I decided to try to grow sweet potatoes this year. I think they were offered by the company from which I ordered some onion sets, and I thought what the heck. I don’t really like sweet potatoes, but my partner does, and I was game to try something new.

One day this spring, some scraggly little stems showed up in a box on my doorstep. Fortunately, the sheet of instructions offered this reassurance:

“Plants will succeed even if they are yellow, slimey (sic) and have an odor that almost unbearable.”

Wow. Who knew! That got me reading the rest of the instructions, which included a lot of strange words in quotes (i.e. ‘Nutritious “homegrowns” for your family,’ and ‘Use care in “digging” your potatoes’ and illogical statements like “Successful Sweet Potato Growing is very interesting. Some gardeners have excellent results…others only fair but in general all gardeners follow these directions in some fashion.” That left me scratching my head.

But my very favorite thing in the folded sheet full of rah-rah cheers for the marvelous sweet potato was the promise that harvesting my Big “Jumbo” size potatoes would be my most exciting garden experience ever. That sent me into spasms of laughter.
Well, it’s not harvest time, so it could be right. Though I’m not sure that says much about me as a gardener if it turns out to be true. Can gardening be so deadly dull that sweet potatoes reign as the top thrill?

Which brings me to today’s question. What’s your biggest gardening thrill? Don’t want to admit you thought it was thrilling? How about your gardening high points (at least until you plant sweet potatoes)?

I just planted my potatoes. I know, it’s really late. I was supposed to do it in March (yeah, right) or April. But I’m hopeful that they’ll still have time to grow, and that the delay will help foil the potato beetles that plagued them last year.

It took some time to get them planted this season because I had to do a little hunting and gathering project. Remember those cool potato barrels that GG reader Patty wanted to find in the States? I couldn’t find them either, but I liked their functionality and looking for them inspired me.

Since those pesky beetles are still hanging out in my garden plot (tormenting my tomatoes since I didn’t plant any potatoes for them there this season), I thought it made a lot of sense to plant my potatoes elsewhere this year. But where, elsewhere?

Why, in one of those potato barrels, of course. Strategically placed all the way across the yard from the garden.

Since I couldn’t find those sharp-looking Euro barrels, I started scoping for alternatives. I’d seen large round compost bins for sale occasionally on craigslist, and I bought one used. Turns out, this bin is offered new at a reduced rate by many counties, including Hennepin, Anoka and Dakota.

Not only is it huge, but it has two sliding doors at the bottom. So I planted two varieties in the bin, each accessible by a door, for harvesting of new potatoes or checking progress.

I liked it so well, in fact, I bought two more and am on the hunt for a final fourth potato bin (please don’t ask me why I have eight varieties of potatoes. I really don’t know what came over me).

What do you think? Will the potatoes have time to grow? Will the bins work? Will I foil the potato beetles? Can I even find a fourth bin to complete my collection?

Have you ever adjusted a time table for planting to accommodate something else or avoid a problem? Did it work for you?

When it comes to gardening, it seems like the UK is way ahead of us yanks. Planters, tools, boots and gloves, I can’t help but envy some of their solutions from everything from weeding to patio gardening.

GG reader Patty stumbled across this marvy potato barrel (right) from UK gardening institution, Suttons Seeds :

Hi Greengirls!

I’ve been trying to locate someplace here in MN (or at least the US!) that carries the potato barrel and/or strawberry tubs shown below. I love these, but refuse to pay to have them shipped from the UK! Any chance you or the rest of the gardening crew have any hints for me where to find these (or something similar)?

Thanks!
Patty

Truth be told, these pots make potato planting and harvesting look like a grab-and-go counter. (See how easily the cleaned-handed gardener fills her basket?) Seriously crush worthy. I’d like 3 or 4 of these on my patio, but I haven’t seen them in any TC garden center. Have you?

It’s easy to overlook the humble potato. Its more popular cousins, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, often steal the show with their bold colors and flavors. What a beautiful Brandywine! What hot habaneros!

What a lot of nonsense! These high-maintenance beauties are high-stress all growing season long. Critters, drought, disease — Every year, there’s a new nemesis determined to thwart my summer salads and salsas.

Fie upon you, blossom end rot!

Truth be told, taters are hardiest veggie in my garden. Hardworking and low-maintenance, they just need a deep hole, decent garden soil and some sun. There’s no guessing games about ripeness. When the plant starts to yellow, grab a shovel and dig up dozen of the tastiest taters you’ve ever put on your plate… (Well, as long as the Colorado potato beetles stay in someone else’s garden.)

You can find a limited selection of seed potatoes at your favorite local nursery. If you’re a fan of fingerlings or heirlooms, you’ll have better luck online. I have a few extras, so if you’d like to try a spud or two, send an email to greengirls@startribune.com.

So, what did you learn in your garden this year? Here’s my list:

1. Red plastic mulch is alright, but it’s a pain to put down. Entertain the neighbors and decide to do it on a windy day.

2. Green plastic tomato supports were great in May, but burly ‘maters popped off their arms and made them look like weaklings by August.

3. If you plant several kinds of sauce tomatoes and they all grow, you’ll be standing in the kitchen at midnight making tomato sauce several nights a week in September.

4. Potato beetles suck.

5. If you want cucumbers, you actually have to get around to planting them, not just buying seeds and saying “I should get the cukes planted today” until fall.

6. Oregano is wonderful on homemade pizza. I need to grow much more of it.

7. You can grow peaches in Minnesota. At least this year.

8. Planting beans and peas is a nice way to feed the local wildlife.

9. Pollinators like honeybees need all they help they can get.

10. One of the most satisfying things I can think of is sitting down to dinner and counting up the ingredients that came from your garden.