Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

GreenNotM

You can leave the potatoes in the soil and can harvest them after August but may suffer slug damage or blight.

You can also plant "first earlies" or even "second earlies" or "lates" http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_47_124

Using compost will mean you are not putting slug eggs in with your tubers. Also using seed potatoes will mean you are not importing problems into your soil.

noonesperfect

I'd like to grow some Maris Piper potatoes in a compost bag so obviously only want a few, it's not really worth my while to buy seed potatoes as they come in such large bags.
Could I just let a few sprout (supermarket ones) then use them? And if I plant at Easter or just after when are they likely to be ready please? I have a holiday booked mid September so ideally would like to have harvested by then.

lolarentt

ness_w wrote: »

There are some seed potatoes at the garden centre that claim to crop earlier than this so I am wondering if I need to get seed potatoes or if I could just get hold of the same variety in the supermarket?

Many thanks for any ideas, Ness.

I grow 'early' varieties (last year Charlotte and Swift). Buy the proper seed potatoes, rather than plant ordinary ones. You can leave them in the 'ground' until you want to harvest them - once the flowering is finished they're ready. Using garden soil keeps the cost down and it will help to avoid blight if you go for the earlies as blight tendsto come on later in the season

ness_w

Thanks, yes I want to have nice potatoes, but I also want to save money or not spend more, so it's a balancing act. Can I kill any bugs in the soil by microwaving it, or is that just a really stupid idea?

Ness (I'm thinking the answer is 'stupid idea'!)

scottishfreebiehunter

Is it to early to plant earlies due to frosts etc?and also due you put in fertiliser in ground?

annie123

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_november_1a_potato.asp

The above link has lots of info on planting potatoes inc pics to help.

I dig in homemade compost in December and then plant next month, but even if we do get a frost here in London its only for a couple of days and the shoots will be fine, just earth up over them.

Is your ground frozen at the moment?

DenBen

I live in the North East (of England) and we have a tradition here that you put in your spuds on Good Friday. I don't adhere strictly to that, but I think it's a good rule of thumb, especially if, as your name suggests, you're even further north than I am.

scottishfreebiehunter

Yip a good bit more northern.
Shall have to wait even though I am pretty impatient lol
Have dug small patch over and will treat it with fertilser.
Thanks guys

MONEYMAKINGMUM

If you cover the ground with plastic it warms up soil quicker so you may be able to plant some earlier. I'm no expert, I put it in the allotment & hope it grows - it usually does. We are warmer southerners

crystalsinger

I live on the south coast and my really earlies are in pot and ground, my compost was dug in last november, wouldnt advise putting potatoes on fresh compost, I think you have to give it a bit of time, but I could be wrong?