Fertile eggs and planting potatoes
If I put a rooster and a hen in a small pen together how soon can I be sure that she would be laying fertile eggs inspired by the handsome fella she is cohabitating with?
If I save some nice potatoes to plant in the spring, what do I need to do to them before planting them? Do I need to spray or dust them with something?
Thanks for sharing all your wisdom and experience. I’m sure some of our questions stretch your knowledge but somehow you still have answers. We, your readership, appreciate you. Gail
Gail Erman
Palisade, Colorado
Usually after a rooster mates with a hen, her eggs are fertile about 24 hrs later. Eggs she lays for two weeks following this are also fertile.
Some folks dust their potatoes with sulfur before planting to help ward off disease. But others just cut and “chit” theirs. Chitting is letting the potato sets dry and be exposed to some sun so they begin to produce sturdy green sprouts. Be sure there is no disease in your potatoes before planting your own sets. When in doubt, it’s best to start with boughten seed potatoes that are certified disease-free.
You’re welcome. Glad to help. You all help me learn more and more. It’s fun. — Jackie
Gail, as Jackie said if you can possibly buy certified disease free seed potatoes (they aren’t expensive) you’ll be better off doing that. There are so many diseases that potatoes harbor and get, and once those diseases are in your soil they are difficult to impossible to get rid of. You can lose potato production in a patch of ground for many decades. And because potatoes harbor diseases, there’s a whole list of things that shouldn’t be planted where potatoes have been grown. Check your state Extension Service for more information.
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