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Harvesting Yukon Gold Potatoes

October 18th, 2009

On October 6, I harvested my potatoes my from raised potato bed (read this blog post to see how I planted my potatoes). When harvested the first plant, I was disappointed because I only found a few small potatoes.
Harvesting_Raised_potato_beds
There were a few medium sized potatoes at the top of the box and none in the middle. By the time I got to the bottom of the box I was imagining that I’d end up with only a few more potatoes than I had planted back in early summer. I struck gold however with the second plant I dug up, there was a nice batch of potatoes with a few fairly large ones.
harvesting_potatoes
I actually ended up with a decent harvest (11 pounds), especially considering that Yukon Gold potatoes aren’t supposed to be heavy producers. Only 6 of my seed potatoes produced a decent crop of potatoes, and they were all on one side of the box. I think that lack of sun on the one side was probably the reason for the absence of potatoes. I’m sure if I had great garden soil and a lot of sunshine I could do much better. But we all have to deal with the gardens we have, so I’m happy with my harvest.
Fresh_potatoes
We enjoyed a few of the potatoes a few nights later and were particularly delicious; we simply cut them into small bits and fried them in a little bacon grease and enjoyed them with a side of farm fresh eggs. The rest of them are in the basement in a box waiting for other delicious meals, I’m considering a hearty potato soup next.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy potatoes?

13 Comments to “Harvesting Yukon Gold Potatoes”
  1. Syrahsuzie on October 18, 2009 at 5:41 am

    We love Swiss Rösti (grated potato pancake) – it goes with everything.

    Or if we are feeling indulgent a gratin with some onion and cream, and some fennel or celeriac (celery root?).

    Well done with your harvest.

    Reply to Syrahsuzie's comment

    • Susy on October 18, 2009 at 9:05 am

      Both of those sound delicious!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. kristin @ going country on October 18, 2009 at 9:37 am

    Well. I eat potatoes pretty much any way. But lately, I’ve been a bit obsessed with mashed potatoes. I make them a few times a week in large quantities, and then eat the leftovers for breakfast or lunch heated up with lots of melted cheese and pepper. I’m blaming it on the baby, but really, I just have a problem with mashed potatoes.
    .-= kristin @ going country´s last blog ..There Goes My Girlish Figure* =-.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  3. Seren Dippity on October 18, 2009 at 9:38 am

    I love potatoes pretty much every way I’ve tried them. Mashed, baked, au gratin, fried, hashed, roasted w/rosemary sprinkled over, in stews, in casseroles or along side a roast. I love baby new potatoes boiled into a pot of green beans the way grandma used to cook em where the beans were cooked so soft they melted in your mouth and the whole mess flavored with ham hocks and served with cornbread. Oh yum.

    I was bitterly disappointed in my attempt at potatoes this year. I grew mine in a stacking box system like you did. 3’x3′ and the plants grew beautifully. I got them up to over 3′ and was considering another layer. They started to bloom, so I decided that was tall enough. I had beautiful plants for about a month and then zap they all died one after another. I didn’t get an official diagnosis, it may have been a potato blight. I burned the dead plants and hauled the dirt to a back section of the property where nothing grows but grass. In the whole box there were 3 potatoes. I will try again next year, but I’m not sure what to do differently.

    Congrats on your harvest. Your photos are so beautiful.

    Reply to Seren Dippity's comment

  4. KitsapFG on October 18, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Seren Dippity gave a good list of ways we enjoy potatoes. In additon though, one of our favorites is potato salad. My husband loves it and if I want to score some points with him, I make a big batch of potato salad with lots of chopped boiled eggs, diced onion, dill pickle relish (lots of it), mayo, and a bit of good mustard and salt to taste. Delish!

    Reply to KitsapFG's comment

    • Seren Dippity on October 19, 2009 at 10:37 am

      Oh yeah! Thanks for the catch.
      Summer BBQ wouldn’t be the same without some yummy potato salad!

      Reply to Seren Dippity's comment

  5. Dad on October 18, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    One of my favorites is grated, and fried. I grate the potatoes and divide in two. Also chop some sweet onion, and red or green peppers. I start with a large cast iron skillet with about 1/4 inch of oil, add 1/2 of the potatoes, sprinkle with salt and pepper, add the onions and peppers, and top with remaining potaoes. I cook them over a low heat, but with the cast iron, they get nice and brown even with the low heat. It can be a little tricky flipping them without them falling apart, so they have to be pretty crispy on the bottom before you try to flip them. I use two spatulas to lift them onto a plate, cover with another plate, flip the plates, and then it is easy to slip them back into the skillet.

    Reply to Dad's comment

  6. Pauly Z on October 18, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    I dug my sweet potatoes last weekend and nearly got skunked. They were planted about June 24th, from starts. It was my first attempt at sweet potatoes, but from the looks of the vines, I’d have thought I’d have two bushels. The spot had been garden for the second year and I didn’t use any type of plant food, but the soil there is so excellent I didn’t forsee any problem. Was it just too cool? Any ideas?

    Reply to Pauly Z's comment

    • Susy on October 18, 2009 at 7:24 pm

      Perhaps too cool, sweet potatoes have a long season and they like the heat. Most of mine were fairly small with a few larger ones that I had planted in a container where the soil got nice and hot.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  7. Amy on October 18, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    I like all kinds of potatoes, my Dad I think planted some Yukon gold which he just dug up most of them though and he planted some kind of red ones too.

    Amy

    Reply to Amy's comment

  8. Karen on October 21, 2009 at 9:20 am

    I have been waiting for this post so Thank you Susy! Our potatoes did quite well but they do get full sun. Thanks for the recipe for Ketchup.
    I always enjoy your healthy recipes. By the way, have you used the soap yet? Comfrey is doing well.

    Reply to Karen's comment

    • Susy on October 21, 2009 at 9:41 am

      Glad to hear the comfrey is doing well. I started some plants from my mom’s old fashioned stuff as well.

      I haven’t use the soap yet, I’m waiting to use up my current olive oil bar. It smells delightful though, I can’t wait to use it.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  9. annie avery on October 24, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    hhmm..potatoes: latkes; mashed, with whipping cream and lots of butter and garlic; fried in butter.. i really wanted potatoes this year..not to be..maybe next year. i do have a friend with a garden who grew some, i bought 20 pounds.. have to buy more.. i ran out of rice and so i will suffice with potatoes til i get the next bag.. fried potatoes with two eggs,…yumm. oh!! and leftover butter-fried mashed potatoes with eggs.

    Reply to annie avery's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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