I grew them 45 years ago because an old man told me that it worked. I planted them on top of the ground and covered them with straw just to prove the old man WRONG! To my surprise when I raked the straw back.... There lay the prettiest cleanest potatoes i had ever raised.
I like to throw my straw in the chicken run for a day or two to pick out the oats, then scoop it up and spread it on my garden. I plant a smaller area (1-2 bales coverage), but the chickens are happy and the weeds are fewer.
I've been doing my potatoes this way ever since your first video..AND I CAN TESTIFY to the fact that YES it is much easier an cleaner there earth bed.. I've gotten more potatoes this way with so much less labor at 65yr old what a blessing harvesting..thanks Rachel &Tod
I love your method! I have switched to straw this year; I am putting the potatoes in buckets to free up the ground space. Putting them on a bit of soil/compost and topping off with lots of straw. An experiment :)
I've had great results planting potatoes in huge buckets, but not yet tried the hay in bucket over compost and dirt method. Please keep us updated on your experiment!
I used to do the Ruth Stout method before the jumping worms showed up. Always beautiful potatoes, even sweet potatoes. I am going to try potatoes in 25 gal grow bags, Ruth Stout style next year. I was able to trap out the majority of jumping worms this past year in my main potato bed, unfortunately I can not do Ruth Stout in the soil again. Gardening is always a challenge, adaptation is key. Enjoyed your video, subscribed.
Great idea. I've used cardboard before on top of lawn grass instead of digging a new bed. I just cut a hole in it and put the potato in and I had a nice harvest. And the cardboard decomposed and I ended up with nice potatoes and a bonus. Many earthworms. 😊
WONDER IF WE COULD USE BROWN GROCERY BAGS PUT POTATOES ON TOP AND THEN LAYER WITH HAY OR LEAVES OR WOOD CHIPS LOTS OF TREE TRIM PEOPLE BRING GROUND UP WOOD CHIPS TO YOUR YARD FOR FREE JUST CURIOUS. STOUTS HAY AND STRAW IS THE BEST
Hi Rachel and Todd. Rachel, you do such good work in planting your beautiful garden. I hope you get more potatoes this year. Thank you for a wonderful adventure in the world of gardening. God Bless the garden and also you and Todd. Take care. Maria. Happy Easter to you and Todd. 🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Definitely trying this method this year. I simply used old chopped up leaves from the yard last year and they did great too. I have a ton of old hay this year so this will be my method! Thank you for the video!
I used shredded leaves this year but something ate all my potato leaves down to stump and when I dug back the leaves they were dry, even though it had been raining. I blamed the shredding.
This is my third year of Ruth Stout potato garden. Will never do it another way. Pumpkins grew in it as well. Best harvest ever of those. Because our garden in that area is shaded all winter. After harvest I cover with more hay. Add blood and bone and cover with weed mat. Leave until spring. Pull back the weed mat and you have a perfect garden bed, ready mulched.
I read Ruth Stouts books back in the 70s & 80s.. I helped my mom make a small RS garden when I was a teen.. it didn't work out too well but it stuck with me..and I revisited it later as an adult! Loved it! It's the best way to keep your soil cool too in the blazing hot summers of Texas. It's nice to see someone else using her methods!
this is really a game changer. I'm going to try this out. I have never grew potatoes because I can't get down to dig them up. thank you for showing us this.
Tater lasagna done! Tilled 40", put down 3 bags of leaves, 3 bags of seed taters, a tub of bone meal, 2 bales of straw, and finally 4 bags of composted cattle manure. I ought to have some super taters this year!
This is so wonderful, never seen it done this way. Did see the video where you pull your potatoes up. I enjoyed that video to, I am sorry someone said that about your potatoes. God see’s your heart Rachael, no worries Sweet Heart. ✝️💟
This is my second year slash mulching potatoes, we live on 20 acres in the Sacramento valley so we just mow the lawn after winter and use our own straw. Works great 👍
I'm doing this too. It's working perfectly. I just took my old used rabbit bedding and placed it on top of my hay then I put grass clippings on top of that. .
