Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

halfpint90

hi all,
we are planning to grow potatoes this year, one question though, how do you know when they are ready to harvest ???

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

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

Farway

Once they are starting to grow shoots they should really be planted because the shoots will grow longer & weaker, they are feeding off the seed spud & not the soil, so you could get a poor crop in the end

You should not finish up with a surplus, because unlike say runner beans or lettuce you do not have to harvest them all at once, they will keep for ages in the soil, my overwintered in cold greenhouse were fine last month, despite growth stopping in the autumn and the haulm dying back

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

kelloggs36

Hi - a few weeks ago I bought some seeded potatoes from a garden centre. Instructions were to plant in April which I did - last weekend. How long will it be before I see any shoots come through? I have really terrible luck growing anything in my garden - things start off well but then die! For example, last year I planted some fennel seeds. A few grew up quite big, but when I pulled them up there was no bulb there at all!!!!:eek: Clearly I did something wrong - not sure what, but I expected to have some bulb even if it was very small! Also, I tried to grow broccoli - they started off really well but then the blasted slugs ate all the leaves!!!!! I tried in pots too but they still managed to get in (either that or caterpillars).

I have very chalky soil BTW. We dug in a large bag of manure prior to planting the potatoes and had loads spare and so planted some in pots too.

Also I planted some onion seeds by following instructions - they sprouted and started to grow but quickly died off - yes I did water them!!! I need a tutor as I am so utterly useless at growing things! I would really like to be able to grow potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, onions and peppers but have a feeling I will end up failing again!!!!! Any advice will be greatly welcome!

sammyjammy

Hi there, did you chit the potatoes before you planted them? Chitting means letting them grow little shoots before you plant them. You can't really go wrong with potatoes although for the ones you've planted pots/bags you'll need to really make sure they get plenty, plenty of water, that was the mistake I made last year, I had a very low yield and I think it was because the soil down a few inches was bone dry like dust. You should see shoots after a few weeks and then lots of growth really quickly. Were they first earlies?

I tried onions last year as well which also failed, apparantely they don't taste any better than those bought in the shops so there isn't much benefit in growing your own....

kelloggs36

Hi - yes I did chit them first. They are a maincrop variety of King Edward. I had them in trays in the light but not direct sunlight for a couple of weeks - they sprouted some shoots. I haven't watered them too much as we keep getting forecast for lots of rain and then it doesn't!!! Hubby has watered them again - although we have had some heavy downpours which may help - it is supposed to rain tomorrow.

I was getting a bit worried as normally shoots appear with my other stuff within a couple of weeks, and there is no sign yet - probably early days but I just am feeling a bit paranoid!!!!!

Thanks for the tip on the onions - I will try and plant my tomato seeds and my pepper seeds now and see how they go.

sammyjammy

Don't forget when the shoots first appear you need to earth them up.

Lotus-eater

They should be fine, just give them a bit longer. Stop watering them! They shouldn't need any at the moment.
Florence fennel isn't easy to grow so stop kicking yourself about that.
The broccoli taught you that you need to protect small plants from slugs, so you won't do that again.

The onions we need more info, you probably grew them inside, which is ok for germination, but not for onions growing on, it's too hot.

You just need to learn to do things in the right way and time. Ask about individual things and do one thing at a time properly.