Thanks for showing us your potato coffee experiment. I was surprised to see any potatoes, because putting the bags in the freezer would have stopped the coffee breaking down. I live next door to a cafe and we often have huge plastic bags of coffee at the back of the garden waiting for use. They get filled with worms and become more like soil over time- only a few weeks really, and I tip the coffee and worms into the pots I grow veges in, with plant clippings and compost on top. It is fantastic.
It is a good experiment and well worth another go. I mix tea leaves and coffee granules and used grounds with the compost and with my compost loo system and veg and fruit came out really ok as part of the permaculture I do at mine.
Coffee grounds are NOT acidic. Don't put your daily coffee grounds in the freezer. Instead, spread them out on a large sheet of parchment paper to dry. Then use a table knife to chop them up and a large spoon to crush them. Finally, store the pulverized dry grounds in a paper bag or cardboard tub - I use empty round breakfast oatmeal tubs. (The reason you need to store the grounds in a paper or cardboard container is to allow any residual moisture to dry up. A plastic or airtight container will keep in moisture leading to mold or rot.) For bags of wet coffee grounds from a retail shop, just put down sheets of newspaper in the sun and spread out the grounds to dry.
Haven't tried growing potatoes from coffee grounds myself Erica, so it was interesting to see your experiment. Thanks for sharing this video and good to see the results even though it wasn't as successful as you thought it would be( we learn from failures).
Hi Erica. I wonder if the little potatoes grew in the compost that the plants originally grew in and the coffee grounds acted like a barrier to further growth. Maybe the woodchip and coffee grounds together will be a more productive medium?!? Nice experiment though. Btw I have saved some poppy seeds for you. They are packed away in removal boxes but once we get settled I will send you some. Take care. Mags x
That was indeed fun to watch regardless of the tiny tatties. Im trying huggle beds in cardboard boxes for potatoes after your inspiration and your video with Liz Zorab. Regardless of the results, there's always something to learn. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes
I think you are right Erica, the coffee grounds looked too heavy and wet to allow much growth and as they were not composted down at all, they did not release much in he way of nutrients to the potato plants. Interesting to see though!
I love how you present the results even though they seem to be an "absolute failure" (your words). I have always wanted to do a "potato science" vlog but you are well on your way, so please consider the following possible experiments: 1) Potato harvest, wash or don't wash. Do dirty potatoes last longer in storage? 2) Productivity: 2 first early crops or one main crop per year, or whatever combination will produce the biggest harvest per unit space in 12 month's time. 3) Variety comparison: seed weight VS. harvest weight, not number of seed potatoes. 4) Container VS earth bed, seed weight VS. harvest weight. 5) Container VS earth bed, seed weight VS. harvest weight per square foot or meter. 6) Best storage dormancy options: wrapped in newspaper or not (see Tony O'Neil). 7) Individual seed tuber weight VS total harvest weight. Which size is best? 8) Number of eyes per tuber VS. harvest weight. This would involve seed tubers of uniform starting weight. 9) Best number of seed tubers per given container size, corrected for variety, individual tuber weight and number of eyes. You get the idea. This could take years! Bruce
That’s all about gardening. You have to experiment. But also be prepared to except failure. Why don’t you go the Korean , Jadam way and try to put in one flower pot a bit of soil under mulch to get the bacteria and some worms . I’ve tried it for 3 years to grow potatoes in Melbourne, Australia in pots it gets to hot Good luck
It's hard to know how much of that growth is actually because of the compost. When trying again, would it be possible to chit some potatoes and then put them into pure coffee grounds? (If you have enough coffee grounds you can do one with the compost one without for a better test). Charles Dowding also addressed the acidity of coffee grounds and (if I remember correctly) he believes that the brewing process essentially removes the acidity.
I was surprised there were no roots in the coffee grounds. I think they may be too strong on their own. Your idea of mixing with wood chips may help. But maybe just mixing the coffee grounds in your compost heap may work best. Then use the compost that is produced. This is what I have been doing myself.
