[Missy1970]

What can I put in a bed with FE potatoes my beds are 4 x 13ft having worked out my spud spacing I have 1 row of spuds over so half a bed to fill I'm doing all the usual suspects so any advice will be greatfully received.


Thanks
Missy

[Puenktchen]

Hi

If you look in a table for mixed cultivation, you find as good partners for potatoes dwarf beans, peas, cabbage, kohlrabi and spinach. Bad partners are tomatoes, beetroot and celeriac.
Maybe this is a starting point for deciding what to put in with your spuds.

[mumofstig]

Sorry, but that doesn't seem to make sense.....tomatoes are the same family as spuds, so why would you not put them together?

[DavidT]

Because each can pass BAD diseases to the other. Keep them far apart.

[mumofstig]

Keep them far apart

No keep them together so the diseases they share are confined to one area of the rotation at a time, same as all the root family, and all the cabbage family, are kept together in the rotation plan.

Ask gardeners a question...and how many answers do you get?? 

[peapod]

I think you are both right  :blink: 

[mumofstig]

I hope that fence is strong enough peapod

[peapod]

Its been strengthened to cater for my sensitive rear 

[JayG]

Surely planting two crops which are vulnerable to the same disease (blight in this case) close together increases of the chances of them both copping it, either from the first chance encounter with the spores or by secondary infection of each other?

[mumofstig]

If it's a blight year they'll get it anyway no matter how far apart they are

you wouldn't grow shallots and onions on opposite sides of the allotment, or cabbage and brussels; carrots and parsnips are grown together ..........so why treat spuds and toms differently.... I don't get the reasoning for wanting to :blink:

[Missy1970]

Thank you for all your replies I take on board all the comments I do have to agree with mumofstig size of my plot if blight is about I dont think the same bed or next will make much difference they will both cop it.

I was looking for a place for some Toms so Toms it is (I do not wish to offend anyone who suggested otherwise ) as they are FE they will be out hopefully before blight can strike leaving room for a quick sowing of peas and/or salad leaves

Cheers
Missy

[Cavolo Nero]

"Go not to gardeners for advice, for they will say both yes and no!"

[Missy1970]

  Cavolo Nero

[JayG]

"Go not to gardeners for advice, for they will say both yes and no!"

True, but that's because very little in gardening is 100% right or wrong; often it's about playing the percentages. 

[azubah]

If it works, it was right. If it does not work, then don't do it next time.

I was told that yellowing on tomatoes was due to magnesium deficiency so I withheld nitrogen and sprayed with magnesium sulphate. The problem got worse. Next year I gave them nitrogen and had wonderful plants.