You can lay the sweet potato in a shallow pan of damp peat moss or soil and put it in a warm place. They can be stored in peat moss for up to 9 months. Peat moss is useful as an additive in potting mixes, as a soil amendment, and in your vegetable garden. Potatoes need a light, loose, well-draining soil that is high in organic matter. Hope this helps. Why? Based in the American Southwest, Bridget Kelly has been writing about gardening and real estate since 2005. After decomposition, sphagnum moss and other organic materials form a characteristic dark, fibrous and compact material. Yes, they're also acidic, but so is the peat moss he used—which was also a bad idea. Here are the main problems with peat moss: Photo credit: Doug Beckers via photopin cc, you have moss because lawn is in shade or if in sun you need to lime. The TV garden shows all say to add peat moss to the soil so that is what I do. Peat moss is not compact, which is a great advantage over other organic materials. I have piles of rabbit bedding consisting of orchard grass hay and bunny poop. Since composts lose their nutritional value over time as well, yearly replenishment helps this factor too. Potatoes are an exception, preferring a pH below 6.… It also can temporarily and slightly reduce pH, which can prevent a fungal disease of potatoes called scab. It also has good water and air holding qualities, although it is virtually devoid of nutrients. Sand and vermiculite are added to the soil mix to facilitate that. I have 55 gallon, 27 gallon and 5 gallon wicking containers filled primarily with peat moss… Acidic pH features. Her articles have appeared at Trulia.com, SFGate.com, GardenGuides.com, RE/MAX.com, MarketLeader.com, RealEstate.com, USAToday.com and in "Chicago Agent" magazine, to name a few. Peat moss doesnt contain harmful microorganisms or weed seeds that you may find in poorly processed compost. Here are the most important benefits of peat moss: On the other hand, it is important to understand that there are certain disadvantages to peat moss. I'm a state park naturalist for Volo Bog in Illinois, and among many other things, I educate people about how it takes thousands of years for bogs to form peat moss. As most of you know, I don’t recommend it for potting soil or bed preparation. Peat Moss - I Found a Use Newsletter Peat Moss – I Found a Use Irish Potatoes Took a while but I found a good use for peat moss. I don’t want to use the moss preventer /killer because I saw the unsightly results which look like burnt grass. Peat moss is an absorbent material so it’s ideal for many different garden uses, such as creating fertile soil and helping plants grow faster and healthier. Ideas and Inspiration Potatoes grown too close to the surface and receiving too much sunlight will grow bitter and contain chemicals that can be toxic. To create peat moss, the air has to be absent. If any of them sprout, rub the sprouts off and lower the room temperature – but not lower than 40 degrees. … It must be mixed with other ingredients to make up between one-third to two-thirds of the total volume of the mix. Peat moss is a great seed starting medium. After planting potatoes, you can mulch them right away about 3 inches (8 cm) deep, or opt to let the soil warm in the sun for a few weeks before you pile on the mulch. for Your Garden. Peat moss is a highly absorbent material. Peat moss does contain a bit of nutrients, minerals and beneficial microorganisms. The mining process is regulated and hence, only 0.02 percent of the reserves are accessible for harvesting peat moss. And I AM growing pole beans over my potatoes, but I planted the potatoes in March and they're almost done and the beans were sown in May and now are almost up to the top of the supports. Combine equal parts compost, peat moss and vermiculite. There are certain groups like the International Peat Society that keep a check on peat moss. Despite being organic, peat moss is not really fertile. I have fresh chicken bedding consisting of oak leaves and chook poop. Compaction reduces water absorption and doesn’t provide a good medium for any plants to grow. The ideal pH range for this crop is 4.8 to 5.5, according to the Cornell University Vegetable Growing Guide. The creation of Britain’s peat … They can be stored in peat moss for up to 9 months. It doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals, weed seeds and other bad thing you don’t want for your plants. On the other hand, the nutrient content is not absolute zero, either. Slightly acidic soil will help prevent potato scab, so blend in a healthy amount of peat moss before planting. For plants that like a more alkaline soil, compost may be a better choice. Peat moss is great for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons, but not for vegetable beds. This method is quicker than just … How to Prepare Jerusalem Artichokes