11 Comments
User's avatar
dave walker's avatar

I’m enjoying the color of the traditions in your culture. Some traditions should never end, others should. Such is the evolution of our societies.

Irina Slav's avatar

Strongly agree.

Grundvilk's avatar

That's a whole lot of seed potatoes.

Irina Slav's avatar

I don't know if it's a lot. First year we tried potatoes we bought 5 kg, got a good harvest, ate it within two months, then last year I went big with 15 kg and because of the late freeze the harvest was really poor, so now I'm trying to be sensible. I will be cutting the bigger potatoes into halves, as advised by agri websites.

Grundvilk's avatar

Irina, I was taught to cut each whole seed potato into multiple pieces, each piece big enough to include at least one ‘eye’ (the spot where a plant sprout emerges - or will emerge), but to make sure there’s a good chunk of the potato behind each eye. Has always worked for me, so I’ve found about 2 to 2.5 kilos of seed potatoes was enough for a very large potato patch (i.e., one yielding 70 to 100 kilograms of potatoes, weather permitting.) Maybe you are hoping for a 700 to 1000 kg yield?

Karloff's avatar

So, the martenitsas can't be reused? Do birds use them in their nest building?

Kattla's avatar

That's a very interesting thought. 😁Theoretically, maybe if it's tied loosely they might take it, if it appeals to them. Otherwise yes, we don't reuse them.

Karloff's avatar

So, is it possible there may be a tree on your land that one day is covered with martenitsas?

Irina Slav's avatar

Eh, that would take us years, if we tried to do it. Also, after a few spring rains, then summer heat, then more rains, the martenitsi don't look half as good. :D

winston's avatar

Zodiacal sign for Feb 19 through Mar 20 is Pisces - an astrological justification for split personality.

Irina Slav's avatar

Good point. Now, about May 22 to June 21... :D