Potatoes: Buying, Chitting, Planting, Earthing Up; Harvesting.

peter999

2 lots of potatoes planted 16 June don't seem to be coming up.

(2 other lots of potatoes (10x Sharpe's Express, 10x Nicola) planted in May have all come up ok.)

-planted 10x seed Wilja (2nd early): none have come up !!

-planted 10x seed Bambino (main crop): only 1 has come up (12+ inches growth) !!


Any ideas why they haven't come up, what's gone wrong, is this normal ??

peter999

Sally_A

Depends where you are peter999 - June does seem a bit on the late side.

I was a bit late this year, and the weather has been a law unto itself - my Charlottes are fewer, yet bigger, and I must admit I was a bit slack with the earthing up

I'd say leave them in if you have the room, you may still get some very late earlies - why not dig down on just the one plant to see what's happening under the soil?

Saying that, I've recently planted some Sante - hoping for a small winter harvest.

D&DD

First time I've grown these I have Arran Victory in this year and so far little furtles have produced great size potatoes of the most stunning shiny purple variety

My question is,as the growth is still really strong,healthy green and still flowering (have been for around a month) shall I just leave them to hopefully get bigger still or should I get them out now?? Planted on the 6th April)

I have King Eddies yet to harvest and Roosters as well as some Blue Danube so not desperate to get them out for eating just yet.

Many thanks
D

Sally_A

I'd say beware of blight, so do a daily check, if they are still green and healthy let them be. Aaron victory are a maincrop, but I would be expecting the haulms to die back by now; if all your spuds are still green and flowering, I'd use them in the order of least blight resistant first. King Edwards and Roosters appear to be less blight resistant than AV's and BD's.

My main crop died back a few weeks ago, so I'm just digging in the area where I can see the straw like stems.

This link tells you if your spuds are blight resistant (that is only resistant, not blight proof).

http://www.dundrynurseries.co.uk/plist.asp

D&DD

Thanks Sally
The KEds and roosters are in bags as are the blue danubes they're just starting to go over a bit now so will start on them and leave the AVictories for now..they show no sign of blight so far *crosses fingers*.

Thanks for the link

Sally_A

Today I received the T&M catalogue for 2012. Normally I like T&M but feel they are preying on the newbies/clueless:-

Charlotte potatoes (20 tubers) - normally £9.98 - only £2.99.

No they have never been just shy of a tenner for 20 seed spuds.

Methinks they are putting mad prices in the catalogue to make you think you are getting a bargain. OK use them for the hard to find varieties, but last year I stopped faffing with the "snobby varieties" and just bought them from Homebase. Grew Lady Christl, Charlotte and Sante.

Another thing about ordering from a catalogue is their delievery dates can be anything up until May - sorry I want mine chitting and ready to plant by mid March.

So....advice is order the poncy varieties from catalogues, but get the bulk of you spuds from a DIY store.

Sorry T&M, as a rule I hate supporting the large chains, but you don't make it very easy, cheap, or have known delivery dates from ordering online.

berries

Sally_A wrote: »

Today I received the T&M catalogue for 2012. Normally I like T&M but feel they are preying on the newbies/clueless:-

Charlotte potatoes (20 tubers) - normally £9.98 - only £2.99.

No they have never been just shy of a tenner for 20 seed spuds.

Methinks they are putting mad prices in the catalogue to make you think you are getting a bargain. OK use them for the hard to find varieties, but last year I stopped faffing with the "snobby varieties" and just bought them from Homebase. Grew Lady Christl, Charlotte and Sante.

Another thing about ordering from a catalogue is their delievery dates can be anything up until May - sorry I want mine chitting and ready to plant by mid March.

So....advice is order the poncy varieties from catalogues, but get the bulk of you spuds from a DIY store.

Sorry T&M, as a rule I hate supporting the large chains, but you don't make it very easy, cheap, or have known delivery dates from ordering online.

We've just got that though too. Im new to gardening and was thinking of getting them but if delivey going to be late I won't bother!!! Plus I think 20 tubers might be too much for me not sure as I havnt sorted out my beds yet!!!

sparrer

My first ever hg potatoes, Rockets, were amazing. I bought them for £1.95 a kilo from the local market. Just got my winter Swift, hope I have as much success.

If you register with

http://www.blightwatch.co.uk/content/bw-Home.asp

they will alert you by email if there's a blight threat at your postcode

Sally_A

Berries - you need to allow 12 inches between first earlies and 24 inches between rows.

If you don't have much room, go for first earlies (spacing as above, maincrop need more), as this is when the new potatoes are dearest in the shop.

Some garden centres sell them individually, but it's usually by the bag (ie fill a bag for £3 type of thing), I'd be cheeky and tell them I could get 30 into a bag, but I only need 10, so can I have them for a quid.

Blight should not be an issue with first earlies either, planted mid march and dug up about 3 months later.

berries

Sally_A wrote: »

Berries - you need to allow 12 inches between first earlies and 24 inches between rows.

If you don't have much room, go for first earlies (spacing as above, maincrop need more), as this is when the new potatoes are dearest in the shop.

Some garden centres sell them individually, but it's usually by the bag (ie fill a bag for £3 type of thing), I'd be cheeky and tell them I could get 30 into a bag, but I only need 10, so can I have them for a quid.

Blight should not be an issue with first earlies either, planted mid march and dug up about 3 months later.

Thank's Sally A- My plot is 14x15metres havnt done any beds yet still laying down the manuare!! Trying to think what I would like to grow for next year etc.