Love Ruth Stout Method. I planted them last month the day after the full moon. My new potatoes have green leaves that have already poked through! I coat my potatoes in Sulfur before planting to prevent scab and natural protector against disease. When the green tops are 6 inches tall I will add more wheat straw and give them a dose of Bone Meal.
WOW amazing! I've been gardening over 30 years and have never seen this method. love it! Of course there is a difference in temperature and we have fire ants that attack potatoes in the ground. So, as seen on our channel we grow in pots on grow tables off the ground. We really enjoy yawls channel and like seeing how you do things up north. We are in the upper 80's and low 90's and at night upper 60's. Our entire garden is up and growing, I'll do an update today. Always good to see yawl and have a blessed day! Mike
I planted potatoes yesterday in 30 gal grow bags. 1st time I have ever used them for potatoes. I haven't had a typical garden since I was in my early 20's. I am going to have 4 8 X 4 raised beds soon, and have another area at the end of my house that is 4 feet by 28 feet
Rachel & Todd - Happy Easter Bunny 🐰🐇🐣🐣- I had given up on trying to grow potatoes but once again you have spurred me on to give it another try. Cheers Denise- Australia
The Ruth Stout method. I need to try this way. I remember watching your video last year, planting inside full hay bales, too! I think it's a great to compost and get bumper crop!
Another benefit of mulch gardening is come fall clean up just pull the mulch to the compost pile to finish breaking down. Keeps it all in the cycle of life. Happy Easter
I use my second-year straw bales from my straw bale garden to grow my potatoes on top of and then just pile on the fresh straw. I have pretty severe arthritis in my low back and digging is not an option...not a smart one anyway. I love it for all the reasons you stated, it's easy to plant, easy to harvest and oh so clean! :)
I produce a lot of wood chips on our wood lot and new to gardening, my partner has been gardening for years. Plan to try out the chips to see what results I can get but will definitely put some down between the rows for paths and weed control/ water retention. Don't really have access to straw or hay.
Great tip on using the hay to plant and bed your potatoes Rachael and Todd!! I’ll be trying this method this spring ! Thank y’all Nd Happy Easter -He had Risen !! ❤️🙏✝️🙋🏻🐣🐇🐰✝️✝️
Second year planted potatoes in cheap hampers push cardboard half way down , nothing should drain out of sides. I hamper got me 5gal.bucket. made room in ground for other important veggies when there done put in some cold crops.
Do you think that would work in pots? We have just too many rodents here and they find everything! I lost the last 2 years of potatoes due to rodents so this year I got pots but I used dirt. I really like how clean yours are though. Saves so much time!
Trying this this year with pine shavings since that's all I have and in a 25 gal felt grow bag. Definitely not ideal environment for potatoes, but this video gives be a bit of hope😅 excited to see the amazing harvest you get!💗
Brilliant! I keep asking if I can plant potatoes this way....I keep getting I have to cut them up and spout them.... thank you! I'm going to get my potatoes!
You can 'chit' or sprout them to give them a head start. Sunlight will cause the 'eyes' on a tater to grow shoots. If you want more smaller potato's, cut them up. I plant them whole for bigger potato's. Happy Gardening
I would also think that harvesting would be better because you wouldn’t be forking or cutting your potatoes with a shovel - and no potatoes left behind to grow next year where you don’t want them. Great video! If I can find some straw I will try this. I have just the spot!
How do they root without being under some soil , I always dug a trench about 12 inches deep put the seed pot. In covered with soil and as the plant grew kept covering with soil , nice video would love to see the results.
I tried buckets for 2 years. I'm going the Ruth Stout/ 1870 Homestead method this year. How deep of compost should I have? The way things are going I want to grow and can my potatoes.
Always fun to watch the garden being put in, thanks for sharing! I saved some seed potatoes from last years garden. Today I was getting them out of the basement and oh my they have all sprouted and the potatoes themselves are all withered up. Do I plant them or get new ones?
