Using the Ruth Stout method to grow potatoes/veges without having to work the soil

[some_kid6]

Link describing the concept

Vid of someone growing 337 lb of potatoes with it:



tl;dw: Sow seeds, cover it all with ~8" of hay/mulch, decomposing hay/grass acts as fertilizer and moisture control. Mirrors how plants grow in nature.

You could survive quite a long time on a small amount of land growing only potatoes. Just don't let all your new found potatoes rot inside and gas you

 

[REELDOC]

That would be great if you had access to straw that wasn't so dang expensive.

 

[phideux]

An old buddy of mine used tires. Planted 4-5 plants inside a tire, every time the plants grew over the top of the tires, he put another on top and filled it with dirt. End of season he got a crap load of potatoes out of the tires.

 

[Spekter]

An old buddy of mine used tires. Planted 4-5 plants inside a tire, every time the plants grew over the top of the tires, he put another on top and filled it with dirt. End of season he got a crap load of potatoes out of the tires.

We're trying something similar with wire tubes this year. Ive heard of the tire thing...just cant get over the chance of chemicals leaching in...probably wouldnt happen....but it's enough for me not to try it. I can only imagine smelling burnt rubber when i bake a potato.

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

Link describing the concept

Vid of someone growing 337 lb of potatoes with it:



tl;dw: Sow seeds, cover it all with ~8" of hay/mulch, decomposing hay/grass acts as fertilizer and moisture control. Mirrors how plants grow in nature.

You could survive quite a long time on a small amount of land growing only potatoes. Just don't let all your new found potatoes rot inside and gas you

I had to look that up

Rotten Potatoes: Smell, Poison, Health Risks and More – Trace Wellness

Potatoes are sweet, easy to cook and offer different recipes. But when potatoes are not stored correctly, the result is rotten potatoes with toxic gas. Rotten potatoes smell bad and

tracewellness.com

 

[Brangus]

I remember older people growing potatoes, cucumbers, squash, cantelope, etc., etc., in old sawdust piles. No water, fertilizer, or weeds to worry about. They would pull the plants out of the sawdust, pull off some potatoes, and stick the plant back in to grow more.

Many innovative ways to stay alive and live off the land if we're willing to use what works.

 

[noway2]

I remember older people growing potatoes, cucumbers, squash, cantelope, etc., etc., in old sawdust piles.

Potatoes, generally like acidic soil. I have to wonder if the composting wood made for a good ph for them?

 

[Brangus]

Potatoes, generally like acidic soil. I have to wonder if the composting wood made for a good ph for them?

Not sure.......back then most sawdust piles were from long leaf pine and I know that pinestraw creates acidic conditions for azaleas, hydrangeas, and other acid loving ornamentals. I don't know if the sawdust from fresh pine does that or not but it may be possible.

 

[ronn47]

What is the pH of wood?
Wood has a natural pH of between 4 and 6. Any pH number lower than 7 is acidic and those above 7 are alkaline; therefore, a pH of 4-6 is slightly acidic. That's because all wood contains some acidic components like tannic acid.

 

[xtp308]

I wanna try this , maybe this year.