Used coffee grounds are only mildly acidic: 6.5 to 6.8. Most of the acidity was extracted when the coffee was made. If you put the coffee grounds in a container, they quickly lose whatever acidity they once had. Potatoes, by the way, prefer a pH of 6 to 6.5 but tolerate a lower pH.
Sorry a bit late to the party as I have just discovered your channel Caffeine is a natural growth suppressant so that may account for the results. Coffee grounds are great added to your compost bins but not in large quantities....Go easy otherwise Caffeine 😀
Thanks for showing us your potato coffee experiment. I was surprised to see any potatoes, because putting the bags in the freezer would have stopped the coffee breaking down. I live next door to a cafe and we often have huge plastic bags of coffee at the back of the garden waiting for use. They get filled with worms and become more like soil over time- only a few weeks really, and I tip the coffee and worms into the pots I grow veges in, with plant clippings and compost on top. It is fantastic.
Thanks for the upload m’lady!
Wonderful Erica, no failure there, learning is a true result hun
Very true, thanks for watching 😊
I loved this experiment. You don't know until you know 😃
Exactly! 😂
thank you for interesting experiment ,,
Thanks for watching.
interesting experiment!! worth another go for sure!
They were doing OK before that heatwave!
@@ericaslittlewelshgarden yeah it was a long one this year!!
I got pretty close on my guess! Thanks for reminding me that free composting materials are around for the taking!
It is a good experiment and well worth another go. I mix tea leaves and coffee granules and used grounds with the compost and with my compost loo system and veg and fruit came out really ok as part of the permaculture I do at mine.
My daughter-in-law calls mine like that “cherry potatoes” like cherry tomatoes! Lovethese experiments.
My prediction was correct; I thought that there would be really small potatoes and I was right. Very cool project Erica. Have a wonderful week.
What a fascinating experiment.
When you do your 50/50 woodchip experiment, add some Red Wiggler Worms to the bucket, too.
Great idea
nice video erica
Thanks!
Love this. Always up for trying new ways of growing things. It’s always an experiment for me! 😂☺️
Yep, a potato experiment is always fun!
I love this, Erica! Definitely worth trying again and hoping for more "standard" weather without the ridiculous heat.
Probably mixed with 50% compost would be better, thanks for showing this experiment. 👍
Yep, probably. 😊
Coffee grounds are NOT acidic.
Don't put your daily coffee grounds in the freezer. Instead, spread them out on a large sheet of parchment paper to dry. Then use a table knife to chop them up and a large spoon to crush them. Finally, store the pulverized dry grounds in a paper bag or cardboard tub - I use empty round breakfast oatmeal tubs. (The reason you need to store the grounds in a paper or cardboard container is to allow any residual moisture to dry up. A plastic or airtight container will keep in moisture leading to mold or rot.)
For bags of wet coffee grounds from a retail shop, just put down sheets of newspaper in the sun and spread out the grounds to dry.
Haven't tried growing potatoes from coffee grounds myself Erica, so it was interesting to see your experiment. Thanks for sharing this video and good to see the results even though it wasn't as successful as you thought it would be( we learn from failures).
I’m shocked there was any! I always put coffee and tea on the plot due to having it lol 😂😂😂
Me too!
good video
Hi Erica. I wonder if the little potatoes grew in the compost that the plants originally grew in and the coffee grounds acted like a barrier to further growth. Maybe the woodchip and coffee grounds together will be a more productive medium?!? Nice experiment though. Btw I have saved some poppy seeds for you. They are packed away in removal boxes but once we get settled I will send you some. Take care. Mags x
Thanks for the poppy seeds! I imagine you're very stressed at the mo!
That was indeed fun to watch regardless of the tiny tatties. Im trying huggle beds in cardboard boxes for potatoes after your inspiration and your video with Liz Zorab. Regardless of the results, there's always something to learn. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes
I hope they do really well!