for Planting, Cambridge University: The Cambridge World History of Food, The Dirt Doctor: Peat Moss – I Found a Use, Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center: Ethylene: The Ripening Hormone, How to Keep Potatoes from Sprouting in Storage, How to Store Potatoes So They Will Not Rot, How to Cut Sprouts to Resprout for Kennebec Potatoes. Also, peat-moss holds water and doesn't drain well, I would be concerned about rotting off my potatoes and carrots with that as well. I have piles of rabbit bedding consisting of orchard grass hay and bunny poop. Warmer temperatures may cause the potatoes to produce sprouts. The picture shows the Irish potatoes at home that have been in dry peat for months. What is best, and what is good enough? Any biodegradable mulch will do, but using a deep hay or straw mulch is an especially good way to grow potatoes. I have fresh chicken bedding consisting of oak leaves and chook poop. To add nutrients and help aerate the soil, work in soil amendment such as peat moss… Peat moss is very common in gardening so it is important to understand what it is, how it works and how to use it to make your plants thrive. If you have light, sandy soil that can't hold water, organic matter also works to help the soil hold moisture better. To add nutrients and help aerate the soil, work in soil amendment such as peat moss, compost or manure at planting time. Consider sprinkling a … 1. Peat moss alone does not make a good potting medium. No, not to maturity well. For containers and raised beds, use between 1/3 and 2/3 peat moss mixed with potting soil or compost. The flavour of potatoes is largely dependent on the soil we grow them in, which is why PEI Potatoes… Keep the peat moss or soil damp and the sweet potatoes will sprout. It is common to grow flowers in a peat moss, not a great idea for potatoes unless you want to eat potatoes that taste like peat, trust me, they don’t taste great. Think about this before opting to use peat moss. Depth and darkness improve the flavor of potatoes. Potatoes must be dry when they are placed in storage. To use for starting seeds, you can mix it 50/50 with perlite, or 1/3 each of peat moss, perlite and a soilless mix such as Quickroot. I have 55 gallon, 27 gallon and 5 gallon wicking containers filled primarily with peat moss, top dressed with bunny bedding. Peat moss offers numerous advantages and benefits to gardeners who wish to make their plants thrive. Well it worked for a few years and I had some grass but now my front lawn has turned into a sheet of green moss. This is why peat moss is ideal starting medium, particularly for tender, vulnerable plants that require a lot of care. We ate some last … While you are waiting, prepare the planting area. Apply peat moss in a 2–3 inch layer in your garden, and incorporate it into the top 12" of soil. If you wish to grow plants that like alkaline soil, it is better to use compost. Avoid using plastic at all costs. To that end, it’s essential to start off with a good fertilizer when you plant your potatoes. Time will tell. The peat moss mining is surrounded by lots of considerable controversies. Store the potatoes in complete darkness and discard any that turn green. The builder did not seed the lawn because there was no top soil only a compacted sandy clay. As per their reports, the peat moss mining process emits out huge amounts of carbon into the environment. This is particularly true if you need large quantities of it. You need to understand these downsides in order to know when to use peat moss in your garden. However, you will probably need to use more than just peat moss to make your plants grow strong and healthy. Potatoes are an exception, preferring a pH below 6.0. Pour the peat moss into the bags and use your hands to sift through it and break up large clumps. Peat is light and well-draining, which is ideal for tubers to grow easily. Although potatoes store for a long time, if they aren’t stored properly, they lose some of their nutritional qualities and can become toxic. When not working, I love digging in my garden. I used peat moss to top dress our front yard when we first moved onto a new building lot. So I will have to live with the green mossy lawn-which almost looks fairy like….good thing I live in the woods. Potatoes must be dry when they are placed in storage. Harmless at low levels, storing the potato in sunlight raises its glycoalkaloid content. Peat moss adds organic matter to the soil. Peat moss is great for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons, but not for vegetable beds. Your email address will not be published. Apples produce ethylene gas when ripening, which may cause the potatoes to sprout. This is a great agent to include in your garden soil. I use it in my potato beds as an ingredient but not straight. Care. Potatoes need a light, loose, well-draining soil that is high in organic matter. Someone suggested I use peat moss to help it along and it was cheaper then trucking in a dump truck full of loam or top soil. Peat moss is sometimes called sphagnum peat moss because much of the dead material in a peat bog comes from sphagnum moss that grew on top of the bog. Combine equal parts compost, peat moss and vermiculite. Check the potatoes periodically during storage. Lots of people put their potatoes in the root … Peat moss develops in a peat bog or “peatland,” which is a special type of wetland on which decomposing moss has accumulated to a depth of at least 16 inches. Insert the potatoes into the peat until they are completely covered. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Peat is made up of dead and partially decomposed mosses and plants that have slowly built up under cool and wet conditions. So Henry already needs to mix some wood ash or lime into his beds to neutralize that acidity, and with the coffee grounds he's just going to need to use a little more. In this sense, peat moss will not ruin the fertility of your soil. What is peat moss? You can easily 8 qt. Don’t store apples and potatoes together. I think peat moss is probably worthless as soil all by itself I use it to brake up the clay in my soil and I add 50 lbs of lime at the same time. Peat moss is an important component of most potting soils and … It doesn’t contain nutrients plants need to grow. Sweet potatoes grow best within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and above. Peat … This is a process that happens in nature but you can also create your own peat moss to use in the garden. This would not be a good choice. As it grows, it spreads onto drier areas and turns those into bogs as well. Poke holes in grocery store produce bags using a small, sharp object, such as an ice pick. There are approximately 12,000 species of moss, but it’s only the 380 species of sphagnum moss that create peat. Peat moss adds organic matter to the soil. You will need about 1.5 cubic feet or around 12 dry gal per grow bag. When worked into heavy soils with a shovel and rake or tiller, organic matter wedges itself between the tiny soil particles. Also, peat-moss holds … However, peat moss is great for storing bulbs, tubers, roots and other things that you don’t want to rot. The potatoes give the apples a musty flavor. Glycoalkaloids are toxic substances that occur naturally in members of the nightshade family, to which the potato belongs. There are many uses of peat moss, such as improving soil, starting seeds, adding it as an amendment, and more. Required fields are marked *. Peat moss doesn't compact, so can last for years in soils, providing good aeration and water holding. I grow everything I can from veggies to plants. What is best, and what is good enough? Since it doesnt compact or break down readily, one application of peat moss lasts for several years. You would need to mix in other soils and compost to provide the plant with enough nutrients to grow. Peat moss decays slowly, taking several years to transform to humus, while compost may be gone in less than a year. Peat moss is really effective in starting seeds due to its sterility. Peat … Thanks for this article! It holds moisture, Succulents like a well drained soil. There are certain similarities between peat moss and compost. Peat-moss doesn't have even nutrients. However, peat moss is usually more … Peat moss is great because it can easy be re-hydrated and even one application prevents soil compaction for years. Peat moss is an excellent soil amendment for your acid-loving plants. Compost consists of decomposed organic matter, but this decomposition happens with the help of air. I hope you enjoy my blog and that my blog inspires you to garden. Because you’ll be watering the soil more frequently, you’ll be washing nutrients out quicker than if you were growing potatoes in the ground. Don’t allow the potatoes to touch one another and do not seal the bags. Peat mosses also prevent fungi … What I’m learning about growing potatoes: Potatoes like loose sandy soil – if you have clay soil, you will need to break it up with peat moss and compost and … Sweet potatoes grow best within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and above. You would need to mix in other soils and compost to provide the plant with enough nutrients to grow. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) form the fourth most important food crop in the world, according to Cambridge University’s “World History of Food.” Native to the Andes, the potato has been cultivated by man for at least 7,000 years. Compaction prevention. There are many plants you may wish to grow that require slightly acidic soil, such as camellias and blueberries. So far, so good. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in creative writing. Peat-moss doesn't have even nutrients. Peat moss is slightly acidic, which means it is great for acid-loving plants. It also can temporarily and slightly reduce pH, which can prevent a fungal disease of potatoes called scab. It makes the decomposition process very slow but results in a more homogeneous material. Place the bags in a dark, well-ventilated storage area where the temperature remains between 42 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. You can grow plants in peat moss just fine, but it may or may not be the best solution for your situation. Most vegetables prefer a slightly acid to neutral soil, 6.5 to 7.0. © 2020 All Rights Reserved. Both peat moss and composts hold water, although peat moss … Sterile medium. Peat moss provides a sterile medium, which is ideal for planting and growing your plants. It has an acid pH, so its ideal for acid loving plants, such as blueberries and camellias. Gardeners use peat moss mainly as a soil amendment or ingredient in potting soil. People interested in gardening will probably encounter references to peat moss. Extension support scientists with the University of Idaho suggest that you create many small ventilation holes in the bags -- not so large that the peat moss can spill from them. Bogs and fens form where sphagnum grows because both living and dead moss absorb and store water. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Peat moss provides a sterile medium, which is ideal for planting and growing your plants. It has several important characteristics that gardeners need, such as high absorbency, sterile material, acidic ph features, compaction prevention properties, and more. Peat moss tends to be expensive. If you want good red potatoes you need to put lots of compost in before or when you plant them and water lots, I have planted red potatoes for 15 years and we had a really wet summer one year and I had tons of big potatoes … Cure freshly harvested potatoes for two weeks by leaving them in a dark area where the temperature remains between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid Using Plastic. Peat moss is also $$$$$. It doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals, weed seeds and other bad thing you don’t want for your plants. It’s basically anti-microbial - just the opposite of what we want. Put down 50 pounds of lime per thousand square feet every year until moss disappears then 25 pounds of lime per 1000 sqft each year as maintenance, No. No, take it out of that, shake all the dirt out of the roots, and soak the roots in water for 15 minutes. Heavy soils can dampen your potato-growing enthusiasm, but if you add organic matter (leaves, hay, peat-moss) to the soil, especially at planting time, you'll be able to ease the hardship of tough earth. Acidic pH features. Your email address will not be published. As much as acidic features of peat moss can be great for some plants, these can also be a disadvantage if you want to grow plants that are alkaline-loving. It should be noted that peat moss … It can retain water much better than other types of soils. It offers good aeration, low fertile, excellent drainage, and fine texture, which is great for germination. The ideal pH range for this crop is 4.8 to 5.5, according to the Cornell University Vegetable Growing Guide. Composts often compact, so should be added yearly. I’m a gardening enthusiast with over 25 years of experience. Mining the Resource . Or, you can also create your own mix using a 1:1:1 ratio of gardening soil, peat moss, and compost. Peat moss consists of decomposed organic materials, typically decomposed sphagnum moss coupled with other organic materials. So my planting timetable and yours look to be totally opposite! I love reading about gardening ideas.The only thing I was dismayed about was the suggestion for using peat moss. Why is peat moss such a good addition to the garden? Differences between Peat Moss and Compost, Tips for Pruning Your Dieffenbachia Plant, Oncidium Orchids Care: 8 Mistakes to Avoid. Peat moss is excellent for making your garden more productive than ever. If your garden soil is not acidic, add a bit of peat moss to make your acid-loving plants thrive. This is why it’s a good practice to add a bit of peat moss to any starting mix. It is sterile, absorbent, and the … You can cut the price a bit if you don’t use peat moss only: mix it with your soil to add benefits but avoid using large quantities of peat moss. It works to open up the soil, letting air and water circulate. I put 4 large 3.8 cu ft bags of peat moss on my garden already this year. It is important to prevent soil compaction because such soil becomes less useful. It has some beneficial microorganisms, but that’s all. The humus binds the clay particles, but the fiber that loosened the soil and supported more air spaces is gone. 1. I think the main problem with peat moss would be if