Please help! I kill everything I plant!!

findinghappiness

Hi there

I was wondering if anybody could help me out with my charlotte potatoes and bear in mind that I am totally clueless!!! No laughing at me please!!

I planted my potatoes about 2 weeks ago and nothing has popped up out of the soil yet. They are in sacks and are well watered. Have I planted them too soon? There were really small shoots coming out of the actually potatoes when I planted them. Did they need to have bigger shoots? I have quite a few books about growing your own but none seem to be the idiots guide that I need!

On the plus side, I have 4 sunflowers that have survived for 3 weeks and are looking healthy! :rotfl:

And while I'm asking questions... I have 2 pumpkin plants which are due to be moved out of their tiny pot. Are big pots ok? or should they be in the ground? Am I worrying too much????

Thanks in advance

Money_maker

Have you drainage in your potato sacks?
They can be planted even without shoots but take longer to come up.
If you are worried, you could have a gentle feel - shoots should be near the surface soon.

Pumpkins are big bullies. They need lots of water and room to spread. Best planted in the ground as they pick up more water from their long spreading growth.

Dont worry - once they're planted in the garden they should be fine. If you think they are a little small then repot til bigger.

billycasper_2

I think your potatoes will be fine. its been really cold for the time of year but next week apparently things are going to warm up. give it a little time. and you will see cracking of the soil where you planted them as they start to push through.
as for the pumpkins, i agree with money maker get them in the ground, they are big and leafy and need plenty of space. if you want bigger pumpkins take off all but the one fruit so the plant gives all its energy into one pumpkin.

ukbill69

Dont worry, mine have been in for about 2 weeks and just showing signs of popping up. They take a while to come up. The warmer the weather the more they grow and hasn't been that great. Im no expert but this is second year round and last year was ok.

jones.ci

I planted my third set of Charlottes 2 weeks ago, and they're juuust coming up above ground now. I started chitting them in February and live in the south east (i.e. optimum growing conditions).

When you plant them they should ideally have small dark shoots. If they don't, they'll just take a little longer.

You definitely haven't planted them too early. By 3 or so weeks I would expect to see the plant poking out the soil. If not, just leave them. They will grow. It's almost impossible to kill a potato. You'd have to cut its head off and burn the remains.

billycasper_2

It's almost impossible to kill a potato. You'd have to cut its head off and burn the remains

Something i have learned the hard way. Every piece of the bloody thing wants to sprout.. potatoes growing through my compost.. oh dear.

jones.ci

It doesn't matter how long you spend whacking at them with the sharp end of a spade, you will always regret putting them in your composter.

billycasper_2

oh boy did i ... not anymore thouigh. although i have missed few small ones, until the following summer when a lovely potatoe wants to grow through the sweetcorn bed..

findinghappiness

Money_maker wrote: »

Have you drainage in your potato sacks?
They can be planted even without shoots but take longer to come up.
If you are worried, you could have a gentle feel - shoots should be near the surface soon.

Pumpkins are big bullies. They need lots of water and room to spread. Best planted in the ground as they pick up more water from their long spreading growth.

Dont worry - once they're planted in the garden they should be fine. If you think they are a little small then repot til bigger.

They are sacks made for planting potatoes but the compost seems to be soaking wet all the time. Should I make more holes do you think?

Its good to hear that potatoes are hard to kill! Sounds like a great place to start for me then!! I have a 5yr old and I want him see that his food doesn't just come from Asda!!

And I think I'll repot my pumpkins and wait till they are a bit bigger and then put them in the ground as suggested.

Does anyone have any other suggestions of things that are simple to grow? Probably best in pots as I dont have a huge amount a space. I feel quite excited at the prospect of eating something we grew ourselves but don't want to bite off more that I can chew! Excuse the pun! hehe

Thanks for all your replies. Everyone is so helpful here

findinghappiness

jones.ci wrote: »

I planted my third set of Charlottes 2 weeks ago, and they're juuust coming up above ground now. I started chitting them in February and live in the south east (i.e. optimum growing conditions).

When you plant them they should ideally have small dark shoots. If they don't, they'll just take a little longer.

You definitely haven't planted them too early. By 3 or so weeks I would expect to see the plant poking out the soil. If not, just leave them. They will grow. It's almost impossible to kill a potato. You'd have to cut its head off and burn the remains.

Also, whats chitting??? Sounds a bit rude!! :rotfl:

billycasper_2

Potatoes are really good to start of with and dont need too much looking after. dont water the sack anymore if its soaking wet. let it dry out.. as for chitting
Chitting, for the uninitiated, is the process of exposing seed potatoes to sunlight and a tad of warmth so that they put out shoots from their eyes and begin to grow before they are planted
dont be put off by failure. everyone has failures. just try to learn why things failed and try again.
as for growing things in pots. depending on the size. you can grow anything you want. take your pick.