Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Solidthegreat on May 14, 2010, 19:48
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Im new to all this growing mularkey, having only just taken over my plot. Thought i would ask the question. Having sorted out a bit of soil, and turned it over. (And got rid of a loads of weeds!!) I have been chitting potaotes for a week or so now and wondered if it is too late to sow main crop now. In addition to this, I have not fertilised the soil as i want to get them in quickly i i can, apparently if i fertilise the soil i cant sow for 2 weeks. Any advice? :)
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If you can get hold of a bit of rotted manure or manure pellets, you can add them now and plant right away. No, it's not too late to plant as your potatoes will sprout above ground by the time frost has past and your neighbours have had to replant theirs. ;) :D The crop might mature a bit later than expected, but always better late than never.
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Get them in asap...........dig some blood fish and bone and/or some chicken manure pellets
in underneath them and they will be well away :)
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Thanks for that, Looks like a busy weekend ahead!!! Fingers crossed for a few hours of dry weather. :D
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It`s a little bit late for maincrop/late potatoes but you CAN use them as new/early potatoes. If the soil has been unused for a few years, then don`t worry about feeding.
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main crops take about 20 weeks I think so that takes us to the beginning of October, which is ok I think :)
I sure hope so as I've only just planted mine this week on my new plot :ohmy:
So don't you go worrying me David :D
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Late/maincrop potatoes should be planted late february early March. Early potatoes, early to mid March. Second early mid March to early April. .
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all very interesting but those dates are new to me and the Irish....Paddy's day planting for all if you can :lol:
But i couldn't so now will do thank you :lol: I'll let you know in October ;)
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Late/maincrop potatoes should be planted late february early March. Early potatoes, early to mid March. Second early mid March to early April. .
If you planted that early, are they still alive???
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I was thinking that, I planted my main crop mid April and am struggling already keeping the frost off them, I would hate to think what they would be like had I planted them in Feb
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First early potatoes are the fastest potatoes to grow to harvest. They can mature in as little as 7 weeks.
If you can get some seed potatoes It would be worth a try
http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/first-early-potatoes-cid403.html
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Late/maincrop potatoes should be planted late february early March. Early potatoes, early to mid March. Second early mid March to early April. .
Sorry but that is terrible advice to a beginner seeking help
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Perhaps you could add something more constructive, Stig, rather than simple criticism?
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Some gardeners often plant first earlies in tubs and barrels in late spring too :)
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My first earlies, Lady Chrystl are in plastic dustbins, and I put them in on the 10/4.
They're up to the top of the bins now but are fleeced. They are looking very good.
My maincrop have been in the ground for two weeks. I think the soil temp is as important as anything else.
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Local farm usually plants first week of april it was 2nd week on may this year and they dont seem worried they dont supply supermarkets just the locals.
I dont do main crop cause i can get em for £3.00 a bag not worth time and space but dont worry you will still get a crop.
I have planted spuds as late as July and they have still produced a harvest before x,mas.
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It`s a little bit late for maincrop/late potatoes but you CAN use them as new/early potatoes. If the soil has been unused for a few years, then don`t worry about feeding.
ok, i'm a newbie but this potato planting intrigues me!
If you plant them as you suggested will they not be ready quite close together?
From everything i've read 1st earlies take about 12 weeks, 2nd earlies take about 16 weeks and mains take about 20 weeks (all depending on variety of course). So in my tiny logical brain that means that if you plant them all at the same time you get them about 4 weeks apart. Is that not the idea?
I've planted 14 No. 1st and 2nd earlies and about 20 mains altogether (in the ground - have some earlies in bags in the greenhouse as well which will come out of the greenhouse to make room for more tomatoes when mother nature gets her act together!) in the hope that I have potatoes pretty much from mid june through to september based on the length of growing period for each that I mentioned above - have I screwed up here?
I also hope to put some more in the bags in the greenhouse when i've harvested the first lot so that i might get some potatoes in october/november as well.