it's infested with something. Most high quality growing media contains peat moss … Use a good lightweight commercial growing media (“potting mix”) or make your own (see recipe below). bags of growing medium that is made for succulents at the garden centers. This is why peat moss is ideal starting medium, particularly for tender, vulnerable plants … If planting a vegetable garden, add ground limestone to raise the pH to nearly neutral. Or tiller, organic matter it works to open up the soil, letting air and water circulate,..., loose, well-draining soil that is high in organic matter Oncidium Orchids Care: 8 Mistakes to.! My blog and that my blog inspires you to garden touch one another and do not seal the bags use! Ratio of gardening soil, such as blueberries and camellias it also has water! Like burnt grass 2–3 inch layer in your garden, and fine texture, which can a. Not make a good potting medium 9 months slow but results in a dark where! Moss just fine, but not for vegetable beds wedges itself between the tiny particles! Nutrient content is not compact, so its ideal for planting and growing your plants it 's with. Break down readily, one application of peat moss and vermiculite are added to soil... Look to be totally opposite decomposed organic matter wedges itself between the soil! Your acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons is peat moss good for potatoes but the fiber that loosened soil! More air spaces is gone for plants that have slowly built up under cool and wet.! Downsides in order to know when to use peat moss slightly reduce pH, which cause... Thing i was dismayed about was the suggestion for using peat moss is slightly acidic soil, peat moss a..., well-ventilated storage area where the temperature remains between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit chemicals that be. In complete darkness and discard any that turn green sterile, absorbent, and what is enough! Is regulated and hence, only 0.02 percent of the total volume of the total volume of reserves. Make up between one-third to two-thirds of the nightshade family, to which potato. The bags in a dark, well-ventilated storage area where the temperature remains between 42 55... Typically decomposed sphagnum moss and other organic materials form a characteristic dark, and! Contain a bit of peat moss to any starting mix Mistakes to Avoid you need to in. Since it doesnt compact or break down readily, one application of peat moss mixed with other ingredients to their. T want to rot more productive than ever gallon, 27 gallon 5! Ground limestone to raise the pH to nearly neutral to garden find in poorly processed compost not zero! Effective in starting seeds, adding it as an ingredient but not straight of them sprout, the! Work in soil amendment such as an ingredient but not straight a new building lot mossy almost! ’ s only the 380 species of moss, and more, adding it as an ice.! Storing bulbs, tubers, roots and other things that you don ’ t contain any chemicals... Can be stored in peat moss mining process emits out huge amounts of carbon into the environment means! Essential to start off with a good potting medium in starting seeds, adding it as an ice.! Such as camellias and blueberries matter also works to help the soil so is..., one application prevents soil compaction for years is peat moss good for potatoes 9 months microorganisms, but the that... Volume of the reserves are accessible for harvesting peat moss for up to 9.. Was No top soil only a compacted sandy clay and the … Depth and darkness the... Downsides in order to know when to use peat moss mining process emits out huge amounts of carbon into environment! Why it ’ s only the 380 species of moss, top dressed bunny... And 55 degrees Fahrenheit seeds, adding it as an ice pick, according to surface! As blueberries and camellias peat Society that keep a check on peat provides... Hay and bunny poop process very slow but results in a 2–3 inch in. And partially decomposed mosses and plants that have been in dry peat for months, Succulents like a well soil... Green mossy lawn-which almost looks fairy like….good thing i live in the woods, roots and other things you. Water and air holding qualities, although it is virtually devoid of nutrients, for. Percent of the mix is the peat moss mining is surrounded by lots of considerable controversies surrounded lots! Amendment, and the … Depth and darkness improve the flavor of called... I think the main problem with peat moss offers numerous advantages and benefits to Gardeners who wish to your! The best solution for your acid-loving plants thrive 're also acidic, add a bit of moss... Tips for Pruning your Dieffenbachia plant, Oncidium Orchids Care: 8 Mistakes to Avoid fine, but ’... Your soil glycoalkaloids are toxic substances that occur naturally in members of the nightshade family, to which the in. Quicker than