[davethespread]

has anyone tried planting maincrop in tubs,and if so what were the results? please

[Parsnip]

greenhead..........I plant my spuds as follows :-

1st early..................end Mar/Early April
2nd early.................early April/Mid April
Maincrop..................end April.

Also depends on weather !

Looks like I was seriously late with my mains this year then...no wonder they were dire 

Does anyone know how many spuds you should be able to expect per plant as I am likely to either massively over plant or underplant so I end up with just a handful

I think some of the yield is dependant on the varieties you plant.

Here's Johns guide to planting;

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potato/potato-growing-guide.php

[DavidT]

I was always taught that you plant late potatoes early and early potatoes late. Late, or maincrop, potatoes need a growing season of 16 weeks plus. While early potatoes have a growing season of about 12 weeks, so should ony go in when the ground has warmed up.

[Bluedave]

my understanding was anywhere between 2 and 10 per seed potato depending on variety and spacing. Thats just what I've read - i'm as new as can be at all this planting malarkey!

[DD.]

I think the fact that no one has replied with an average amount speaks volumes as to how the yield can vary so greatly due to so many variables.

It's not just numbers, it's size as well. With lates, I'd be disappointed with anything less than 3-4 lb a plant.

[Parsnip]

It was my first year planting spuds this, I was a bit unsure on spacing, so I asked DD....all I can say is it worked a treat...his advice....1ft between each seed spud and 2ft between rows. I planted them all in April ( towards the end)


I planted earlies, seconds and mains and had a great yield. In fact I could hardly believe the yield on my seconds ( Maris Peer) they just kept coming I gave loads away to family and friends too!

The only thing I'll change next year is the varieties, only just to try the different tastes and textures..

[DD.]

Actually it was 12" for 1st early, 15" for second early & 18" for maincrop, but the thought's there!

[Parsnip]

Actually it was 12" for 1st early, 15" for second early & 18" for maincrop, but the thought's there!

Oh maybe it was my dads advice  then...

Anyway, what's a few inches between friends...  

[mumofstig]

what's a few inches between friends

Not much to speak of

[wighty]

Don't know about a 'potato harvest' post, should have a 'potato storage post'   Put my main crop in two hessian sacks in the concrete floored shed, went to get some last Wednesday and moved the sack which 'dribbled' on my foot.  Discovered the bottom 4" of the sacks were soaked so spread all the potatoes out on newspaper to dry out.  Only took four days for them all to turn green.  Will all be going to the dump this weekend along with the old lounge carpet.

[Parsnip]

what's a few inches between friends

Not much to speak of

 

[mumofstig]

Don't know about a 'potato harvest' post, should have a 'potato storage post'   Put my main crop in two hessian sacks in the concrete floored shed, went to get some last Wednesday and moved the sack which 'dribbled' on my foot.  Discovered the bottom 4" of the sacks were soaked so spread all the potatoes out on newspaper to dry out.  Only took four days for them all to turn green.  Will all be going to the dump this weekend along with the old lounge carpet.

In John's book The Vegetable Year, he says that if the green potatoes are

otherwise perfect, store them in complete darkness and in a month or so they will no longer be green

Surely worth a try Wighty? rather than throw them after all the work......

[wighty]

Sorry Mum but after even those few days took me to peel 6 to get three to use. I am amazed at how quickly it took hold.  We put them on newspaper to dry them out with newspaper on top to stop light.   What do the commercial farmers spray with to stop the potatoes exposed to light in the supermarkets from going green I now wonder?

[DD.]

They simply don't expose them to light, surely?

[Arnfields]

greenhead..........I plant my spuds as follows :-

1st early..................end Mar/Early April
2nd early.................early April/Mid April
Maincrop..................end April.

Also depends on weather !

Looks like I was seriously late with my mains this year then...no wonder they were dire 

Does anyone know how many spuds you should be able to expect per plant as I am likely to either massively over plant or underplant so I end up with just a handful

I think some of the yield is dependant on the varieties you plant.

Here's Johns guide to planting;

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potato/potato-growing-guide.php

Oooo, thanks, link is very useful