This looks like a great way to grow potatoes. But I was wondering can I do this in a raised bed because I can't get down on the ground. After 4 knee surgeries I have been trying to do raised bed have not tried potatoes.
Hello so my plants have started pushing though the straw now I’m wondering do I keep putting more straw on top of what’s pushing through I’m not sure what my next step is.
The first year you just put out cardboard and put the potatoes on top then cover with hay or straw…do the roots go out across the cardboard or do they grow down thru it? When you add more hay or straw, do you cover the leaves, too, or put it up under the leaves? Thank you. I just got my first green stalk. I can’t wait. Tomorrow is our gardening day😀💕
Do you get any changes in pest pressure? Many of my bulbs and some plants are a buffet for chipmunks, squirrels and other small rodents. I might try this in a fenced in bed. Thanks! 😊
can we put out chicken coop cleanings directly on top, or does it need to be composted down a bit first. (chickens are on chopped straw, and woodshavings in their actual bed.
My soil has never grown red potatoes worth a hoot. Last year I went to no till and did that method. I was getting almost 5lbs off each plant. Is the only way to plant potatoea
Don't do it! To hot here I am in Charlotte NC Gave us 2 Copperhead nests and 3 months of killing 15 baby poisonous snakes. Science teacher across the street from us said they love the heat from the straw breaking down which makes for perfect breading spot. I am from Mountains in KY and had never even seen a snake in January. Still traumatized lol
Wood ash contains lots of nutrients and minerals but also affects the Ph. balance of soil. So it depends on what you are growing, and the amount of wood ash involved.
Definitely a much easier way for disabled folks like me! I love that you show us lots of different methods throughout your garden! Happy Easter! 🐇🐣🐰
I grew them 45 years ago because an old man told me that it worked. I planted them on top of the ground and covered them with straw just to prove the old man WRONG! To my surprise when I raked the straw back.... There lay the prettiest cleanest potatoes i had ever raised.
Easter is pagan, and paganism leads to lake of fire, just a little heads up.
I like to throw my straw in the chicken run for a day or two to pick out the oats, then scoop it up and spread it on my garden. I plant a smaller area (1-2 bales coverage), but the chickens are happy and the weeds are fewer.
I've been doing my potatoes this way ever since your first video..AND I CAN TESTIFY to the fact that YES it is much easier an cleaner there earth bed.. I've gotten more potatoes this way with so much less labor at 65yr old what a blessing harvesting..thanks Rachel &Tod
I love your method! I have switched to straw this year; I am putting the potatoes in buckets to free up the ground space. Putting them on a bit of soil/compost and topping off with lots of straw. An experiment :)
I've had great results planting potatoes in huge buckets, but not yet tried the hay in bucket over compost and dirt method. Please keep us updated on your experiment!
How did it go?
There will ALWAYS be naysayers!!
I can’t wait to see them at harvest time.
Great video guys.
This is a great way to grow them. Easier on my old bones not having to dig them up!
I used to do the Ruth Stout method before the jumping worms showed up. Always beautiful potatoes, even sweet potatoes.
I am going to try potatoes in 25 gal grow bags, Ruth Stout style next year. I was able to trap out the majority of jumping worms this past year in my main potato bed, unfortunately I can not do Ruth Stout in the soil again.
Gardening is always a challenge, adaptation is key.
Enjoyed your video, subscribed.
Great idea. I've used cardboard before on top of lawn grass instead of digging a new bed. I just cut a hole in it and put the potato in and I had a nice harvest. And the cardboard decomposed and I ended up with nice potatoes and a bonus. Many earthworms. 😊
WONDER IF WE COULD USE BROWN GROCERY BAGS PUT POTATOES ON TOP AND THEN LAYER WITH HAY OR LEAVES OR WOOD CHIPS LOTS OF TREE TRIM PEOPLE BRING GROUND UP WOOD CHIPS TO YOUR YARD FOR FREE JUST CURIOUS. STOUTS HAY AND STRAW IS THE BEST
Hi Rachel and Todd. Rachel, you do such good work in planting your beautiful garden. I hope you get more potatoes this year. Thank you for a wonderful adventure in the world of gardening. God Bless the garden and also you and Todd. Take care. Maria. Happy Easter to you and Todd. 🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Happy Easter Rachel and Todd
Definitely trying this method this year. I simply used old chopped up leaves from the yard last year and they did great too. I have a ton of old hay this year so this will be my method! Thank you for the video!
