-- bob (janebob99@aol.com), November 23, 1999

Answers

Got mine last Feb at the gardening dept of the local hardware store It's my understanding, that if you can't get seed potatoes, cut a regular potato into chunks, one eye in each chunk and plant. I know my Mom used to put the potato peelings in the compost heap and we had potatoes growing out the side of it. LOL Duffy

-- DuffyO (duffyo@mailcity.com), November 23, 1999.

Check your local nursery or hardware store for supplies. they are starting to come in at least in N. California. If you have a farmers market with organic produce, that is another place to buy small potatoes. Talk to the person who sells them to you in terms of when to plant, how deep, etc.

I did that this last spring and really enjoyed the results.

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999.

Planted my first potato crop this year. I bought small organic spuds, left them on the kitchen counter until the eyes sprouted. Took them out into the garden, dug a little hole, covered them up. This week I have lovely little bushes growing! I learned this from my sister who lived back country in Oregon for several years, with 3 children, when her husband was forced to seek employment where he could find it.. She hauled water, firewood, had chickens (ate chickens), planted gardens. She was very happy about leaving the lifestyle (scared the children to death the first time they took a bath in a bathtub), but was quite happy to have learned the skills. When I asked her about planting and growing spuds, she laughed, "Thow 'em in the ground. THey're like weeds."

-- Casey DeFranco (caseyd@silcom.com), November 23, 1999.

Casey --

Clarification, please! Where are ou now, and was your sister able to throw sprouting spuds int eh groudn in November in Oregon, and have the plants winter through and bear the following year? Naturally, we always get the seed potatoes out in the conventional season -- late spring -- and I would expect things to rot our get frost-bitten if they had to set through a soggy Pacific Northest winter. PLease explain if you would.

Thanks.

Squirrel Hunter >"<

-- SH (squirrl@huntr.com), November 23, 1999.

Squirrel, my sister lived outside of Klamath Falls, I live above Santa Barbara (which explains a long growing season). I don't believe she threw the spuds in the ground in November. I certainly can't vouch for the success of growing them in colder climates...I've never had the pleasure of gardening in Alpine or severe winter climates. I do, however, know from research, you can grow almost anything in a tire, a pot, a plastic garbage bag or tin can, inside during winter as long as you have sun during the day. I would imagine (from my old hippie days,) that a grow light would be beneficial for any indoor crop. I've grown some great tomato's indoors...the yield was not as prolific as my outdoor garden, but it certainly gave up some good tomato's.

-- Casey DeFranco (caseyd@silcom.com), November 24, 1999.

I think the regular grocery potatoes are treated and might not sprout.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 24, 1999.