Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: New shoot on March 26, 2020, 08:46
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Mine are and it was earlier than I was going to do it, but I figured they would be better in the ground. So there I was early doors on Monday and the whole lot are planted.
Hopefully I can get up there to earth them up, but if the tops get slightly frosted at any point because of increased restrictions on movement, they will recover. Better than them being stuck in the shed.
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No, other than a few earlies in pots in the greenhouse.
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Not yet. I was going to get them in early in anticipation of a more stringent lockdown but no compost left at the plot shop (I was going to grow exclusively in buckets). Could possibly argue a trip to a local suppliers was for food (in 3-4mths time) or stick them in the ground or wait to see if the site's order for more turns up. 3rd option favoured at present.
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My earlies and early maincrop are in as of Tuesday- earlier than I'd planned and yes it was because I am worried about lockdown preventing me getting to the allotment. I'm hoping to get the rest of the maincrops in on Saturday.
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I normally only do a tiny amount of first earlies as a novelty for summer salads, but given current circumstances I've bought some maincrops to go in as well as a precaution. I'll probably plant out next week if it stays dry.
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not yet plenty of time mite set some early potatoes at the weekend in pots the grounds not ready for the lattes spuds and not going to worry to much about planing the late crop for at least another week because the weather forecast says its going to get colder this weekend am i rite in saying for planting to harvest fourteen weeks?
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I wondered if I should wait til after the cold weather at the weekend.
Have 2 lots of second earlies and have pile of rabbit manure with bedding so think I will plant this week and cover with rabbit poo and bedding.
Hopefully will protect from frost.
There is the underlying worry that may be stopped from going to allotments :(
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Mine are in 30l pots in the garage. I normally grow them in the ground, but giving them a try in pots this year.
If the current crisis continues (and if they grow) I'll probably give them away to a few people around where I live who will probably struggle to get to the shops.
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Mine are in 30l pots in the garage. I normally grow them in the ground, but giving them a try in pots this year.
If the current crisis continues (and if they grow) I'll probably give them away to a few people around where I live who will probably struggle to get to the shops.
That's a lovely idea , once they have tried your home grown produce they won't want the shop bought veg! :D :D
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I’ve made a decision to grow my spuds in bags at home in garden because of risk of lock down preventing me visiting the plot. Also bearing in mind that I should stay home as much as possible. That’s also because I have found I get less slug damage in bags. To date I have only started 4 bags but planning a further 9 bags once through the cold spell this weekend.
Cheers HH
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No and won't be in for at least a couple of weeks. I don't see the point in putting something in the ground and then worrying if it is going to be destroyed by harsh weather. Better to wait and get good growing weather. If they go in second week in April when they do come through the threat of frost should be past.
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Not yet hopefully all going in on Sunday
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I have my first early's in bags in the tunnel.
Hope they will be okay!
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They should be fine bud
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I normally sow 2nd weekend of April but with the mad world currently I decided to get them in just incase we are full lockdown for a few weeks.
The farmers around here normally plant early May, last frost date is 13th May.
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I have put mine in a couple of weeks early in anticipation of further restrictions on going out to the allotment. I don't think the danger is of frost now - there is no foliage and the temperatures won't be massively below freezing if there is a frost. I think the bigger danger is of a late frost in May, when they will have foliage.
If I can't get to the site to earth them up, they may take a hit. Hopefully it won't be a big one and they go through it with just a slight reduction in yield.
I think that is worth the risk compared with lots of chitting potatoes going to waste with nowhere to put them come mid April and possibly no crop at all.
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I've put a few in pots at home and will be putting the remaining in at the plot this coming week. Earlier than I'd like but can't see anything other than stricter restrictions coming sometime soon.
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Said I was not going to but I put in some Charlotte today. The weather is so nice you cannot help yourself :lol:
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I have got my early potatoes planted yesterday. I am planning to leave the maincrop for a couple of weeks (hoping visiting the allotment isn't prohibited by then). I am catching up after losing time in February to appalling weather, and am preparing one bed at a time when on the plot. I've got just over a third of the beds weeded and spread with manure.
