The Trusty Gardener-A Great Harvest of Russian Banana Fingerling Potatoes
This Variety Did the Best of the Three I Planted
Welcome back, fellow gardeners. I last reported on the garden back on August 23rd. Here we are in September. Where did the Summer go? Of course, my wife and I spent 2 weeks away on a fabulous vacation to Maine, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. I hope you had the chance to read my articles. If not, I will post 3 of them at the end of this story.
End of Story Extra-Volume 1
This is a new feature I am starting with this article. I will post an added bonus at the end of each article, separate from my usual 3 story links. It could be a photo, an extra paragraph, or something else. Stay tuned and keep reading.
Getting back to gardening, here is my last article in which I talked about digging potatoes, picking heirloom tomatoes, and more:
In that article, I wrote about harvesting the 2 other potato varieties I planted, Eva, and Yukon Gold. As I indicated, the Eva potatoes didn’t fare too well, the Yukon Golds did much better.
Digging Russian Banana Fingerling Potatoes
On the last day of August, I ventured out to my auxiliary garden down behind the pond in search of potatoes. For those of you who follow me, you probably know that I have 3 gardens total; upper, lower, and auxiliary. This year I planted half of the auxiliary garden with potatoes, the other half is a Hugelkultar bed that I planted with acorn squash, pumpkins, and gourds.
The Russian Banan Fingerling Potato is a wonderful potato that usually is prolific. It did not disappoint this year.
From the Maine Potato Lady Website:
Probably the best-known of the fingerlings. Tan skin with dark yellow flesh. Matures earlier than most fingerlings with respectable yields of 2"-3" tubers at 75 days. Steamed and tossed with butter and parsley, these make a tasty late-summer dish. Resistant to scab, but susceptible to Rhizoctonia and late blight. White flowers on medium spreading plant.
I purchased the sets from a local farm stand, as I haven't planted fingerlings in a few years. I’m glad I did. I planted these using the straw method, a no-dig planting method where the sets are covered with straw, and more straw is added as the season progresses. I have had great results with this technique.
I ended up with a basket full of spuds, probably about 25 pounds at least.
We have already used these potatoes, as a part of a delicious steak dinner where my wife oven-roasted the fingerlings.
Some years I plant red potatoes in the auxiliary garden; next year I will have to decide what variety to plant. Until next time.
End of Story Extra-Volume 1
For my first extra, simply a harvest photo. Enjoy.
