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Post by snowowl on Jan 6, 2011 16:43:17 GMT
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 6, 2011 20:48:18 GMT
I am picking up a plastic dustbin that has holes in the bottom that someone grew tatties in last year, they are moving to a place with a bigger garden so they won't need it anymore.
I love freecycle ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 7, 2011 6:45:35 GMT
Snowowl, last year was my 1st successful year so I'm a novice too. ;D MRH an old bin would be perfect for growing a good crop of potatoes, well done.  |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 7, 2011 9:33:17 GMT
I picked it up this morning and it looks huge...now I need to know how many seed potatoes I can put in it  Last year was my first year at growing them too ;D |
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Post by carolann on Jan 7, 2011 9:51:08 GMT
I will wait till the middle of Jan to go to the GC because they usually have a Christmas sale till then.
How wide is it at the top Missy? if its just like a nornal dustbin then I would put about 10 in it, are you just putting soil in the bottom then the spuds and back filling to the top or are you doing it in layers? I have tried both ways and I used RF's way last year of back filling to the top and the result was just the same as the other way. It all depends which type you are planting, this year I am just going for Salad and second earlies as the main crop dont do very well for me in containers maybe it the northern weather ;D
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 7, 2011 12:30:35 GMT
I thought last year that the amount of space the main crop took did'nt really justify the result.They did really break down the soil in the biggest of my beds at the allotment 'tho. This year I'll be growing something else there and do my spuds in bags or containers. Like you Carol I'll be going for the earlier or salad ones this year.  |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 7, 2011 14:19:23 GMT
Its like a normal plastic dustbin Carolann....I backfill to the top too, can't be doing with all the faffing about keep topping it up!
I did 2 types of salad ones last year, I might try Nicola if I can get them this year and Charlotte.
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 7, 2011 20:07:27 GMT
Good find MRH.
I'm only doing earlies and second earlies this year too.
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 7, 2011 20:22:01 GMT
I still dont understand what that means Jas...earlies and 2nd earlies |
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 7, 2011 20:25:06 GMT
This is a good explaination MRH - it's from the BBC...
•There are dozens of different potato varieties, usually described as early, second early and maincrop potatoes.These names indicate when they crop and also give you an idea of the space you'll need, how closely and when they can be planted.
•You should concentrate on the earlier types if you're short of space, and it's also worth remembering that earlies are less likely to encounter pest problems as they're lifted so much earlier in the year.
•Second earlies take 16 to 17 weeks to mature after planting, so you should be able to harvest them from very late June through to the start of August.
•Maincrops are ready 18 to 20 weeks after planting, so they can be lifted usually from July through to October. Maincrops take up the most space in the garden, but they tend to be the best varieties to grow if you want some for storage.
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 7, 2011 20:28:59 GMT
MRH, 1st and 2nd earlies and salad potatoes crop early and are the traditional "New" potatoes. They don't store very well. One just crops earlier than the other even if they're planted at the same time, 1 just takes a bit longer to grow or mature. Main crop come in late summer and are bigger and store quite well. These are the sort that are available for the rest of the year. Hope this helps. |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 7, 2011 20:30:45 GMT
so...basically they take 100days from planting to harvesting, last year I only planted once and was still harvesting them a month or so after the 100 days...
right so are they labelled as 2nd earlies?
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Post by Ladygardener on Jan 7, 2011 20:31:54 GMT
The times are just estimates, it depends on your soil and the weather and growing conditions etc....
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 7, 2011 21:14:32 GMT
If you google earlies and second earlies you will get an idea which potatoes are which MRH or if you get a catalogue like Mr Fothergill's they will be in order usually starting with the choice of earlies, then second earlies, then maincrop.
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 7, 2011 21:15:53 GMT
Phew this is hard work...  |
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 7, 2011 21:20:16 GMT
;D
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Post by isabella on Jan 8, 2011 6:51:25 GMT
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Post by farmersboy on Jan 8, 2011 8:32:01 GMT
I never bother to order,my local GC has plenty of the ones i need,Swift,Maris Bard,and my main crop,Picaso
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Post by carolann on Jan 8, 2011 9:04:25 GMT
I usually buy from the GC because they have the ones which grow best in our area but I have bought some from T&M which where International Kidney but only because the GC had sold out, think I may just take a trip there this weekend just to have a look whats in ;D
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Post by isabella on Jan 8, 2011 10:05:41 GMT
We used to buy ours from a local nursery but they have closed down  I can't get the varieties we like locally so this year have ordered some FB - I agree with you about Picasso - we grew it for the first time last year and had a brilliant, healthy crop |
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Post by andy on Jan 8, 2011 10:13:13 GMT
has anybody grown "international kidney" aka jersey Royals ?
Any good ?
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 8, 2011 10:13:40 GMT
Definitely going to try a few Picasso then - wasn't going to do any maincrop after last year but will see how they do.
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Post by Dutchy on Jan 8, 2011 10:51:38 GMT
Before I forget. I found this site and I think the spud loving creatures on here might like to have a look as it tells when and where you can get heritage seed potatoes. www.potato-days.net/ |
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Post by farmersboy on Jan 8, 2011 11:34:30 GMT
has anybody grown "international kidney" aka jersey Royals ? Any good ? Never grown them,but have bought and eaten them,dont know what all the fuss about them is,didnt like them,didnt taste like new pots,but maybe if you had them fresh from your garden they would be better |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 8, 2011 12:18:38 GMT
has anybody grown "international kidney" aka jersey Royals ? Any good ? I grew them last year they were very tasty....... |
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Post by Auricula on Jan 12, 2011 10:38:44 GMT
Cornish new potatoes are best ;D ;D
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Post by farmersboy on Jan 12, 2011 12:22:17 GMT
They are Auricula,but they dont come quite as early as the Jerseys ;D
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Post by Auricula on Jan 12, 2011 20:31:02 GMT
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Post by Jasmine on Jan 12, 2011 20:46:27 GMT
You could always try some in a tub Auricula - you never know - it could turn out like Christmas before December 12th - quite fun after all!! ;D |
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Post by Missredhead on Jan 12, 2011 20:53:52 GMT
;D ;D ;D
I've not seen those Auricula...
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