I planted a spud yesterday..

Sideways · « **on:** December 22, 2008, 10:27 »

..what do you think the chances are of it surviving and producing a crop in the Spring?

I was pottering on the plot yesterday when my daughter came up to me with a potato she had found on a neighbours compost heap, it had three shoots at one end and looked in fairly good shape considering the frost etc.

We planted it and will see what happens.

Iain@JBA · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2008, 12:28 »

If it wasnt frosted on the heap and if you have planted it deep enough then it should survive and grow you a crop.

DD. · « **Reply #2 on:** December 22, 2008, 13:31 »

As above, no reason why not.

If you think about it, the ones you miss the previous year are quite happy lurking under the ground to grow somewhere awkward the next year, (In my peas in my case!).

I had an excellent unexpected crop of Pink Fir Apples this year that had sat underground all winter.

robbodaveuk · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2008, 13:52 »

I am sure that potatoes survived in the wild throughout winter before we took to growing them for food

. So planted deep enough there should be no problem and as DD says how many of us have had missed spuds come up the following year. It would be interesting to me and I am sure many others, to see the outcome of the planting.

Robbo.

cawdor2001 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2008, 14:25 »

just take care when they come up in the Spring as if there is a frost on the unprotected tops it will take the tops out.

Cawdor

Salmo · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2008, 16:41 »

Just think for a moment why that potato was on the compost heap and not used in the kitchen?

Did the crop have blight or some virus? Will it develop and spread to your potato crop next year?

No waste potatoes should go on your heap. Send them to landfill or council recycling. Better still feed them to the chickens.

Same goes for old carrots which might contain carrot fly lavae.

Sorry to sound a spoilsport but plot hygiene is important.

yummy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2008, 21:08 »

We have had unexpected potatoes come up from previous years/plot owners.

On the subject of potatoes... if I have seed potatoes delivered now what should I do with them to keep them nice til February when TandM say I should chit and plant em out please?

DD. · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2008, 21:19 »

Quote from: "yummy"

On the subject of potatoes... if I have seed potatoes delivered now what should I do with them to keep them nice til February when TandM say I should chit and plant em out please?

This thread may help...

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=27427

yummy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2008, 22:55 »

Thanks

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