Agricultural Experiment: Can We Replicate the Success of La Bonnotte?
March 30 is an important day for my experiment. The first potato sprouts have finally appeared. This is not just planting — it is an attempt to rethink approaches to cultivation and investment in agriculture.
In the world, there is a legendary potato variety called La Bonnotte, grown on the French island of Noirmoutier.
Its price can reach 500–600 euros per kilogram.
The reason is not only its rarity, but also its unique cultivation method: the soil is fertilized with seaweed, and the harvest is carried out entirely by hand.
My experiment
Instead of seaweed, I use a natural alternative — leaves.
Fallen leaves decompose, generate heat, and create a living environment for potatoes. This is a simple and accessible method that can become an effective solution for small farms.
Why this is interesting as an investment
Agriculture today is not only about traditional methods — it is also about innovation and new products:
- unique varieties = high profitability
- organic methods = growing demand
- small volumes = premium pricing
My next step is to explore the use of river algae as fertilizer. It is important to understand:
- where to collect them safely (from clean, unpolluted waters)
- how to wash them properly
- how to compost them before applying to the soil
This experiment is just the beginning. Even a small plot of land can become the foundation for a premium agricultural product.
Previous experience
By the way, last year we already had successful experience with organic cultivation of elite potato varieties from the Netherlands. This result confirmed that even on small experimental plots it is possible to obtain high-quality, organic, and competitive products.
In parallel, we also started developing beekeeping, which opens additional opportunities for diversifying the farm.
The results speak for themselves.
Global initiatives, such as the OnlyFarms platform in the United States launched on March 30 to support farmers, highlight the growing importance and relevance of agriculture as an investment component of the modern economy.
Preliminary results. Potatoes are growing,
April 30 — time to share our first updates 🌱
Our early crop is already showing promising results. The potatoes look just as we hoped at this stage: strong, fresh, with even growth and healthy green leaves. It’s clear the plants have adapted well and are gaining strength.
The weather so far has been supportive, giving us good expectations for the next stages. There’s still plenty of work ahead, but the start is definitely encouraging.
We’ll keep monitoring, caring, and sharing our progress 🌿
French Chic in Local Soil: Can We Match the Success of La Bonnotte?
June 1st. It is officially the first day of summer, and our experimental garden looks absolutely stunning. The potatoes haven't just grown—they are blooming beautifully and looking incredibly vibrant and healthy!
But this isn't just standard maintenance; it’s a bit of agro-magic with a touch of French aristocracy. As a reminder, we are continuing our ambitious experiment, testing the exact technology that made the French La Bonnotte the most expensive potato in the world (with auction prices once reaching hundreds of euros per kilogram!).
🌊 The Secret Ingredient: Seaweed
Today, we completed a crucial step—localized fertilization using seaweed, strictly following the method practiced on the Island of Noirmoutier.
Why seaweed?
A Unique Micronutrient Cocktail: It enriches the soil with iodine, potassium, and specific minerals that regular soil simply cannot provide.
That Signature Flavor: Seaweed is exactly what gives the tubers that distinct, slightly salty, nutty-creamy flavor profile that Michelin-starred chefs hunt for.
Localized Approach: We apply the fertilizer directly beneath each plant, ensuring every single root gets the maximum benefit to power the upcoming harvest.
Can We Replicate the Success?
The start has been powerful. The weather is on our side, the foliage is a joy to look at, and right now, beneath the soil, something incredible is forming. We truly hope the final taste will surprise everyone.
Do you think our local superdrive and the right technique can rival the legendary French delicacy? 😉
Stay tuned for updates—the most exciting part, the first harvest, is just around the corner!
The experiment is complete, and the potatoes are fully harvested. The results exceeded even our most optimistic expectations: some specimens are astonishingly large and barely fit in your hands!
The journey from the first green sprouts popping up on March 30 to the final harvest in mid-July turned out to be exceptionally productive. The tubers had enough time to reach maximum weight and develop a thick, healthy skin.
