Buriram Expats
Buriram Province - General Category => Farming in Isaan => Topic started by: urleft on August 18, 2017, 02:04:34 PM
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An engineer I met recommend I read the book the Martian:
https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Novel-Andy-Weir-ebook/dp/B00EMXBDMA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503038090&sr=8-1&keywords=the+martian (https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Novel-Andy-Weir-ebook/dp/B00EMXBDMA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503038090&sr=8-1&keywords=the+martian)
So I purchased the book and could not put it down, read it thru in one night. And then bought the DVD when the movie came out. The part about growing potatoes seemed interesting and 2 weeks ago I took out one to cook and it was spouting. So in tribute to the movie I cut off the sprout end and planted it.
Now my Mom had a black thumb, she could not grow anything, and I thought I inherited that from her as I once failed when I tried to grow mold. But as with my grapefruit tree, this appears to be growing. I was inspired by this vid (go ahead and click, less than 2 minutes long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXuYR-96gQc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXuYR-96gQc)
I initially used a small container, but now have transplanted to the ?bucket? today. Here are some pics. Found a 6 month old duck egg in the fridge, decided to put it to good use. I will provide updates from time to time on the progress.
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The plant itself will grow as tall as your house if you let it.
There will likely be less new potatoes than what you planted, unless you are using an artificial eco system.
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There will likely be less new potatoes than what you planted, unless you are using an artificial eco system.
I'd like to hear more about that. My plan was to throw a bag of spuds out the back and be in potatoes for life. :P I've told my wife to save me half a rai to grow 'em in.
That book 'The Martian'. I picked it up, knowing nothing about it. Also could not put it down. Not a bad movie either.
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Potatoes need at least 75 days of temperatures not exceeding 80f for a good crop.
The number of tubers will decrease as the temperatures increase.
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Hermit, in my younger years I was a commercial potato grower, harvesting 20 to 60 tonnes of potatoes daily during the growing season. A rule of thumb is that potatoes do not grow well in tropical climates. It depends on altitude and climate. For instance they grow in Loi Province, Wang Nam Khiao, Chaing Mai and Chiang Rai. All these areas that grow potatoes are situated at cooler elevations. I believe that the only chance that you might be successful is if you plant your potatoes, early to mid-October assuming you are in Buriram, this way you will be growing your potatoes into an approaching winter climate. You will find plenty of top growth during warmer weather but little tuber set.
The last photo you presented tells me you need nitrogen added to your pot.
Most commercial chemical feeds specific for potatoes are balanced as 2:2:3, that is equal amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus with half as much again of potash. The nitrogen and phosphorus will feed the foliage and root system with the potash feeding the tubers themselves.
Use local organic fertilizer as the potatoes seem to taste better than using commercial fertilizers. If you shade net (50%) over your potatoes for about the first month they are up and then give them full sun the ground temperature will have dropped and you won?t cook any potatoes prematurely underground. I wish you all the very best with your potato project.
Regards
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Or do as in the Martian movie and add your own fertilizer!!
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Tassie, thank you very much for your shade recommendation. I was concerned about how much direct sunlight to allow, using that planter approach means it easy to move. I kind of assumed that starting out a lot of sunlight would be beneficial to the sprout. I was also concerned on the effects of the tropics, but maybe I will luck out. I've learned more from my failures than my successes.
As far as the nitrates I plan to use a modified aquaphonics method as using fish waste from my filter and water as the primary fertilizer, which seems to have done wonders for my grapefruit tree. I have about a 3000 liter fountain with about 30 large koi to help provide fetilizer. The TW and TD (Thai Daughter) love to overfeed the fish.
As I bought 2 large planters will get another potato and plant it whole. This first experiment I just used a portion of the potato (what the Martian did). But after watching several vids it occurred to me that the whole potato is a good energy source while the root system develops.
And that is why I named the thread "Experiments" instead of "growing".
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Urleft, if you cut your potatoes to plant keep at least 2 eyes on the cut piece. The piece should be a bit larger than a large ice cube and this size will have enough starch to get your potato plant up and running. Tip, in tropical and sub-tropical regions, if you cut your potatoes do not plant them right away let them dry in 100% shade until they form a white outer crust on the cut side. This should take about 3 days. This outer white crust protects the cut potato from falling victim to soil borne diseases and from rot.
I always cut my potatoes as a commercial grower, at the size I mentioned earlier, which is quite sufficient to get a fully developed healthy high yielding plant.
Regards
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Urleft, I meant to say something about the sunlight re: your: "I kind of assumed that starting out a lot of sunlight would be beneficial to the sprout" The problem is all about the soil temperature. The shade cloth reduces the suns impact on the temperature of the soil In normal climes potatoes are grown in full sunlight from start to finish but in Buriram we do not have the ideal clime to grow potatoes so we must improvise and hope for the best.
Regards
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Urleft, if you cut your potatoes to plant keep at least 2 eyes on the cut piece. The piece should be a bit larger than a large ice cube and this size will have enough starch to get your potato plant up and running. Tip, in tropical and sub-tropical regions, if you cut your potatoes do not plant them right away let them dry in 100% shade until they form a white outer crust on the cut side. This should take about 3 days. This outer white crust protects the cut potato from falling victim to soil borne diseases and from rot.
