New potatoes for christmas?

haydav39

I have been looking to do some of these for the first year. Have I left it too late?
Also where would be the best place to get these?

Thanks

Farway

Not too late, just about in time, take about 12 weeks so now is good

As they will be planted in buckets / dustbins then any possible virus transmission is not a problem, so go to any supermarket & buy any nice salad type spuds you like [Asda had some nice red skinned ones last week] and use them

haydav39

Is there a good procedure to follow? or just a case of chitting them, and popping them in a dustbin and keep putting compost on them?

Lotus-eater

Don't bother chitting them. There is new (some mag did a test and some other people have remarked on it) evidence that it isn't worth it anyway.

haydav39

thanks for that, what is a nice all round potato then? suitable for mashed, baked etc.

Farway

You would not get large enough spuds to use for a load of mash, bakers etc in time

Christmas spuds are usually "new ones" like you have with butter over them, not roasters, chippers, etc

For mash, baking etc just buy them at Christmas

If you do want to grow your own for baking etc for 2009 Christmas you will need maincrop spuds, available from most garden centres, Woolies etc next spring

Good allrounder is King Edward

katskorner

Thanks for reminding me - just dug up the last of the summer crop and wanted to chuck a few back for Christmas as well as get a few carrots seeds in. My carrots have been excellent this year - first time ever we have had a decent crop!

smithyjules

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Don't bother chitting them. There is new (some mag did a test and some other people have remarked on it) evidence that it isn't worth it anyway.

Sorry to jump in! So would i just throw them in my plastic bin (with drainage holes and some stones under compost), cover with compost, wait until they sprout up a bit and cover with more compost etc? This sounds to good to be true!

Can't wait to start growing a few veggies in our new garden. Its only small though so mostly grass (fingers crossed it will grow) for a our little one, but trying to squeeze in any veggies we can. Going to try garlic tomorrow!Can't wait to get our little one involved too nothing like spending you toddler years covered in mud eating muddy potatoes!

Lotus-eater

Smithyjules, yes basically, after having various successes with growing pots in pots I think its especially important not to let them dry out. But with growing them at this time, its maybe even more of a balancing act, of not too much water so they rot, but enough to keep them growing.

katskorner wrote: »

Thanks for reminding me - just dug up the last of the summer crop and wanted to chuck a few back for Christmas as well as get a few carrots seeds in. My carrots have been excellent this year - first time ever we have had a decent crop!

My carrots have been amazing this year as well. So I threw 3 new rows of seeds in before I went away for a couple of weeks, One seed came up

arkonite_babe

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