However, we decided not to stop there. The main goal of this experiment is the efficient use of every square meter of land to gather two full harvests in a single season.
Immediately after clearing the beds and quickly prepping the soil, we planted strong tomato seedlings in the very same spot. July provides a great start for fast rooting because the soil is well-warmed, and there is still plenty of sunlight ahead for active blooming and fruit formation.
Stay tuned for blog updates! For the second stage, we chose the Ukrainian tomato variety "Pink Giant." In the next post, we'll cover how we prepared the soil after an exhausting early potato crop!
CONTINUATION
Stay tuned for blog updates!
For the second stage of our gardening relay, we chose a proven Ukrainian tomato variety — "Pink Giant" (Rozovyy Velikan). Product of Ukraine
After harvesting early potatoes, the soil remains significantly depleted, as potatoes pull maximum nutrients from the ground, especially potassium and nitrogen. To breathe new life into the garden bed for the second crop rotation phase, we thoroughly prepared the soil: deeply loosened it, enriched it with organic matter, and made up for the micronutrient deficiency.
And the result exceeded all expectations!
We grew these tomatoes literally from seed. At first, the seedlings grew and strengthened in individual pots before moving to the prepared garden bed after the potatoes.
Here is where we stand today:
Bush height: powerful plants shot up to over 190 cm in height!
First harvest: the very first picked fruits amazed us with their size — weighing over 700 grams each!
Ukrainian breeding once again proves its resilience and yield potential, even under challenging crop rotation conditions. More exciting updates to come — let us know in the comments if you've ever tried planting a second wave of tomatoes after potatoes!
Propagation by Suckers , Don't throw away the suckers.
During the tomato growing experiment, it was revealed that propagation by side shoots (suckers) is a highly successful method.
This technique guarantees 100% preservation of all characteristics of the variety or hybrid, as the new plant is an exact clone of the mother plant.
Rooted suckers develop significantly faster, which saves a substantial amount of time and space compared to growing early seedlings from seeds.
Furthermore, planting suckers mid-season makes it easy to extend the bushes' fruiting period.
As a result, this allows for a rich additional tomato harvest in autumn without extra expenses.
Don't throw away the suckers.
By the way, some basil has grown here, and bees just love it.
Why is basil called basil? The word "basil" comes from the ancient Greek word βασιλικός (basilikos), which means "royal" or "kingly" (from βασιλεύς / basileus — "king"). The main reasons why the herb received this name:
"Royal herb": In ancient times, basil was considered an exquisite plant used for making perfumes, ointments, and medicines exclusively for monarchs and kings.
The myth of the Basilisk: There is a folk etymology and mythology according to which the name is connected to the mythical monster the Basilisk (a serpent/dragon with a deadly gaze). According to legend, basil was used as a magical antidote against the bite or gaze of the basilisk.
What is the connection to St. Peter's Basilica? The connection between them is linguistic (a shared root) and also has Christian foundations:
Shared etymological roots:
Both words are based on the ancient Greek βασιλεύς (basileus — king).
Basil — "royal plant."
Basilica (including St. Peter's Basilica) — originally an ancient "royal house" / palace / monarch's courtroom, and later a large Christian temple.
Christian legend:
According to legend, when Empress Helena found the True Cross in Jerusalem, the excavation site was discovered precisely by the fragrance of the basil that grew thickly on that hill (upon the blood of Christ). Hence, basil became an important sacred plant in the Christian tradition.
Sources:
#GardenExperiment #LaBonnotte #OrganicGardening #GourmetPotatoes #GardenBlog #June1
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ReplyDeleteso, algae are real
ReplyDeletePlanted in the ground on March 15, the first green sprouts appeared on March 30, harvested the potatoes in mid-July, planted tomatoes.
ReplyDelete0:19 In the video, the roar of motorcycle engines disrupts the peace of citizens.
ReplyDeletehttps://etymologyexplorer.com/word/English/basil
ReplyDelete