What are "huggle beds"?
I think the plants went into shock when you transplanted them.
Next time just put the seed potatoes in the big pot. Then add the coffee grounds.
I think you are right Erica, the coffee grounds looked too heavy and wet to allow much growth and as they were not composted down at all, they did not release much in he way of nutrients to the potato plants. Interesting to see though!
Interesting indeed, always fun to try something, if only to see the results that you would have predicted. 😊
Wonder if they taste like coffee 🤔🤔🤔 coffee ☕️ and hash browns in one go 😂😂😂. Interesting 🧐 thank you for trying on our behalf 👍👍
Haha, well I'm hot going to try them, they've gone on the compost heap!
😊
I love how you present the results even though they seem to be an "absolute failure" (your words). I have always wanted to do a "potato science" vlog but you are well on your way, so please consider the following possible experiments:
1) Potato harvest, wash or don't wash. Do dirty potatoes last longer in storage?
2) Productivity: 2 first early crops or one main crop per year, or whatever combination will produce the biggest harvest per unit space in 12 month's time.
3) Variety comparison: seed weight VS. harvest weight, not number of seed potatoes.
4) Container VS earth bed, seed weight VS. harvest weight.
5) Container VS earth bed, seed weight VS. harvest weight per square foot or meter.
6) Best storage dormancy options: wrapped in newspaper or not (see Tony O'Neil).
7) Individual seed tuber weight VS total harvest weight. Which size is best?
8) Number of eyes per tuber VS. harvest weight. This would involve seed tubers of uniform starting weight.
9) Best number of seed tubers per given container size, corrected for variety, individual tuber weight and number of eyes.
You get the idea. This could take years! Bruce
5 small spuds!
That’s all about gardening. You have to experiment. But also be prepared to except failure.
Why don’t you go the Korean , Jadam way and try to put in one flower pot a bit of soil under mulch to get the bacteria and some worms .
I’ve tried it for 3 years to grow potatoes in Melbourne, Australia in pots it gets to hot
Good luck
it would probably work better if you mixed the coffee grounds with compost
I know, but where is the fun in that? 🤣
My question Erica is did they grow on the original compost or in the coffee grounds? Looking forward to to seeing next summer’s experiment!👍👍😊
I reckon in the original compost.
It's hard to know how much of that growth is actually because of the compost. When trying again, would it be possible to chit some potatoes and then put them into pure coffee grounds? (If you have enough coffee grounds you can do one with the compost one without for a better test). Charles Dowding also addressed the acidity of coffee grounds and (if I remember correctly) he believes that the brewing process essentially removes the acidity.
I was surprised there were no roots in the coffee grounds. I think they may be too strong on their own. Your idea of mixing with wood chips may help. But maybe just mixing the coffee grounds in your compost heap may work best. Then use the compost that is produced. This is what I have been doing myself.
Yes coffee grounds on the compost would be best but sometimes it's fun to try something random! 😂
Pot way too small also what do u expect xd a giant unicorn 🦄🤣
Did you test the ph of the coffee grounds? I drink tea rather than coffee and put my bags in the compost. Never really thought about ph.
No I didn't, it was just a little experiment to be honest. 😊
Used coffee grounds are only mildly acidic: 6.5 to 6.8. Most of the acidity was extracted when the coffee was made. If you put the coffee grounds in a container, they quickly lose whatever acidity they once had. Potatoes, by the way, prefer a pH of 6 to 6.5 but tolerate a lower pH.
Sorry a bit late to the party as I have just discovered your channel
Caffeine is a natural growth suppressant so that may account for the results. Coffee grounds are great added to your compost bins but not in large quantities....Go easy otherwise Caffeine 😀
Thanks for the advice, this was just a silly experiment for fun. 😊
Oh dear. Not a "more out than in" this time, Erica,
Indeed! 😂
The harvest of potatoes is smaller than the seed potatoes lol
Why are putting coffee grounds
I think they may be rotten 😮