Saturday, June 20, 2009

Stormy Weather

Wow! Yesterday was simply unbelievable weather-wise. Throughout all of Friday the Chicago area was hit with storms that could only be rivaled by a tropical storm. Winds came at us that reached gusts of nearly 60 mph and the skies dumped approximately 4" of rain throughout the course of the day. Two inches were dropped in just one hour during the evening. Some of the plants took quite the beating and the garden was just a bit flooded for awhile. My potato plants took the worst of the storm's attack. A few stalks broke off due to the sheer force of the wind and rain, but most of the damaged plants were blown straight down. They laid there unwilling to stand up too tired I guess from the effort yesterday. I have tied them up in hopes of aiding them during this time.

I am sure that they will survive. Plants are resilient. They are survivors able to withstand all that nature can give them and keep on growing.

6 comments:

  1. I have a potato question.....Some horrible dog decided to use the straw surrounding my potato plants as nest-making material and went to sleep dirfectly on a potato plant. Thus, his stalk has been snapped (the potato's, not the dog's)....any chance this plant might re-sprout or is it a lost cause? I know your potato wisdom is very great indeed and thought you could give me some help. Thanks!

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  2. I think that your plant will still survive. It will probably still make potatoes, but it may not make as many and/or as large of ones due to this loss of energy production.

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  3. For a few moments there I thought I or my potted plants would be blown away. But nothing really happened--everything just kind of flew right over me. It looked horrible though on its way to wherever it was going.

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  4. Well I am glad that you and your plants are fine. I think that was the worst storm I have seen since I have lived in this area. Well here is to hoping we have a little break for awhile.

    The hot sunny weather though is good for my vegetable garden. My cucumbers and melons are finally starting to take off.

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  5. I caught your post both here and on Green Roof Growers--about using a smart pot to grow potatoes. I would like to ask your experience/opinion on the following: 1. What size smart pot did you choose? 2. I used a #20-which takes 20 G of soil. However the pots are now completely full and the plants now tower well above the top of the smart pot. Any ideas on how to improvise and add to the "tower" (so that part of the vine will also yield) or is it fine to just let it go from here? Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Lauren HInes

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  6. Hey, well I use the #15 pot and have found that the plants that are on the inside. I have mine set up in four rows of three with a walk way through the middle if that makes any sense. Well as I was saying the middle pots are doing good it is the corner ones that are falling over. I used the green velcro strips to tie up the plants to each other I loop this through the fence that I have going around the perimeter of the garden. So far this has helped out a little. I think a tomato cage would be good or posts or poles with ropes criss crossing through the area. Similar to what Green Roof Growers have for their plants. I might also try a wooden potato box next year for a couple to just try it out.

    Hope this bit of rambling answer helped if not please ask again and we could brainstorm some thing together.

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