I used shredded leaves this year but something ate all my potato leaves down to stump and when I dug back the leaves they were dry, even though it had been raining. I blamed the shredding.
THANKU GOD BLESS YOU BOTH FOR THE KNOWLEDGE YOU SHARE
This is my third year of Ruth Stout potato garden. Will never do it another way. Pumpkins grew in it as well. Best harvest ever of those. Because our garden in that area is shaded all winter. After harvest I cover with more hay. Add blood and bone and cover with weed mat. Leave until spring. Pull back the weed mat and you have a perfect garden bed, ready mulched.
I read Ruth Stouts books back in the 70s & 80s.. I helped my mom make a small RS garden when I was a teen.. it didn't work out too well but it stuck with me..and I revisited it later as an adult! Loved it! It's the best way to keep your soil cool too in the blazing hot summers of Texas.
It's nice to see someone else using her methods!
this is really a game changer. I'm going to try this out. I have never grew potatoes because I can't get down to dig them up. thank you for showing us this.
Tater lasagna done!
Tilled 40", put down 3 bags of leaves, 3 bags of seed taters, a tub of bone meal, 2 bales of straw, and finally 4 bags of composted cattle manure. I ought to have some super taters this year!
This is so wonderful, never seen it done this way. Did see the video where you pull your potatoes up. I enjoyed that video to, I am sorry someone said that about your potatoes. God see’s your heart Rachael, no worries Sweet Heart.
✝️💟
This is my second year slash mulching potatoes, we live on 20 acres in the Sacramento valley so we just mow the lawn after winter and use our own straw. Works great 👍
I'm doing this too. It's working perfectly. I just took my old used rabbit bedding and placed it on top of my hay then I put grass clippings on top of that. .
We did this last year. Our potatoes were wonderful. Some of our hay had some barn clean out as a bonus attached. Very low maintenance potatoes!
This is how I raise my potatoes
Love Ruth Stout Method. I planted them last month the day after the full moon. My new potatoes have green leaves that have already poked through! I coat my potatoes in Sulfur before planting to prevent scab and natural protector against disease. When the green tops are 6 inches tall I will add more wheat straw and give them a dose of Bone Meal.
WOW amazing! I've been gardening over 30 years and have never seen this method. love it! Of course there is a difference in temperature and we have fire ants that attack potatoes in the ground. So, as seen on our channel we grow in pots on grow tables off the ground. We really enjoy yawls channel and like seeing how you do things up north. We are in the upper 80's and low 90's and at night upper 60's. Our entire garden is up and growing, I'll do an update today. Always good to see yawl and have a blessed day! Mike
I need to get out there and plant mine too. Thanks for the motivation!
Wow I didn't know you could grow your potatoes this way. I'm new to gardening. Thank you for the information! I'm going to have to try it!!
Great video. I love learning new things. Can't wait to share this video with hubby... Thank you...
I planted potatoes yesterday in 30 gal grow bags. 1st time I have ever used them for potatoes. I haven't had a typical garden since I was in my early 20's. I am going to have 4 8 X 4 raised beds soon, and have another area at the end of my house that is 4 feet by 28 feet
Love growing potatoes this way!
You are a rock star at gardening.
Done it this way for years and its awesome!! Potatoes make a great bed as well for next years crop of veggies as well!! GREATVIDEO!!! Thank You!!
You're such an adorable couple thank you for sharing your experience 💕
you can do this with sweet potatoes too. Great potatoes.
Nice
Do you just put the slips down or the whole sweet potato
Rachel & Todd - Happy Easter Bunny 🐰🐇🐣🐣- I had given up on trying to grow potatoes but once again you have spurred me on to give it another try. Cheers Denise- Australia
The Ruth Stout method. I need to try this way. I remember watching your video last year, planting inside full hay bales, too! I think it's a great to compost and get bumper crop!
