Our Growing Process
1
In early spring (Feb-Mar) potatoes loaded with mother nature’s energy are placed in our greenhouse beds. Our beds are treated with botran fungicide per Tennessee State requirements
2
Our bedded potatoes are covered immediately with aged old sawdust. Beds are kept warm at 70-75 degrees to produce healthy strong plants ready to be shipped to your doorstep.
3
After about 3 weeks of sunshine and 75 degrees, plants are ready for harvest and shipment. Most bundles are pulled in counts of 25’s.
4
Plants harvested from beds are ready shipment to your doorstep or plant in our fields.
5
Plants set about 10 days ago have been plowed and ready for water. We strive hard for a clean field at George’s plant farm!
6
Fields are watered regularly to keep stress down and growth at a maximum.
7
These potatoes are ready for harvest. Our inspector was very impressed with our clean fields in 2016. Weeds and grass can transfer diseases and cut yields to a maximum.
8
Vines cut about a week before harvest in order to toughen skins and make for better quality potato for storage.
9
Insect traps are monitored by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. We are proud to say we have never had the sweet potato weevil on our farm. Inspectors claim they can’t live in our cold winters. We spray a chemical that deters worms, nematodes, grubs, etc, early in the spring.
10
At George’s we carefully harvest our potatoes, and then box and palletize them in a way not to bruise or damage the skin. Then we place them in our winter storage for curing at 80 degrees for a few days and 80% humidity. Temps are reduced to 55-60 degrees for the long winter sleep.
11
Fresh potatoes ready for storage and curing process. We sport 20 varieties of sweet potatoes at George’s Plant Farm.