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Letter Re: Potatoes as a Survival Garden Crop
Mr. Rawles:
The problem with potatoes as a survival crop, is that they are
susceptible to soil-borne diseases. Before toxic sprays, seed potatoes were
grown at
elevations above 800 feet, which does help. They also require a very good
root cellar,
in order to keep all the way through the winter, until the next planting
season. Seed potatoes cannot be stored for years like grains. One [year of]
crop failure, and you are done. It helps to swap all your potatoes saved for
seed
with
another gardener, some distance from you. Look for someone with a different
type of soil, and you may be able to get by for a number of years. Relying
on potatoes as a long term survival crop is risky. Just look at Irish history.
- FARMERIK