I always cut my potatoes as a commercial grower, at the size I mentioned earlier, which is quite sufficient to get a fully developed healthy high yielding plant.
Regards
That's a point against me, I planted immediately. Oh well, live and learn. But will let it continue to grow (hopefully) and see what happens.
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If there was a "like" button on this form then Tassies posts would have got one.
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Hey guys, this is what BE should be all about. A knowledgable person like Tassie giving info on how it should be done. Thanks Urleft for starting the thread. I, too am trying to grow these as well. Well done Tassie.
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Tassie,
Had a thought last night, no it did not hurt. I am thinking about using Redneck inguenuity (and duck tape) to build a insulating box around the planter and soil while letting sun hit the plant, this should allow for extended direct sunlight hours. What are your thoughts?
Thanks.
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It looks to me like that plant grew several cm since I transplanted, it must also have ears and heard the Potato Whisperer (Tassie) was on the job.
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urleft, the plant looks healthy. You can keep adding soil, a bit at a time until you reach the top of the container. Just cover the stem and the bottom leaves with soil or rice straw. By doing this, you will increase the possibility of the yield. The larger the pot the greater the yield.
Regards
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Used the vac and collected fish waste, and used a bunch of waste water from the filter. Added to the plant. Hopefully the nitrates in the mix will make the plant happy.
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Best of luck............Over the years here,I have tried potatoes,broad beans and beetroot without any success.The potatoes and beans never gain any girth to the stems eventually keeling over,the beetroot on the other had had a lot of foliage with a marble on the bottom!
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nookiebear, if the soil is too hot, potatoes, broad beans and beetroot you will have not. pray1
Regards
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nookiebear, if the soil is too hot, potatoes, broad beans and beetroot you will have not. pray1
Regards
I know ,I tried all ways in a sheltered area,under covers...........all to no avail.
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I had great success with beetroot a few years ago and had some UK radishes which grew to the size of beetroot yet were still very tender (not woody). I must have just caught the weather right, I seem to recall harvesting around December, so I must have planted at the end of the rainy season as Tassie suggested. Dumb luck!
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I had great success with beetroot a few years ago and had some UK radishes which grew to the size of beetroot yet were still very tender (not woody). I must have just caught the weather right, I seem to recall harvesting around December, so I must have planted at the end of the rainy season as Tassie suggested. Dumb luck!
Radishes seem to grow any time of the year without a problem
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The advantage to a "bucket" is that you can move it.
What I have found is that after a few hours under the Thai sun the plant starts to wilt. I have tried to shield the soil from the heat, but it seems the acutal plant cannot handle the direct sun.
So I have the plant placed for indirect sun, and it is doing OK. The plant has not expanded like I hoped, but it continues its growth. Have no idea how the underground taters are doing.
When I mentioned it to my Brit Bud he said taters do fine in England as there is no direct sunlight.
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looking good, true about the bucket, do you plan to re-plant it into the garden eventually?
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looking good, true about the bucket, do you plan to re-plant it into the garden eventually?
No, as I mentioned in the 1st post, look at the vid, it is fun, short and enjoyable:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXuYR-96gQc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXuYR-96gQc)
So this is my bucket potato Thailand experiment.
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Tassie,
Had a thought last night, no it did not hurt. I am thinking about using Redneck inguenuity (and duck tape) to build a insulating box around the planter and soil while letting sun hit the plant, this should allow for extended direct sunlight hours. What are your thoughts?
Thanks.
urleft
If you use any insulation around the box you plant your spuds in, you will only retain the heat from the sun, magnifying the soil heat and killing your plant. Remember it is the temperature of the soil that is paramount. If the soil temperature is too high the tubers will not set. Also do not ignore that the noon day heat will burn the leaves of the plant. That is why in tropical areas, like Buriram, shade cloth greatly assists the juvenile potato plant in establishing itself. In tropical areas always grow potatoes into the winter season. I wouldn't plant my spuds until mid October or perhaps a tad later, say end of October. Your chances of successfully growing potatoes in Buriram is not very good but I am looking forward to hear a success story from you.
Regards
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Tassie,
I put the shield on before the sun so when the plant wilted I finger checked the soil, it was not hot. In fact is was about the same as when I put the plant in the sun.
In my opinion the soil never got hot under the Thai sun. However, the plant wilted. But after taken out of the direct sun, and some water added the plant recovered.
Which means I agree with you, trying to grow taters in Thailand during the summer will not have good results. But may work in the fall winter months.
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urleft
Your potato plant shown in Tater plant Sep 27.jpg (379.97 kB, 747x1328 - viewed 0 times.) is not healthy. It is spindly and seems to have not had enough sun. You need to put more soil in the pot, perhaps at least 3 inches. We have to be careful of the type of soil medium we place in a container. Unbroken down manure or other organic matter uses nitrogen to break down its components so that the plant can absorb the benefits of the fertiliser. Therefore until this chemical and bacterial process is completed your plant will be starved of nitrogen, Unbroken down organic plant or animal manure raises the temperature of the soil therefore adding another stress factor to your plant. All organic fertiliser must be well broken down before it is used especially critically important with potted plants.
Regards
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Tassie,
You actually state what I felt, the plant is not healthy.
I will try the more soil option. However I really can't do too much more as I am headed out of the country for several weeks.
I fear the plant will not survive.
Must be my heriditary black thumb.