Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: seeNeutral on May 31, 2009, 08:37

Title: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: seeNeutral on May 31, 2009, 08:37

Hope someone can advise me, I planted my first earlies towards the end of March in GrowSacks, and they were doing well up until the other week after some really strong wind which broke a few branches off. I removed the broken foliage and thought all would be ok.

However some leaves towards the bottom of the plant are yellowing, and there are no signs of flowers on the plant yet.

Does anyone know if it sounds like there is there something wrong?

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: JulesJ on May 31, 2009, 12:02

I'm in exactly the same position with the yellowing. I'm keeping on top of the snails and watering and hoping for the best. My first earlies went into bags on 7th March (Lady Christl) and 29th March (Belle de Fontenay) in the greenhouse and moved outside mid-April. My notes say they should flower after 10-13 weeks so you may have a few weeks to go yet.

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: Yorkie on May 31, 2009, 14:19

They're probably hungry, can you add a fertiliser?

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: seeNeutral on May 31, 2009, 17:03

I haven't got a potato fertiliser, but I have got multi purpose fertiliser, would that do?

If not I can pop down the local garden centre tomorrow. Any suggestions on which one?

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: Yorkie on May 31, 2009, 17:05

I'd have thought a multi-purpose one would do

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: Aunt Sally on May 31, 2009, 17:07

Multipurpose fertiliser would be fine seeNeutral !

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: seeNeutral on May 31, 2009, 18:17

Thanks for confirming that with me, I'll go out there later and add some fertiliser.

Thanks for all your help.

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: philsmith1967 on May 31, 2009, 20:24

Cold winds and frost can cause the leaves to yellow.

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: seeNeutral on May 31, 2009, 20:31

Well we have definitely had some cold winds lately, I have added some fertiliser this evening. Keep my fingers crossed and see what happens.  :ohmy:

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: SG6 on May 31, 2009, 22:11

The leaves above will be blocking light to the lower leaves. Also the early leaves may have reached the end of their useful life to the plant. So will be discarded. Unless there is excessive yellowing and withering I wouldn't worry greatly.

A feed is a good idea as you want potatoes and the plant itself tends to get a fair size so additional food will be useful.

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: Yorkie on May 31, 2009, 22:24

I have never seen yellowing leaves on spuds in the ground only 8 weeks after planting.  I suggested feed as the spuds are being grown in compost, which only contains enough nutrients for about 6-8 weeks, so would run the risk of being exhausted by now.

Also make sure that you water enough, to help the tubers swell.

Title: Re: First Earlies yellowing leaves
Post by: seeNeutral on June 01, 2009, 09:08

When you say to water enough, should I be watering quite heavily? The sacks are in a fairly sunny spot, and I give them a good soak every three - four days, but to be honest have restrained from watering too much in case I do more harm than good.

Your advice would be most welcome.

Many thanks