Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Robin Redbreast on January 16, 2009, 20:48
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but can we have a little more info on the planting times of tatties as i am still unsure. do we plant the firsts first, then the seconds later and the maincrop a little later, or do i just put them all in at the same time and they will grow according to their consecutive times? :shock: :shock:
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Well I think you can do both, and I've certainly read conflicting advice. However, I put all mine in together last year, but before that I staggered it a bit. There are many potato experts here who will give a more definitive answer!
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1st Earlies from March to April 12" apart 18" between the rows,
2nd from Early April same spacings
Maincrop from Late April 18" apart 24" between the rows,
Earth up fortnightly :D
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I bungs mine in all at the same time :wink:
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I bungs mine in all at the same time :wink:
if i was to do that how does the growth work! :shock:
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Earlies would mature first, (they are usually grown to be harvested before mature though, as new potatoes), then second earlies, then maincrop.
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I bungs mine in all at the same time :wink:
if i was to do that how does the growth work! :shock:
Upwards usually with the green bit and down with the roots :shock:
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Late spuds have a longer growing period than earlies, so even if they all go in on the same day, the late spuds will be sort of errrr - later!
I do mine like Richy, but mainly that's because I plant so many, it's that time of the year by the time I get around to it!
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Mine all go in at the same time too and I don't bother to chit them. Chitting is soooooooooooo last year.
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so if i put them in all in one go are they more susceptible to problems or are they at the same as if i planted them at different times? :shock:
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Thread title edited by DD. to properly reflect the topic.
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I may be wrong but I read it somewhere that:-
Potatoes First Early
Should be ready 14-15 weeks after planting
Potatoes - 2nd Early
Should be ready 15-17 weeks after planting
Potatoes - Maincrop
Should be ready 17-20 weeks after planting
I planted mine between 9th to 16th April last year. I only did it over a week as it was more exhausting than I thought! :lol:
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John has a lot of information here
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potato/potato-growing-guide.php
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Mine all go in at the same time too and I don't bother to chit them. Chitting is soooooooooooo last year.
so if i dont chit them what is the effect? And thanks for everyones promt replies! :lol: :lol:
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They grow anyway, but I am sure someone will disagree. :roll: Didn't bother last year and they were great.
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so if thats the case why do they chit in the first place mmmmmmh? thats not meant to sound sarcastic either. :lol:
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Dunno. It might give them a small advantage time wise. Someone on here said they don't bother to chit and it seems others don't either so I tried it out and it worked ok.
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so ican both put them all in at the same time and not chit too. wheyheeeey!
coz i can be really lazy at times. i am all up for energy consuming it gives me more time to consume alcohol(whoohoooooo....)! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Did you read the link I posted for you alandkell ?
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yes but i dont think it explains the argument for not chitting, or did i not read enough? :shock:
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Not chitting is a bit controversial, you might be better off just googling for an answer.
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There were some trials about it recently
Earlies and second earlies benefit from chitting but main crop may not.
I chit'em all 8)
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i am still a little lost as to the total benefit of chitting do they grow better or faster or larger? :shock:
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i am still a little lost as to the total benefit of chitting do they grow better or faster or larger? :shock:
chitted spuds get a quicker crop its a head start if you like
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ok loverly thankyou everyone for your answers and info i feel much less thick now! lol. will let you know which methods i choose ande tell the results! :wink:
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If you plant potatoes that are not chitted their dormancy is not broken and if the soil is cold they may sit there for some time before they start to grow. If it very wet they may even rot.
Chitted seed has shoots with little baubles round the base of each which are developing roots. When they are planted off they go with no delay.
Chitted earlies will start to develop even if the soil is still cold, as it often is in March. This allows a root system to develop quicker and tuber formation will be sooner.
If you chit maincrop seed then they can wait until conditions are right. If it is very wet or cold there is no need to hurry with the planting. Unchitted maincrop really has to be planted to get it growing. If you delay unchitted seed will chit and unless they are in the light the chits will grow long and probably be knocked off when planting.
If you plant a chitted seed alongside an unchitted seed and dig them up after 2 weeks you will find that the chitted seed has roots and shoots whereas the unchitted seed only has shoots and no roots.
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now i am confused! as this means that if i dont chit that i have much less chance of an abundant crop am i right? :shock:
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I just had to add the following even though I risk getting stuffed back onto the naughty step.
If you chit you should/could get a better/ healthy/ frost resistant/ more abundant crop.
However if we have a good start to the season weather wise IE. no frost chitting or not chitting makes no difference. The trouble is that by the time you know what the weather is at plant out time its too late. So I always chit just in case.
