pathway in the vegetable garden.

Yeah, I’m not even going to complain about having to shift most of those tiny stones after the bed was completed, since my original path was crooked…  😉

You can see what the beds and pathway looked like in my post from last year: https://mominthegarden.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/planting-maincrop-potatoes-on-easter-weekend/

On to spuds!  I was a week later than when we planted last year, but I don’t think that should matter too much.  We only have one crop this year, as we decided not to have early potatoes.  I want to rest one of the beds, or use it for something other than potatoes. The new bed is bigger than last year’s.  This will give us more room to “earth up” (cover up with soil) the shoots as they appear. This is so the potatoes don’t turn green, rendering them useless. The earthing up is to protect the potatoes from the sun.

We (I mean my husband!) dug holes about 6 inches deep, and 18 inches apart.

6 inches deep.

I had the potatoes in open egg cartons in my utility room (laundry room) for the past month or so. That process, called chitting, is to get sprouts started before they go into the ground.  It should speed up the growing time.

Covering over the potatoes.

Now we wait.  And take lots of pictures of the spring flowers!

Daffodils.

I had to bring some daffodils inside to enjoy!

A variety of daffodils.

These daffodils are at my front gate, and I love seeing them as I come and go.  They have a pretty high cheer factor!

The pulmonaria is lovely with the daffodils!

Mr. Fokker Anemone.

We had some terrible wind last week.  A few of my hyacinth were knocked down so I put them in a vase.  They look rather comical in that “arrangement”, but it was a quick fix.  The smell of hyacinth is a Love it or Hate it kind of smell.  I love it, and it’s a good thing as my kitchen was filled with the smell!

Hyacinth (after too much wind!).

Hyacinth after being knocked down by harsh winds.

I love this color!

Mr. Fokker Anemone.

Yes I am so happy to finally feel spring is here.  It was wonderful to be out and working in the garden, especially planting potatoes!  I can’t wait to eat our own spuds!  What is your favorite vegetable you are looking forward to harvesting?

Happy planting!
Dana