Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle

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New shoot

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Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« on: May 14, 2017, 14:14 »
Well that is the question  :unsure:

They are first earlies that went in mid Feb into buckets and the foliage is about as high as an elephant's eye.  If I disturb them, that is going to be it as they are too triffid like to get back into the bucket unscathed.

Anyone else had a fertle yet ?

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victoria park

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2017, 14:33 »
I've had more than a furtle, New Shoot. I couldn't wait  :wub:
I had 5 Swifts planted in my greenhouse border on 20 January. My first furtle was on 20 April and it was a great success so I had all 5 up within the week. I could have waited until now, but what the heck.
Have now just polished off all my outdoor volunteer red duke of york that always bulk quicker than most. I wouldn't be this early with this year's though. Purely a plot cleanliness thing.
Let's close the hungry gap. I'm going to have to get a polytunnel.
« Last Edit: May 14, 2017, 14:58 by victoria park »

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sunshineband

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2017, 19:43 »
I must also confess to tipping out the bag a couple of weeks back... plenty of nice sized potatoes in there, even though there had been no sign of flowers buds yet (Charlotte)

So have a little furtle if you like New Shoot, you'll do no damage and you might have a lovely surprise
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Barry C

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2017, 08:07 »
Wish I'd not read this thread .....   :unsure:

All the sacks are doing very well, the first three that were in the greenhouse in February, first earlies, foliage is starting to look a bit sad compared with the rest.

Without nipping out in the RAIN (yipee) to check the labels, I think it was 3rd week in Feb they were planted, 2nd three were 3 weeks later.

The first three sacks are looking rather 'bulgy' ......... so now I'm tempted to have a fertle, I'm easily led  ::)

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Growster...

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2017, 09:09 »
Oh heck, I'm in a quandary now...

I popped five 'Annabelle' in each of three bags on 16th March, and the foliage is chest high on some of them, but there are no flowers yet.

The bag makers said wait until the spuds flower, and Salmo - in another post says that tubers don't normally form until flowering starts, so it's maybe a quick furtle will be on the cards, although, eight weeks doesn't seem like a long enough time...

Decisions - decisions!

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ghost61

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2017, 16:56 »
Not all varieties flower, Growster, not sure about yours - check with RHS website? 

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ghost61

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2017, 16:58 »
Just checked for you Growster, and yes, they do flower, white.

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Blewit

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2017, 20:24 »
Have a furtle. I groped a small handful of Charlottes from the lotty tunnel yesterday.

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Growster...

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #8 on: May 16, 2017, 12:14 »
Have a furtle. I groped a small handful of Charlottes from the lotty tunnel yesterday.

It sounds like you're living life to the full Blewit...

What's your secret?

;0)

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Growster...

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #9 on: May 16, 2017, 12:18 »
Just checked for you Growster, and yes, they do flower, white.

Thank you Ghost, it never occurred to me to do that, I'm having a bad day it seems..;0)

We grew Annabelle some years ago, and they were a great spud! but the bag-growing lark is beginning to take off, and if for some reason I have to stop working The Patch in a few years time, I'll just grow the first earlies like that, at home!

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I Love Spuds

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Re: Greenhouse spuds - to fertle or not to fertle
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2017, 10:49 »
I could resist no longer and emptied a sack last night! Didn't get many but they were absolutely delicious. Another month or so before they are really ready. Mine are not in the greenhouse though  ::) But in a sheltered spot and have been fleeced during cold spells.
"Every time I learn something new, it pushes old stuff out of my brain" Homer J Simpson



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