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The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

460 - How to Grow Better Potatoes: What Matters Most (and What Doesn't) with Jim & Caleb Gerritsen of Wood Prairie Family Farm

The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy

Jill McSheehy

How To, Education, Home & Garden, Leisure

4.7 • 830 Ratings

🗓️ 24 February 2026

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Struggling to get a big potato harvest, especially in heat or grow bags?
In this episode, Jim and Caleb from Wood Prairie Family Farm break down what actually matters for growing potatoes successfully.
You'll learn practical potato growing tips for choosing seed, watering, fall planting, and avoiding common beginner mistakes.

If you've ever felt unsure about which potatoes to plant, how to store them, or why your yields were disappointing, this conversation will clear it up. We talk certified seed vs. grocery store potatoes, how to think about short-season varieties (especially in the South), what makes fall potatoes possible, and the biggest "make-or-break" factors when growing in containers.

Wood Prairie Family Farm (Seed Potatoes)
Certified seed potatoes shipped at the right time for your region, plus grow bags and organic potato fertilizer. Use code JILL5 for 5% off: http://journeywithjill.net/woodprairie. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

free download: Seed Starting Guide
Start seeds with confidence. Know exactly when and how to begin.
https://journeywithjill.net/seed-starting-guide

Key Takeaways

  • Start with certified seed potatoes to reduce disease risk and improve yields.

  • For hot climates or tight windows, choose short-season varieties to finish before heat or frost.

  • In grow bags, watering is the #1 success factor (often 3x per week).

  • Better soil and the right fertility plan can increase yield without adding complexity.

  • Mulch strategies (even cardboard + straw) can reduce weeds and help moderate soil moisture.

Sponsor for this Episode

Organic REV
Organic fertilizer blends made for gardeners who want healthier plants and better harvests.
Use code JILL10 for 10% off: http://journeywithjill.net/organicrev
As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Garden in Minutes
A simple, efficient watering system that helps you stay consistent (especially in summer).
Use code Jill for 7% off: http://journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes
As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Resource Links

Connect with Jill

Disclaimer

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.

Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Well, hey there, and welcome to the Beginners Garden podcast. Today, I am bringing back one of your

0:05.5

favorite past guests, Jim Garrison from Wood Prairie Family Farm. And for the first time,

0:11.7

his son, Caleb, is joining us for the conversation as well. So many of you want to grow potatoes

0:18.1

and you want to grow them successfully, whether you are a first-time

0:22.2

potato grower or you have grown them in the past and you want to be able to have a better

0:27.4

harvest than you've had before. As always, I learned so much from Jim and I've had several

0:32.7

conversations with him before. It seems like I'm always learning something new. Like how

0:37.3

leaf hoppers can be a really

0:39.3

big pest in the garden, not just something that is annoying, but it can actually affect my harvest

0:45.5

and probably has without me even realizing it. Or some things that I might want to know about

0:50.9

variety selection and how to grow potatoes not just one time of year,

0:55.7

but grow them successfully in other times of year. I just love this conversation with Jim

1:01.1

and Caleb, and I know you will too. Let's get into it. Just taking a quick break here to thank

1:08.1

our sponsor whose product I use year round, and that's organic

1:12.3

rev. It's a growth stimulant that really does make a difference. In the beginning of the garden

1:17.2

season, when I am starting seeds, I want to give those seedlings the best foundation I can.

1:23.0

And I use organic rev as part of my seed starting process. It's part of my routine, whether I start my seedlings under grow lights indoors or I use a

1:31.3

greenhouse.

1:32.3

I mix a small amount of rev into the water and I moisten my seed starting mix with it.

1:37.3

I water with that rev mixture every couple of weeks.

1:40.3

You don't need much, just a splash into your watering can, and it helps boost root

1:45.8

development early on. That means stronger, sturdier seedlings that are better prepared when it

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