Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

shadowdragon

thanks a lot, im new to this and the spuds were an experiment just to see what happened. I was overjoyed when they sprouted. Then I though "HO NO I dont know what to do with them now!!!".

If they crop well, Ive already rescued another tall kitchen bin from the MIL to plant more out if it works.

Can you plant spuds all year round, or am I better waiting until the spring now?

RAS

Hi

one option is a bit hands=on but works.

If you can get your mitt down the side of the bin, gently work round and remove the largest tubers that you encounter (avocado size), then leave the plant to continue bulking up the smaller egg size tubers.

If you have not got blight (nasty brown spots on the leaves that spread rapidly), then you can leave the haulm on until the frost wipes it out. A week or two after that tip out the bin and harvest.

if you want to leave the bin until Christmans, then put it out of the sun (to stop the tubers getting warm and re-sprouting), and be ready to take evasive action if there is a hard frost (wrap newspaper round the bin if he temperature is below -2degrees C). It is unlikely we will get a serious frost this side of Christmas but if we do you may have to harvest them before they spoil.

Ezmondino

I tend to remove flowers from potatoes, believing you will get better growth. Seems to be an old wives tale but there is some scientific evidence now. IIRC it was such a small amount it's probably not worth bothering, but hey, it can't hurt!

Farway

shadowdragon wrote: »

Can you plant spuds all year round, or am I better waiting until the spring now?

Only plant now if you can give them some shelter, they need some warmth [not a lot, but not frosty], otherwise wait till spring

Daylight hours also come into play from now onwards

FWIW this weekend I have chanced it and planted some in a large pot, but I do have an unheated greenhouse to put them, plus I live in Hampshire

arkonite_babe

We have a thread similar to this already, I'll add your query to it so all the replies are together. Posts are listed in date order so you'll need to read from the beginning to catch up

shadowdragon

Farway wrote: »

Only plant now if you can give them some shelter, they need some warmth [not a lot, but not frosty], otherwise wait till spring

Daylight hours also come into play from now onwards

FWIW this weekend I have chanced it and planted some in a large pot, but I do have an unheated greenhouse to put them, plus I live in Hampshire

Haaa yeah I used to live in Hampshire before moving back up north, theres approx 6 to 7 degree temp difference on average (I worked it out a few years back!!!). I am on the coas and only have one of those plastic shelf green house things I dont think thats a suitable potatoe growing environment. And I dont have room for a greenhouse

Ill go check down the side of the bin and see how there doing, I didnt want to disturb them too much so I didnt hurt them.

Im so new at this its unbelivable. But I suppose we all have to start somewhere.

thanks to all who have/are helping I appreciate the advice and guidance.

shadowdragon

Just had a feel around the potatoes and all i can feel are very small about 1 inche in diameter. I persume there just not ready yet, my only concern is that the actual follage is starting to die back on some of them. Does this mean that they have failed?

hipomad

sorry to start another thread on potatoes but i am really stupid and confussed.I have spent almost three days trying to find the answers but as i have never grown anything i dont understand "the basics" really and feel more stupid than ever.
The only thing i do know is what i want to grow them in and where.
so here goes.
could someone please tell me the difference (if any) between tubers and seed potatoes. do i have to do any thing to them before i can plant them.

compost. is there a certain compost i need to buy.or do i just go to a store and buy a bag that says compost on it.

can i plant them now in the greenhouse. if so do i need to buy certain ones.
i would like to have a continuous supply of them so i am asuming that i would need to buy different types.
If any one can help that would be great, as this is realy getting to me that i cant get to grips with growing a potato. tia

RAS

hipomad wrote: »

i dont understand "the basics" really and feel more stupid than ever.

The only stupid queston is the one that is not asked

could someone please tell me the difference (if any) between tubers and seed potatoes. do i have to do any thing to them before i can plant them.

Tubers are just anything that grows in the ground and produces a swollen root. So a potato is one type of tuber as are dahlias and sweet potatoes.

Seed potatoes are tubers of the potato plant that are grown in special conditions and are checked vigourously for certain diseases before they are lifted or sold. Most are grown in Soctalnd because there are few aphids and so the risk of tramsmisison is less. You can just grow ware potatoes from the shop but risk diseases.

compost. is there a certain compost i need to buy.or do i just go to a store and buy a bag that says compost on it.

This is largely a matter of taste and ethics. You can grow potatoes in just about anything including the compost heap. If you have access to soil, you can use that with or without extras like manure, home made compost, seaweed etc. As long as it is not fiercely alkaline (chalk) or sand, you will be OK.

However some of the seed companies would like you to think you need special expensive composts, which you might if you are growing for exhibition say.

can i plant them now in the greenhouse. if so do i need to buy certain ones.
i would like to have a continuous supply of them so i am asuming that i would need to buy different types.

If you are growing them in the greenhouse start with an early like Rocket or Swift and plant some soon. You can plant another batch of the same variety a few weeks laterthen another lot of the same, or a different variety.. By late April, you might be better growing them outside, because the green house gets so hot. Come September however plant some Charlotte in pots for christmas.

Try looking ut for a Potato Day - read up on www.alanromans.co.uk and hdra.org.uk. At these events you can buy by the tuber, so you can have three pots of potatoes with a different variety in each, and can pick up small quantities of loads of different varieties. I normally grow about a dozen.

Rocket or Swift (6)
Red Duke of York (3)
One other Early.(3)
Kestrel(3)
Charlotte/Nadine(3)
Something mad like Salad Blue or Red Highland (4-5)
Arran Victory (very late) (6)
Pink Fir Apple (6)
Sarpo Mira (4-5)
Sarpo Axona (4-5)

The bulk supplies of Cara and Desiree.

artha

hipomad wrote: »

sorry to start another thread on potatoes but i am really stupid and confussed.I have spent almost three days trying to find the answers but as i have never grown anything i dont understand "the basics" really and feel more stupid than ever.
The only thing i do know is what i want to grow them in and where.
so here goes.
could someone please tell me the difference (if any) between tubers and seed potatoes. do i have to do any thing to them before i can plant them.

compost. is there a certain compost i need to buy.or do i just go to a store and buy a bag that says compost on it.

can i plant them now in the greenhouse. if so do i need to buy certain ones.
i would like to have a continuous supply of them so i am asuming that i would need to buy different types.
If any one can help that would be great, as this is realy getting to me that i cant get to grips with growing a potato. tia

personally I have tried to grow very early new potatos in pots, bags and green house over the last few years and have been very dissapointed athe results. Lots of effort, care and expense but small yields and not a great deal better flavour than can be bought in the supermarket if you choose carefully. I think home grown new potatoes are very much over-rated these days.