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Joined: Mar 2006
The main thing with the potatoes is to make sure that your soil is very friable and free of stones. A consistent amount of moisture is also important. If the soil is allowed to get overly dry or soggy, you may get knobby potatoes or hollow spuds. And to get the largest crop, be sure to cover the stems with soil when they get to be 6-8" tall (this is called 'hilling'). It's easiest to make 15" deep trenches, put the seed potatoes in the trenches, cover them with about 4" of soil from the 'hill.' When the stems are 6-8" tall, level the hill into the trench.
As for the squash, well, aside from making sure there's plenty of compost added to the soil, and keeping an eye out for squash bugs, squash grow with abandon without much extra help from us humans. I learned long ago that 2 zucchini plants are more than plenty for my family. I'd cut back to only 1 plant, but I can't remember if they need to cross pollinate to produce fruit!
The great thing about gardening is that you always get a chance to start over!
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Have you heard of growing potatoes in towers of old tires?
You get lots of yield and avoid many problems.
Green Blessings
Ayla
This year I may try to do potatoes, peanuts, pumpkins, &/or cantaloupes/watermelons too. We'll see how much time I have to dig up more grass (and add more fencing vs. the varmints!)