For every gardener who chits there is another who does not. The trick really is in the soil preparation. Shaun/bodger/Aunty/DD/Richy and the like will get a good crop whatever for that very reason. The soil will be warm enough, it will be in good hart, and the tilth will be almost spot on.
Chitting is just the icing on the cake. :wink: :D
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Earlies are always worth chitting and also worth planting good and early. This is risk taking but new potatoes in early June are wonderful.
Given a perfect potato planting conditions in March/April then there is probably not a lot gained with maincrop. However, March/April can be wet and cold and this is when chitting gives an advantage.
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oooooooh naughty but nice i like the honesty in that answer thanks. that makes a lot of sense! :lol:
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From what I understand; first earlies, earlies and maincrop are not to do with when you plant them. It is an indication of how long they take to groew. you could plant first earlies in september for Christmas for example.
feel free to correct me as I know not what I say.... :D
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You'd have to plant much earlier than that.
These approximate growing times are for during warm weather. New spuds for Christmas have November and December to contend with.
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You'd have to plant much earlier than that.
These approximate growing times are for during warm weather. New spuds for Christmas have November and December to contend with.
It's about mid August time isn't it Dave ? never done it my self, but like you say Nov Dec would be too cold soil wise for any real growth.
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It's about that, but if you are considering it, have a look at this thread for the success to failure rate.....
http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=28169
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No not really can't see the point, my OH would like me to, if I was going to I'd grow them in tubs so I could move them into the greenhouse after Mid Sept
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Wasn't really aimed at you Rich, but the wider audience! :lol:
Personally, I think it's a lot of bother when the table's already got too much on it and there's plenty of roast & mashed tatties anyway!
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Chit and plant on Good friday even though that changes from year to year.I thought that was the rule :?
Im doing that and i will get tattys at some time. :D
I think it can all get a bit profesional and take the fun out of growing ya own and by gum i love sowing and reaping
:D
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Personally I don't believe in Good Friday thing. (Putting it midly).
In 2000 it was 21st April, last year it was 21st March - a whole month's difference, not just a couple of days!
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Personally I don't believe in Good Friday thing. (Putting it midly).
In 2000 it was 21st April, last year it was 21st March - a whole month's difference, not just a couple of days!
Plus look at the difference in the weather over the last 3 years alone. :shock:
Always hold back until the soil is warm enough and the risk of very heavy frost is gone. That bit about Good friday was before the world had Calenders and wrist watches, plus so called long range weather forcasts.
Good friday was also the first day off work, thus an excellent time to plant out for yourself. Now most of us have more time off so we can plant when we wish. :wink:
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Best guide is a soil thermometer. Take no notice of the top few inches as this will vary with the weather. Once the temperature at 5inches reaches 5 degrees C plants will grow. Better to wait for 10 degrees for tatties.
Fenmen have other ways of telling when it is time to plant.
The first is the arrival of golden plover flocks.
The second is to go and sit on your bare bum in the middle of the field for 10 minutes. If you cannot it is too cold to plant.
Dare you to try that one on your lottie!!!!
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Best guide is a soil thermometer. Take no notice of the top few inches as this will vary with the weather. Once the temperature at 5inches reaches 5 degrees C plants will grow. Better to wait for 10 degrees for tatties.
Fenmen have other ways of telling when it is time to plant.
The first is the arrival of golden plover flocks.
The second is to go and sit on your bare bum in the middle of the field for 10 minutes. If you cannot it is too cold to plant.
Dare you to try that one on your lottie!!!!
Just your elbow will do if you are a bit shy. :wink:
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Bye the bye most fen children would have been sewn into their clothes at the start of winter, and still be sewn up at around planting time. The men and women would not contemplate getting their rear ends that exposed and cold because they did not have any way of getting warm again. So I doubt if anyone ever really did test soil this way, but you never know.
Not casting a clout before May is out meant something in those cold cold days. :shock: :lol:
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Dare you to try that one on your lottie!!!!
Richy's case comes up next week! :lol:
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Dare you to try that one on your lottie!!!!
Richy's case comes up next week! :lol:
Yes and the witnesses are two 93 year old twin sisters. They were so shocked that one had a stroke....................the other one was not quick enough. 8) :wink:
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Dare you to try that one on your lottie!!!!
Richy's case comes up next week! :lol:
Yes and the witnesses are two 93 year old twin sisters. They were so shocked that one had a stroke....................the other one was not quick enough. 8) :wink:
:lol: right pair of silly beggars you pair :lol: been 40 yrs younger, I wouldn't have moved so fast :wink: