Ruth Stout - Deep Mulch Gardening Experiment - Part 2

Today we re-visit our Ruth Stout Deep Mulch Gardening Experiment. We prepped the bed back in March with a very thick layer of straw and compost - when there was still snow on the ground.

Near the end of April, we planted three different types of potatoes in the straw. So far, they are growing well and we've "hilled" them twice. Be sure to check back at the end of potato season, to see how they did!

To learn more about Ruth Stout see the following link with a video of her explaining her gardening methods.
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[RiversideHomestead]

I found a video of Ruth yesterday - I think it's the only one on youtube. What a brilliant woman she was! Inspirational, wise and funny! Found her after I watched part 1 of your series. I enjoyed it so much! Will give her method a try.

[fishmut]

Great job there, hopeing you get a great return in your awesome garden.

[GinchyGirlCreatesAndGardens]

I’m so loving this! I got some research and learning to do ! Ruth Stout. :) thank you guys!! I love learning new stuff !

[rosanna]

can't wait to see your harvest. I heard you say in one of you videos that you had no experience farming, well everything looks like it's coming along great! You picked it up fast..

[M.T.STORAGEFINDS]

It's looking great, I hate waiting I'm so impatient but can't wait to see the goodies come harvest time

[barbcarroll]

I started with cardboard and compost in my garden then did some containers.Then got 4 bales of straw. Pulled the straw and cardboard back and planted tomatoes, green peppers canalope watermelon etc. The plants under the straw are doing great. Next year will be doing under the straw only. It's a lot easier for sure. Will be watching your utube channel.

[reneep]

It all looks fantastic. Great job. I’m sure you’re going to have a great harvest. Blessings...

[jspyrogram]

I grow my vegetables in conditioned straw bales (and hay bales). After the bales decompose over winter, I place fresh bales on the decomposed straw/or hay). I sow directly into the bales.

[jvb]

no need to hill, i find that i get more potatoes that way! think its because to much energy goes in reaching the light and then needs to develope enough leaves to grow the potatoes. also only some kinds of potatoes profit from hilling. look up what types. potatoes love lots of compost ! love ruth stout!

[kgs]

Excited to see how it turns out! I'm inadvertently growing them in a leaf (mainly oak) & pine needle pile that I was sort of trying to compost (or speed up the compositing process) with kitchen scraps....will be interesting to see if I actually get potatoes (its a great place to find worms for fishing)!

[BanDanaGramma]

Looks great! I want to try this. Having trouble getting bales of straw, but I'm going to keep trying. I have so many potatoes with eyes growing everywhere and hope it's not too late to throw them in the garden.

[rutabagaleroy]

Thanks for sharing. How long after laying the mulch did you plant?

Nevermind! You answered at the beginning of video 3. Cheers.

[NS-pfzc]

We're experimenting with the Ruth stout method too. I am worried I haven't hilled them enough though. They got wait high and started flopping over before I could get more hay around them. Planted close to 500...so I hope they turn out!

[JF-tnlo]

can you post a link to the harvest please? thank you!

[virgo]

Did you plant the potatoes in the dirt or on top of the straw and then cover them again with straw ??

[angie_hutchings]

How often do you keep adding hay?

Do you let the potato top grow through and add around the tops?

[calebfylminn]

I have heard that some are doing it to mulch the crops when it's dry season or doesn't have a water access, does the mulch keep the crops grow? Is it true?

[neupumanlun]

Nice video. It's impressive. But I don't see how you put the potatoes. I want to know How deep you put the potatoes in your straw?

[triplemoonhomestead]

I am going to start this soon.when you plant do you just stick the potatoes right into the straw or does it need to touch dirt? You keep adding straw around the new plant coming up? I can't wait to try this!!!

[deannaburkett]

Great videos! How deep did you plant the potatoes?