Another benefit of mulch gardening is come fall clean up just pull the mulch to the compost pile to finish breaking down. Keeps it all in the cycle of life. Happy Easter
Happy Easter! 👨🌾🐇
I think even I can do that! Thank you for sharing!!
I use my second-year straw bales from my straw bale garden to grow my potatoes on top of and then just pile on the fresh straw. I have pretty severe arthritis in my low back and digging is not an option...not a smart one anyway. I love it for all the reasons you stated, it's easy to plant, easy to harvest and oh so clean! :)
Newbie here, why the bone meal when planting the potatoes? Thanks for teaching me!
Bone meal is a great source of phosphorus. Needed nutrient to promote root and rubber growth
Todd that trick with opening the bale string😍 thank you for putting that in the video!
Happy to help! Handy for when you don't have a pocket knife at the ready ♥
I produce a lot of wood chips on our wood lot and new to gardening, my partner has been gardening for years.
Plan to try out the chips to see what results I can get but will definitely put some down between the rows for paths and weed control/ water retention. Don't really have access to straw or hay.
Love Ruth Stout followers...
Great tip on using the hay to plant and bed your potatoes Rachael and Todd!! I’ll be trying this method this spring ! Thank y’all Nd Happy Easter -He had Risen !! ❤️🙏✝️🙋🏻🐣🐇🐰✝️✝️
I have used this method for years. Rachael is correct it is super easy, pull the hay back and potatoes are laying on top of the ground !
Do you continue to cover the green leaves as they grow? If so, until when?
I'm so happy that I saw this. I've always wanted to try this method for potatoes. Awesome! ,💚🌞
Looks good!
Can't wait to plant my potatoes
Second year planted potatoes in cheap hampers push cardboard half way down , nothing should drain out of sides. I hamper got me 5gal.bucket. made room in ground for other important veggies when there done put in some cold crops.
Ruth was a Beast 💪🏻❤️
We love this method for potatoes! It definitely is amazing!
What does the bone mill do for the potatoes?? Im going to have to try this!
It will be interesting this fall during the harvest what the ratio is between how many potatoes you planted to how many you harvested
Thank you for your knowledge and God Bless you 🙏
Love this method…. From someone who grew up digging this is how I’ve done it last few years and will not ever dig again
Happy Easter 🐇🐰🐇
Im definitely trying this year!thank you!
Beautiful potatoes
I doubled up the amount of potatoes I planted this year. Hoping for a heavy harvest for everyone 🤞
You are a genius!!! Thanks!!!!
Nice video👍👍👍👍
Interesting, might have to try that next year.
Do you think that would work in pots? We have just too many rodents here and they find everything! I lost the last 2 years of potatoes due to rodents so this year I got pots but I used dirt. I really like how clean yours are though. Saves so much time!
You could put a potato at each corner of your template.
Sweet!
Trying this this year with pine shavings since that's all I have and in a 25 gal felt grow bag. Definitely not ideal environment for potatoes, but this video gives be a bit of hope😅 excited to see the amazing harvest you get!💗
Great tip! Have a happy Easter
Thanks you
Brilliant! I keep asking if I can plant potatoes this way....I keep getting I have to cut them up and spout them.... thank you! I'm going to get my potatoes!
You can 'chit' or sprout them to give them a head start. Sunlight will cause the 'eyes' on a tater to grow shoots. If you want more smaller potato's, cut them up. I plant them whole for bigger potato's. Happy Gardening
I would also think that harvesting would be better because you wouldn’t be forking or cutting your potatoes with a shovel - and no potatoes left behind to grow next year where you don’t want them. Great video! If I can find some straw I will try this. I have just the spot!
We don't eat alot of potatoes but we have put out our first Ruth Stout potato bed this year. Let's see how it goes
How do they root without being under some soil , I always dug a trench about 12 inches deep put the seed pot. In covered with soil and as the plant grew kept covering with soil , nice video would love to see the results.