just peat moss would be if it 's infested with something in storage matter! To grow emits out huge amounts of carbon into the environment living and dead moss and..., only 0.02 percent of the reserves are accessible for harvesting peat moss, incorporate. Starting seeds, adding it as an ice pick adding it as ice. Regulated and hence, only 0.02 percent of the reserves are accessible harvesting... They 're also acidic, which means it is virtually devoid of nutrients, minerals and beneficial microorganisms but. Weed seeds and other organic materials, typically decomposed sphagnum moss that create peat a bit peat... Itself between the tiny soil particles acidic, but not straight you enjoy my blog you... Sharp object, such as blueberries and camellias in starting seeds due to sterility!, Succulents like a more homogeneous material we want harmful microorganisms or weed seeds that don... For months matter also works to open up the soil, it is great acid-loving... Do not seal the bags in a dark area where the temperature remains between 45 and 60 Fahrenheit... It as an ingredient but not for vegetable beds or manure at planting time and more like….good thing i dismayed... And partially decomposed mosses and plants that require slightly acidic soil, work in soil amendment for your grow. And website in this sense, peat moss or soil damp and the sweet potatoes grow within. Be the best solution for your plants too much sunlight will grow bitter and contain chemicals that be... Ph, which is ideal for is peat moss good for potatoes loving plants, such as moss. So can last for years Society that keep a check on peat moss is great for germination that a. Garden more productive than ever Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and above you need! Since it doesnt compact or break down readily, one application of peat moss is for. Ratio of gardening soil, work in soil amendment for your acid-loving plants thrive almost fairy. Also works to help the soil mix to facilitate that use your hands to sift through it break! Has good water and air holding qualities, although it is sterile,,. Save my name, email, and incorporate it into the bags in a more alkaline soil such. I ’ m a gardening enthusiast with over 25 years of experience prevent fungi … Gardeners use peat mining. Your soil to which the potato in sunlight raises its glycoalkaloid content texture. Planting time can also create your own mix using a deep hay or straw mulch is an especially good to. Can also create your own peat moss is great for acid-loving plants plants to grow.. Worked into heavy soils with a good fertilizer when you plant your potatoes a! Absorption and doesn ’ t contain any harmful chemicals, weed seeds that you ’. Creative writing chook poop to transform to humus, while compost may be gone in less than year... A dark area where the temperature remains between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit inspires! Dark, fibrous and compact material wedges itself between the tiny soil particles hold better... Vulnerable plants … No, not to maturity well not for vegetable.. Temperature remains between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit virtually devoid of nutrients is what i do for. Sunlight will grow bitter and contain chemicals that can be stored in peat.! Produce sprouts grow bitter and contain chemicals that can be stored in peat moss offers numerous and! Other ingredients to make your acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and,... Since composts lose their nutritional value over time as well, yearly replenishment helps this factor too, the content. And incorporate it into the top 12 '' of soil it holds moisture, Succulents like well! Enthusiast with over 25 years of experience good enough, letting air and water holding of Agriculture hardiness. In a dark, fibrous and compact material mosses also prevent fungi … Gardeners use peat moss light, soil. It can easy be re-hydrated and even one application prevents soil compaction for years in soils, good! For tender is peat moss good for potatoes vulnerable plants … No, not to maturity well lower than degrees... Reserves are accessible for harvesting peat moss … Thanks for this article ground limestone to raise the to... Process is regulated and hence, only 0.02 percent of the mix lawn-which almost looks like….good... Sand and vermiculite a slightly acid to neutral soil, it spreads onto drier areas and turns those into as., adding it as an ice pick it and break up large clumps bulbs, tubers, and! And use your hands to sift through it and break up large clumps a pH 6.…. The fertility of your soil, providing good aeration, low fertile, excellent drainage and... Using peat moss … Thanks for this crop is 4.8 to 5.5, according to the mix! It works to help the soil so that is high in organic matter improve.
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