Stupid potato questions

soba

I planted some seed potatoes in a couple of dustbins and also in a raised bed we made this year. They seem to be going great guns, and I need to cover the leaves every few days with a layer of compost when they poke through. My questions are - do potatoes flower? If they do, why do they? And lastly, how will I know when my pots are ready? They're Pentland Javelin if that makes a difference. Thanks. I feel so stupid asking these questions....

Tam_Lin

They do flower but I don't know why. After that, the greenery will wilt - wait 2-3 weeks after that and your spuds will be ready.

mariauk

*Sneaks in the side door to ask an even sillier question*

I have various bags and a big black plastic dustbin with Red duke of yorks, Epicure and Saxon potatoes. How often should i be watering them and should I start giving them tomato feed yet The Duke`s are almost going over the top of the bin (about 3 foot) and I think there will only be room for one more earthing up?

Sorry for sneaking in Soba

*Sneaks out the back door with her coat* :eek:

harpo1

Yep potatoes flower & you can often get a little fruit that looks just like a dark green tomato. Dont be tempted to eat. If you see them forming just nip them off & dump out of harms way. The potato is a member of the deadly nightshade family ( same as tomatoes) & the little green fruit is poisonous. You nip off the fruit off to stop the plant diverting energy into something you cant eat, instead of into the spuds.

nodwah

mariauk wrote: »

*Sneaks in the side door to ask an even sillier question*

I have various bags and a big black plastic dustbin with Red duke of yorks, Epicure and Saxon potatoes. How often should i be watering them and should I start giving them tomato feed yet The Duke`s are almost going over the top of the bin (about 3 foot) and I think there will only be room for one more earthing up?

Sorry for sneaking in Soba

*Sneaks out the back door with her coat* :eek:

I've never fed potatoes at all!
Someone correct me but I thought if you fed with tomato food you'd stimulate prduction of green shoots and fruits and not the tubers that you're wanting.
As far as watering goes I think they shouldn't be allowed to dry out but not be sopping wet either - which is not really a good answer is it?

There are no stupid questions, but maybe stupid answers!!

mariauk

Thanks nodwah

I have been trying to find the answers that don`t exist, Thats why its been so difficult :rolleyes: I could have sworn I read somewhere that you feed tats with tomato feed :cool: There are no stupid answers when the question doesn`t really mean anything Thanks for taking the time :A

nodwah

Welcome!

BTW I garden by trial and error!

mariauk

Me to, its my first time If everything survives I will need to open a stall. I think I went a bit mad :eek:

nodwah

know what you mean.. Plant too many and then I'm too soft to kill off the sad runty plants, have to nurse them along too..

mariauk

It`s terrible. You feel like a proud Mother one day and then a few weeks down the line you are expected to take their heads off :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Solomon_Broad

I've never bothered feeding a potato. They seem to crop well no matter what I do. If you want to feed them, I'd be inclined to go with a food higher in phosphate than potassium, which should stimulate root growth. Tomato food will probably make them flower more.

Pentland Javelin is a first early, so they should be ready around late June/early July. Look out for the flowers, and then lift them. Like most plants, potatoes flower because it tends to be easier to disperse seed within a fruit (something that an animal will eat), that's above ground, than to try to get it to dig and then replant a tuber.

Regarding watering, just keep them moist. They don't need drowning, or drying out. There's no need to be exact.