I tried buckets for 2 years. I'm going the Ruth Stout/ 1870 Homestead method this year. How deep of compost should I have? The way things are going I want to grow and can my potatoes.
Always fun to watch the garden being put in, thanks for sharing! I saved some seed potatoes from last years garden. Today I was getting them out of the basement and oh my they have all sprouted and the potatoes themselves are all withered up. Do I plant them or get new ones?
Plant them and see what happens. I think they’ll be fine.
They will grow
This looks like a great way to grow potatoes. But I was wondering can I do this in a raised bed because I can't get down on the ground. After 4 knee surgeries I have been trying to do raised bed have not tried potatoes.
Your not dirty, you're seasoned!!
Hello so my plants have started pushing though the straw now I’m wondering do I keep putting more straw on top of what’s pushing through I’m not sure what my next step is.
The first year you just put out cardboard and put the potatoes on top then cover with hay or straw…do the roots go out across the cardboard or do they grow down thru it? When you add more hay or straw, do you cover the leaves, too, or put it up under the leaves? Thank you.
I just got my first green stalk. I can’t wait. Tomorrow is our gardening day😀💕
I have the same question. Do I keep covering the green leaves? If so, for how long?
I generate a ton of grass clippings as I mow... Skip the hay? Just go to grass?
I'll take this as a yes.
When you said wood ash, you mean like ash from the fire pit where you burned wood?
Yes
Will this work if you use just fresh grass clippings? Or does it have to be dried out clippings?
I couldn’t do it. The straw and hay I tried sprouted and took several years to get it all out. Ugh.
Do you get any changes in pest pressure? Many of my bulbs and some plants are a buffet for chipmunks, squirrels and other small rodents. I might try this in a fenced in bed. Thanks! 😊
can we put out chicken coop cleanings directly on top, or does it need to be composted down a bit first. (chickens are on chopped straw, and woodshavings in their actual bed.
Question: Do you need to fertilize the potatoes?
How many bales did y'all use and will you add more?
Can you use pine straw instead of hay?
Could this be done on top of clay soil with hay on top.
Yes potatoes send out roots upward.
My soil has never grown red potatoes worth a hoot. Last year I went to no till and did that method. I was getting almost 5lbs off each plant. Is the only way to plant potatoea
Ok Im in SE Michigan like y’all…where do you get the unsprayed hay/straw? Love what your doing
We have a local organic farm, Flying Fish Farm
Also check Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist. We found some near Ann Arbor a couple years ago too.
Thanks! I’ll look into it
Wondering, would spoiled hay be just as good to use?
Yes, awesome.
Can I use leaves instead of straw
What about mulch instead of hay?
What time of the year did you do this?
What variety of potato do you grow?
Hello there I have a question I live in sc would that do good here where it gets hot ?
Sure, the hay really helps the soil maintain moisture.
@@1870s thank you so much for your Videos they have been a big help for me getting started to canning which I’ve been wanting to do for a long time
Don't do it! To hot here I am in Charlotte NC Gave us 2 Copperhead nests and 3 months of killing 15 baby poisonous snakes. Science teacher across the street from us said they love the heat from the straw breaking down which makes for perfect breading spot. I am from Mountains in KY and had never even seen a snake in January. Still traumatized lol
What did you apply to the potatoes before covering them with hay?
She applied bone meal.
Bone meal is what she broad casted after setting potatoes in place & before covering with the hay.
She added bone meal. Great for root crops
Would you recommend wood ash for all beds ?
Wood ash contains lots of nutrients and minerals but also affects the Ph. balance of soil. So it depends on what you are growing, and the amount of wood ash involved.
If your soil is a cidic, you can add wood ash, but if your soil is alkaline, never add wood ash to it, it will make it more alkaline.
I've heard that you get better harvests by planting whole potatoes!
How many times through the season do you add hay?
she said as they grow up to add grass clippings or hay. she did not specify how many but just as they start growing up.
Probably twice
How often do you need to water???
With spring rains, not much. The straw holds a lot of moisture in.