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Mine are in, first & second earlies, decided they are best in the ground in the current situation. Also found some volunteers from last season's bed, already up to 6 inches high, and thought a few extra plants might be useful this year so transplanted them into a fresh bed too.
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I’ve made a decision to grow my spuds in bags at home in garden because of risk of lock down preventing me visiting the plot. Also bearing in mind that I should stay home as much as possible. That’s also because I have found I get less slug damage in bags. To date I have only started 4 bags but planning a further 9 bags once through the cold spell this weekend.
Cheers HH
Are you using just standard compost/grow bags? I've started a few in big plastic tubs, but have a couple of grow bags I could use.
Edit to clarify quote
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I’m hedging my bets and getting in some in. I’ve got more than I need (I don’t need even the smallest bags you can buy) so I’ll put some in now, and see how they are looking. Then if they look sad, I can put more in later or give some away to a neighbours. I’ve already given some away, as a newbie neighbour has taken on a plot and doesn’t know what to buy, so I said she could have a couple of everything I’ve go to try out.
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put in 2 rows of charlottes today and one of duke of York....like someone else mentioned, probably going to do better than if left in the shed chitting :nowink:.I still have spares if time permits or these don't work out.. if we are stopped from going down to the plot, at least they are in and will have to just see what happens.
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I have just finished putting in my early spuds in bags. FYI I have used 4 specially designed bags but the majority are just in standard 50 litre compost bags with the sides rolled down to give extra rigidity. ( up ended so they are approximately 2 feet high) I learnt this technique from my neighbour at the plot and they crop just as well as in dedicated bags. In fact the compost bags are more robust than the dedicated bags after a year.
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I planted in pots the last of last years potatoes last week thinking I didnt want to break isolation to buy seed potatoes. Then I remembered how bad the blight was last year and binned em all in a panic. Paid an eye watering amount for a few mail order spuds instead, guess they will go in when they arrive.
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Yes as of yesterday I got all of them in at the plot, either I slipped up & didn’t buy as many as last year of I’ve totally c@cked up & planted far too close together. Won’t tell you what I’m putting my money on lol. I can get some more from the Allotment shop as there are some left & ive got a key lol.
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I planted all my Charlotte and my 5 Sharpes Express on the 4th March....come out of house isolation Monday so will go and see if they are doing anything at all.
Still have my maincrops to go in, will do in the next 2 weeks, maybe next week
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They are now.
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Mine went in yesterday, I was delighted how workable the soil was too!
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Did mine yesterday/today
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Ours are all in.
A bit early for the main crops. But who knows how much longer we’ll be permitted to visit the allotment sites.
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Mine are in at the allotment - yesterday’s job. Also some in bags at home in case we can’t go to the plot.
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Ours have tiny chitts on them but it's supposed to rain on Friday so we're planting out from tomorrow.
How big do the chitts need to be? It's warm today but there was ice on a bucket of water 3 days ago so we've not been in a rush. but the external thermometer seems to have been turned up.
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Our four spuds (not four varieties) went in the spud bag yesterday.
It's such a shame I've forgotten what type they are ! ! !
Cheers, Tony.
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Our four spuds (not four varieties) went in the spud bag yesterday.
It's such a shame I've forgotten what type they are ! ! !
Cheers, Tony.
I've forgotten my varieties too!
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Yes the last 14 Charlotte’s went in today with help from my little granddaughter. There’s still a third of the bed left but I don’t think I’ll fill it with anymore, I know there are some at the store that I could get.
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Our Charlotte's in bags in greenhouse today , warm work . Main crop to do.
Last year they went in at end of April early May .
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I wasn't going to put spuds in this year because although they've always done well, they take up a lot of precious space - plus I'm in Ireland. We have spuds in Ireland! However in view of the current situation I've decided to pop 2 or 3 supermarket spuds that are chitting into one of my beds. I'll probably put them in at the weekend.
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When I went to the plot yesterday I noticed the first tiny potato leaf starting to break the soil. I've only planted first earlies this year, so I hope they survive.
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I wasn't going to put spuds in this year because although they've always done well, they take up a lot of precious space - plus I'm in Ireland. We have spuds in Ireland! However in view of the current situation I've decided to pop 2 or 3 supermarket spuds that are chitting into one of my beds. I'll probably put them in at the weekend.
