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We will follow a crop of potatoes through the growing process to explain some techniques involved in organic farming. Early generation potato seed is best, purchased from a certified seed grower, insuring disease free seed. Seed potatoes are cut to planting size or purchased as whole seed-sized potatoes.
In our early days we cut our seed by hand and treated it with fir
bark to inhibit seed piece decay. These potato seeds and sprouts (above, right) show disease free growth of a healthy plant.
SOIL PREPARATION & NUTRITION
A cover crop of grain was planted in the fall and plowed under for fertilization before other vegetables were planted in the spring...this "green manure" practice has been shown to decrease funguses in the soil that sometimes can lead to see piece decay (above, left). An air-powered side-bander can place organic fertilizer next to the seed.
Planting with a modern cup planter keeps bacteria from invading the seed piece; banding hoppers allow natural organic fertilizers to be introduced into the earth very near the seed piece.
A Dammer-Diker (above, right) is used to keep water evenly in the rows near plant roots by putting little dips in the soil. Banding helps to provide the young plant with vitality to compete with weeds, survive insect pressure, and get a healthy start.
SEEDING & PLANTING
Planters dig a furrow, drop and space seed, and disc a hill over the seed piece. New-planted rows of spuds full of organic matter (leftover from '99 crops) and added compost (below, left). When the seed has sprouted and the sprouts have reached the ground's original level, we power harrow the hills down to kill the first crop of weeds and let the sun encourage the emergence of the new plant.
We planted with a pick planter that was sterilized regularly
to deter seed piece decay.
As the plant grows so do the weeds. We sweep cultivate between the rows to kill the weeds and throw dirt up onto the plant rows. This covers the weeds, leaving the plant to grow with little competition.
Now the bugs come to dinner. We have Colorado Potato Beetle (below) at our farm and have come to know them well. We hate 'em! They can really wipe out a crop but we fight back. Rotation is the best defense. Starving them of their favorite food sends them away. If you can keep the first adults that arrive to your fields under control, you are in good shape.
We have built a propane flamer (above, left) that burns the wings off adults and kills the young soft-tissue larva but it is hard on the beneficial insects. We use it carefully, in areas of extreme need only. We have also built a back-pack-vacuum (above, right) that sucks up the bugs and we dispose of them when the bag is full. Continual monitoring of the field helps identify the treatment necessary for pest control. Some other methods we use are, trap fields planted for early emergence to lure the first adult insects and control them away from the main field. Rotenone powder is an effective natural pesticide and does not effect the plant itself.
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