"It's like you're digging for gold," says Tom Kasper.
For any other treasure hunters out there, it's tuber time. Potatoes are resilient crops that have a long season for harvesting. But getting from the planting in mid-May to a good crop in the fall takes some diligence.
"Hilling" is a good way to get larger potatoes. Mounding additional earth on your growing potatoes can give your crops a boost. Also, keep an eye out for Colorado Potato Beetles. The pests can be problematic but can be removed easily enough by hand.
For Tom Kasper, potatoes aren't just an area of interest; they were once a professional area of study. While at North Dakota State, Kasper was a research assistant working on the Norkota variety of potato and others.
You can hear Tips for Hardy Gardeners every other Tuesday at 8:20am on Northland Morning. Tips for Hardy Gardeners receives support from Grow Your Own Garden Supply in Duluth's Lincoln Park Craft District.