It is always inadvisable to plant supermarket potatoes. There are strict plant hygiene rules about certified virus-free seed tubers, and supermarket potatoes that are sold for eating are not certified virus-free.
If you are planting at home and are not near an allotment site then the risk is limited as it's only to your own crops. But if you plan to plant them at an allotment site then you are jeopardising the health of everyone else's crops.
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Got all my Charlotte potatoes in yesterday.
Planning on putting Kestrels in today.
At least if can't get to plot then they can manage without me ;)
Really like these types as Charlotte's lovely clean potato and Kestrels make lovely baked potatoes.
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Apart from a few surplus to full rows, finished planting yesterday. Don't like to jump the gun and start too early as we are far from the danger of an odd frost, in fact we are forecast one on Monday night, so feel vindicated! It's a lesson that's very quickly learned.
Have popped in:
First Early
Lady Christl
Belle de Fontenay
Second Early:
Charlotte
Nadine
Early Maincrop:
Merlin
Maincrop:
Maxine
Maris Piper
Harmony
Desiree
Sarpo Mira
Manitou
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When I went to the plot yesterday I noticed the first tiny potato leaf starting to break the soil. I've only planted first earlies this year, so I hope they survive.
Looking at the forecast - you're going to need to cover those up for Monday night.
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My Charlotte's are just starting to appear above the soil, which is nice! I am maybe tempting fate but we would normally be past a frost now as the forecast for the next fortnight shows a minimum temperature of 10C and I have never known a frost after the third week in April.
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Only room for one zigzagged double row of potatoes - this year it's Kestrel.
Planted them yesterday (spaced exactly as planned at the start of the row, bit closer together towards the end - might have got my sums wrong! :unsure: :lol:)
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Planted them yesterday (spaced exactly as planned at the start of the row, bit closer together towards the end - might have got my sums wrong! :unsure: :lol:)
That's how all my rows turn out :lol: :lol:
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Wasn't going to put any in this year but with lockdown looming and the idiots clearing out the supermarkets I managed to get Charlotte's which I planted into pots in the poly tunnel about 3 weeks ago. When I was out on Thursday for essentials I picked up some Desiree which I hope to get in today, again in pots. I've given up putting them in the ground too many slugs here!
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Our's are in today!
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I wasn't going to put spuds in this year because although they've always done well, they take up a lot of precious space - plus I'm in Ireland. We have spuds in Ireland! However in view of the current situation I've decided to pop 2 or 3 supermarket spuds that are chitting into one of my beds. I'll probably put them in at the weekend.
It is always inadvisable to plant supermarket potatoes. There are strict plant hygiene rules about certified virus-free seed tubers, and supermarket potatoes that are sold for eating are not certified virus-free.
If you are planting at home and are not near an allotment site then the risk is limited as it's only to your own crops. But if you plan to plant them at an allotment site then you are jeopardising the health of everyone else's crops.
Don't worry, my veggie beds are in my own garden. I don't normally use supermarket spuds, but not only am I self-isolating and therefore not able to go out to source tubers, but I also only wanted to plant a few, so wouldn't want to buy a bagful. :)
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Managed to get three rows of Charlottes in today.
So pleased have wanted to get a few in for early salad/new potatoes.
at least a month later than usual.
weather was to wet earlier.
then no time!
wish I had more tubers to plant. may have to look in wilk when in work tues. necessity???
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Only room for one zigzagged double row of potatoes
Never thought of planting them like that before … hmmm, not a bad idea for narrow-ish beds :wub:
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Got mine in at various stages, some planted back in February and under polythene and some only planted last week so should have a nice prolonged harvest. Earliest are Rocket, followed by Arran Pilot and Pentland Javelin. Bit labour intensive if there’s frost forecast but more than worth it for extra early new potatoes!
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Only room for one zigzagged double row of potatoes
Never thought of planting them like that before … hmmm, not a bad idea for narrow-ish beds :wub:
Obviously I don't get as many spuds in a zigzag row as I would in 2 single rows of the same length, but I save a worthwhile strip of soil which would otherwise be needed for earthing up each row separately.