Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: billathome65 on March 28, 2011, 14:40

Title: After spuds?
Post by: billathome65 on March 28, 2011, 14:40
Had a look round to see if I can find out the answer to this question so here goes.

I have planted second earlies in the garden as I had a surplice number of seed pots. I am wondering what can go in after I harvest the potatoes?

Bill
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: TerryB on March 28, 2011, 15:26
Usually after 1st earlies but you could try French Beans or Leeks but grow them in modules to start.
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: mumofstig on March 28, 2011, 16:27
There's not much time left after 2nd earlies  :(
IMO it will be a bit late for leeks, you may get away with some speedy dwarf green beans, depends how long the warm weather lasts, like Terry says have them already growing in pots, ready to transplant. Or you could sow some Autumn King carrots.
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: billathome65 on March 28, 2011, 16:57
The seeds I sowed had 2nd early on the pack but if I harvest in about 10 weeks will this give me more scope as I was thinking leeks anyway if I will have enough time?

Cheers Bill
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: mumofstig on March 28, 2011, 17:02
They may only be marble size at 10 weeks  :(
Gently dig around under 1 plant and see if there is anything worth lifting.If not...... then it's up to you, either leave them for a bit longer or scrap them to get your leeks in!
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: mrsparkle on March 28, 2011, 20:16
Nice thread. I was wondering what I could put in after my first earliest which have already been in a week.

Would you suggest dwarf beans to fix the nitrogen and also be used as a green manure or would leeks be better?
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: TerryB on March 29, 2011, 09:53
Nice thread. I was wondering what I could put in after my first earliest which have already been in a week.

Would you suggest dwarf beans to fix the nitrogen and also be used as a green manure or would leeks be better?

Only planted leeks before and they have only grown to about 1in dia before winter.
I'm going to try the dwarf beans this year only because a friend gave me a packet of seed and my thoughts being, if I don't get any from them I can always dig them in. 
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: billathome65 on March 29, 2011, 16:28
Thanks for the feedback. Based on the information gathered I have decided to leave the spuds as a main crop and put the leeks in the raised bed which I have split in half with one side growing carrots.

Cheers Bill
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: Gandan57 on March 30, 2011, 09:21
Due to lack of space, as soon as my earlies are out I shall be planting the winter greens there. Not the proper crop rotation I know but nowhere else for them to go.
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: Zippy on March 31, 2011, 01:08
I suggest following spuds with Green Manure crop Mustard as this will harden the wire worm cysts and prevent them from hatching on future potato crops. This can then be hoed off or will die back in winter and rot down anyway.

I then follow up with Winter Tares green manure crop to keep the soil covered over winter, build nitrogen and hold the soil structure until next spring.
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: JohnB47 on March 31, 2011, 19:24
I grew winter squash in ground that became vacant when the last of the first and second earlies were lifted. I'd started the squash off in pots first, so they were a fair size and had a good start. Worked OK so I'll do that again this year.
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: alibean on March 31, 2011, 20:04
Don't know if it's right or wrong but after the spuds I cover the ground in a good few barrows of manure, then dig it in in October and plant my broad beans in that spot in November (lots of broad beans!)

When this year's broad beans come out in June / July I'll stick some cabbages, kale etc in there.
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: JayG on March 31, 2011, 20:08
I grew winter squash in ground that became vacant when the last of the first and second earlies were lifted. I'd started the squash off in pots first, so they were a fair size and had a good start. Worked OK so I'll do that again this year.

Good plan (our climate and summers aren't as good or as long as the seed catalogues would like us to believe!  :)
Title: Re: After spuds?
Post by: Paul Plots on March 31, 2011, 22:33
I grew winter squash in ground that became vacant when the last of the first and second earlies were lifted. I'd started the squash off in pots first, so they were a fair size and had a good start. Worked OK so I'll do that again this year.

Good plan (our climate and summers aren't as good or as long as the seed catalogues would like us to believe!  :)

And, unfortunately, sometimes not as pretty!  :lol: