Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

shandypants5

Lotus-eater wrote: »

They should be fine, just give them a bit longer. Stop watering them! They shouldn't need any at the moment.

I have some Earlies in the green bag type planters on my patio, they are all growing away lovely and I have earthed up 2 times already.

But should I leave them completey dry for now?

I have been keeping them quite damp watering every 2 days.

Lotus-eater

No, I was talking about potatoes in the ground, in pots you need to water, especially as yours are growing on, kelloggs haven't even come up yet. Sounds like you are doing a perfect job.

shandypants5

Thanks Lotus,,,

Potato glut here we come whoo,hooooo.

kelloggs36

Yes mine are in the ground!

Yes you are right about the onions - they were inside - I wasn't sure when to plant them out??? It said as soon as they are big enough to handle, but what does that mean? They were shooting up nicely but had no leaves - I don't know what they were supposed to look like and they weren't that big, so I assumed that they weren't big enough.

Lotus-eater

What sort of onions where they? Spring? Full size? What?

And presumably they were from seed?

When did you start them and what were you growing them in? And do you still want to grow some now?

Onions have leaves, they are just round ones, not the traditional type you see on trees.

kelloggs36

The onions I started to grow in some seeding compost as instructed on the packet. They are Onion Alisa Craig variety. Instructions are to almost fill a seed tray with moist seed compost, sow thinly and cover and place in warmth. Keep seelings in a light position but shade from bright sun (they were in my dining room which has no direct sunlight - maybe I should have put them outside in a shady area?) When large enough to handle transplant 2in apart to trays of potting compost. I put the seeds into the seed compost and watered them, they sprouted and that was it - they grew about 6in tall but developed no leaves and are very spindly - ie they drooped over so I felt that something was wrong at that stage.

Zazen999

kelloggs36 wrote: »

they grew about 6in tall but developed no leaves and are very spindly - ie they drooped over so I felt that something was wrong at that stage.

The bit that grew to 6 inches tall...that WAS the leaves.

They probably fell over because they got too warm. Onions are hardy and as soon as they germinate, need to be outdoors....

Lotus-eater

If you google image "onion plant" you will indeed see that the shoots are the leaves.
That is quite funny

I would sow them outside now (if you still want to grow them, you didn't say) straight into where you intend to grow them. You won't get massive onions now, but you will get something to eat. Sow thinly.

Moozle_2

Lotus-eater wrote: »

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.

You are right.... i'm guilty of this as well, trying to do too much too soon, and i'm trying to grow everything!

arkonite_babe

MOVING THREADS FOR BETTER RESPONSES

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]