These last three weeks have been busy here as we’ve been planting out ten research plots for our potato plant study. We are comparing the growth, labor, and yield of five different potato-growing ideas: trench and hill, straw mulch, newspaper-and-straw mulch, containers, and towers. In order to help others reproduce our study or grow potatoes … More Potato Plant Out — Lab Note 2.01
As readers of the blog will know, the institute is supporting a USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education–funded potato study. In short, we’re comparing the growing methods commonly used in gardens: potato towers, containers, sheet-and-straw mulch, straw mulch, and trench and hill (as a control). Last week we had a Jim Dayton, a reporter from … More In the News: Institute-Supported Potato Study
The institute is partnering with a group of independent market farmers to test potato-growing methods. We will be sharing the progress and results of this study on our digital platforms and providing logistical support to this citizen-science effort. Funding for the project has been provided by the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education organization. Abstract … More Research Project No. 2 — Comparing Potato-Growing Methods
The institute will be assisting with an agricultural study in 2018. Please see below and get in contact with Scott if interested. Study Summary Potatoes are one of the most productive plants per area. They grow in poor soils and provide complete nutrition. Ancient and modern growers have devised strategies to maximize yield and simplify … More Call for Study Participants — Potato Growing
The F-word. It happens. Even if we had the benefit of hands-on mentors, we’d still experience failure. We’ve had a number of failures this year and we’d like to share them with you. In addition to avoiding our missteps, you’ll benefit from hearing the solutions we’ve found. Greenhouse Tomatoes We have squirrels here and last … More Failure — 2016 Edition