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

Sally_A

Does anyone know if Homebase or B&Q have their larger selection in yet?

Need Sante, and a first early.

Fay

Hi SallyI'm not sure about homebase and b&q but I got my maris bard from the garden centre last week...very excited as they were lovely potatoes last year. Only growing in bags/pots this year though as the whole veg plot had potatoes in it last year as we had some pop up from the previous owners on the parts we hadn't planted any, grrrrrr!

Sally_A

Homebase still has a limited selection, so I went for Pentland Javelins as my first earlies today.

I'm still on the lookout for Sante as my maincrop, but luckily I'll be passing a few good garden centres soon on business :cool:, so hope to pick them up there.

earthlysparky

I've ordered mine from T & M, so will now be twitching for weeks whilst I wait for them to turn up!

We were so impressed with our Arran Victory last year that we have decided to go for more Heritage varieties.
This time, we're going for: 'Shetland Black' (second early), 'Salad Blue' (early maincrop), ‘Mr Little's Yetholm Gypsy’ (early maincrop) and ‘Highland Burgundy Red’ (maincrop), along with some good old ‘Desiree’ (early maincrop). yes, I'll admit it, we're suckers for the coloured varieties

sparrer

Just got my Rocket, first earlies, which are chitting on top of the fridge/freezer. Good value I think at £2.55p for 2kg (18 in net), if last year is anything to go by I'll have a good crop to last me through the Summer .

A query - I believe that depth of container is important, I use the ex Mr M flowertubs but am wondering now if I'd get a bigger crop if I used the proper potato planters?

Happy growing

ds1980

Hi I have charlotte x 20 (second earlies?) and sarpo mira x 10 (late maincrop) chitting at present.

I think this may sound more complicated than it is....

As my potatoes took over most of my smallish plot last year I want to try and grow more economically. I am intending on using my 1m square compost bin for the sarpo this year. Is it realistic to hope that i can harvest and then plant something else before the season finishes or can i plant something before they go in? (some of my charlottes?). I am intending on planting the charlottes into my main area (5m x 2m) so perhaps i could grow something after these? I wanted to choose one more variety could someone reccommend one? I like king eds, desiree and maris piper tbh but happy to compromise if it helps.

Ta

sparrer

ds1980 wrote: »

Hi I have charlotte x 20 (second earlies?) and sarpo mira x 10 (late maincrop) chitting at present.

I think this may sound more complicated than it is....

As my potatoes took over most of my smallish plot last year I want to try and grow more economically. I am intending on using my 1m square compost bin for the sarpo this year. Is it realistic to hope that i can harvest and then plant something else before the season finishes or can i plant something before they go in? (some of my charlottes?). I am intending on planting the charlottes into my main area (5m x 2m) so perhaps i could grow something after these? I wanted to choose one more variety could someone reccommend one? I like king eds, desiree and maris piper tbh but happy to compromise if it helps.

Ta

Hi ds1980

Not 100% sure but I don't think you can grow potatoes twice in the same soil, something to do with them using up all the essential nutrients? But it is possible to grow other veg in the soil, don't ask me how that works, just something I read. No doubt there will be a genius along soon to put us both right

S

Lotus-eater

It's not a good idea to grow the same thing twice in the same place/soil. Because of nutrients (although you can add artificial fertiliser to make this up) and pests/diseases.

Anyway, you'd struggle to get 2 potato crops in a year, although you might do it if we get no blight again.



If you are near a QD store, they have bags of about 2.3 kg's in for £2.59 atm.

peter999

Any suggestions on potatoes which don't fall apart when boiled ??

NICOLA was good for me last year, don't fall apart.

KING EDWARD I think are ok.

SHARPE'S EXPRESS are not good, they fall apart.

peter999

jpscloud

First attempt with potatoes (if you don't count my childhood!) I'm going to try desiree in compost bags... they were already chitting when I bought them the other day, so I've got them in the light now. I know they're maincrop, but I was thinking of harvesting in August as I don't want large potatoes.

I'm not sure how they'll work out, and I feel ripped off already! I bought them in Poundstretcher for £1.49 for 10... except there were only 9, and one was rotton! Ah well eight is fine, it's just an experiment this year.

Sorry for being a bit dim but about earthing up - I should do it when the green shoots are about 8" high, according to the packet, but do you cover the whole 8" or do you leave some green above compost?