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Post by lottielady on Jan 18, 2007 20:05:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2007 20:35:58 GMT
Thanks for the reply......johnny depps ...................cool
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 18, 2007 21:33:31 GMT
Hi 1Tracey, I agree. I have raised beds which I planted some spuds in 2 years ago plus a long bed which I now use for spuds as I found it a pain to earth up the taties properly in a raised bed.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2007 21:59:01 GMT
The area I have has been grass for a long time and Im not talking lawn.....Can I cover over and kill the grass and then did it up in time to plant the potatoes out this March?
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Post by lottielady on Jan 19, 2007 22:23:30 GMT
Hi Tracy, you could cover the grass with a big sheet of black plastic now, put soil or bricks or even 4/ 6 pint milk bottles filled with water as weights so it doesn't move, and then when it's time you could cut holes and plant the spuds through it. You wouldn't have to earth them up either. This way means you will kill the grass and the ground will break up a bit as the spuds grow. Only one lot of digging when you harvest the spuds and then go on to your next choice of crop! LLx p.s you're right Johhny is cool
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 11:43:38 GMT
What a great idea........the only thing is how to hold the plastic on the ground till Im ready to plant. I am in a very open area but I am delighted with that information. Thanks.
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 20, 2007 14:19:40 GMT
Like Lottie say's I'd put soil or bricks or even 4/ 6 pint milk bottles filled with water as weights so it doesn't move.
You could use the plastic milk cartons filled with water, any old slabs etc
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 17:19:31 GMT
If I cover over the soil with plastic do I have to make a large hole so that the potatoes will get enough water when I am planting them. I know it must seem a very basic question but ..............Im basic.
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 20, 2007 17:42:12 GMT
Just cut a cross (X) in the plastic fold back the triangles that are produced and then after planting fold them back. There will be a lot of moisture trapped under the sheet which also cuts down on evaporation, so watering onto the X means the plant gets it not the air.
On the lottie I have created beds by simply putting down black plastic, when the tops are rotted on the weeds I dig it over once to remove perrennial weed roots,(the soil is very soft at this point, like digging toffee.) then I top up with home made compost and put the plastic back, the worms incorporate the compost into the soil for me.
Annual weed seeds dont germinate without light so covering the soil in this way eliminates weeding.
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Post by lottielady on Jan 20, 2007 17:54:23 GMT
I would probably do a 6 - 8 inch cross cut - the spacing between the spuds is debatable as the closer they are the smaller the spuds - so I will let someone else advise on that As they start growing you will soon be able to judge if they have enough space for you to water and you can adjust the holes in the plastic as you go. LLx
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2007 19:55:09 GMT
thanks thanks thanks. Its great to be able to ask the silly questions and get all this advice...yippie
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Post by lottielady on Jan 21, 2007 20:05:40 GMT
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 25, 2007 8:46:25 GMT
I am growing spuds for the first time ever this, OH did a few tubs years ago, but I've gone a bit mad buying seed potatoes . Have 20 Lady Christl, 5 Orla, 5 Swift, 5 Charlotte and 10 Desiree. Got far to many for the room I've got but I'm going on the theory that it's better to have to many than not enough ;D I'd wasn't going to do Maincrop when I realised I'd maybe not really got the room, but came across the 10 tuber pack Desiree in Poundland yesterday so hope I can find room now, they had another variety too (forgot the name). The Swift are said to be good for container growing Anyone know if any group can be grown in containers or is it just earlies. Fished LL's previous post out about growing in pots if anyone is tempted to try For all of you who would like to try them in containers next year these are the instructions - written by David Knapper - for us earlier this year. You can use any container that you feel is big enough. POTS IN POTS Here's a method I've tried many times, and it does work. Take a builder’s 3 gallon bucket. Drill about 20 or so smallish holes in the bottom. Cover the base with 3 inches of compost. Place 3 chitted seed potatoes (spaced out & eyes uppermost) on top of this compost. Add enough compost to cover them completely. *When the shoots emerge, cover them again with compost and so on until the bucket is full. *This repeated covering of the seed is a substitute for earthing-up in the open ground and avoids the possibility of having green inedible potatoes on the surface. Deciding when the new potatoes are ready can be a little tricky as you wouldn't want to turn them out before they are ready, a little judicious probing into the compost should reveal all. A tell sign is when the stems thicken and are no longer spindly. LL x
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2007 9:32:11 GMT
I'd recommend Amandine - second early, salad and baking spud with a wonderful flavour. Discovered accidentally when someone gave me half a dozen to try last year
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Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 11, 2007 12:52:49 GMT
I see this started back in November, and the farmshop still has Stemster, though they're looking a little sprouty now (sounds better than 'chitty') - so they keep well too...
OM
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 12, 2007 20:58:44 GMT
I saw some potatoes last week at Downtown GC marked at half price and they had more chit that tat, they looked like they were related to an Octopus ;D
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Post by jean on Apr 14, 2007 6:53:08 GMT
I usually go for Pentland Javelin as an early and Desiree for main crop, perhaps I should try some more varities next year. I will be interested to see how you all get on.
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Post by Barbara on Apr 17, 2007 18:49:28 GMT
please dont laugh, but dont spuds get flowers on them when you plant them in a container ;? i thought that was when you knew they were ready barbara
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Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 17, 2007 19:44:48 GMT
They may well do, Barbara - assuming they're 'earlies', it's usual to wait until they've flowered before digging - and container grown ones need be no different... however, part of the fun is rootling about with your hand in the compost and selectively 'picking' spuds if they feel big enough for the kitchen.
You can do that whether they've flowered or not.
When the foliage finally dies down, if you haven't picked them all, you can leave them in the compost (put the container somewhere sheltered - you don't want to maintain growing conditions) for as long as you like. I finished my Pentland Javelins at xmas.
OM.
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