Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: GaryH on May 01, 2008, 11:01

Title: Potatoes
Post by: GaryH on May 01, 2008, 11:01

I am new to garadening since moving house to a bigger garden.
My plots are 2 and only approx 2-3 foot x 4ft long.
Size is due to me wanting a flower bed as well, but have to start somewhere.
Chitted some potatoes in March and then planted at the end of March.
These potatoes were bought in a garden centre, so as my first I was very excited.

They are very big and I am chuffed.

I have been told to wait until they flower.

Once flowered, how long do I wait before I have a look for spuds.

Thanks(http://[img]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/cocnee/P1010656.jpg)[/IMG]

Title: Potatoes
Post by: Kiwi on May 01, 2008, 11:03

Hi there, I'm not sure if all types are the same, but when I grow potatoes after they flower the stalks all die back - then I dig them up and the potatoes are big.

Title: Potatoes
Post by: DD. on May 01, 2008, 12:53

The first question is 'what variety?'.

If they are an early variety, do not wait for the foliage to die down if you want tasty new spuds.

When they've flowered, scrape away a bit of the top soil & see what lies beneath. If the spuds are big enough to use - get the fork out!

And don't forget to hill them up, unless you want green spuds!

Title: Potatoes
Post by: gobs on May 01, 2008, 18:55

They look a tray of basil, if you don't mind me saying, how close did you plant them?

Earth up well, as DD says, if they are very close, you have to do this as a block, tricky will be not to miss the inside. :wink:

Title: Potatoes
Post by: Ann on May 01, 2008, 23:46

Quote from: "gobs"

They look a tray of basil, if you don't mind me saying, how close did you plant them?

:wink:

Thats what I was just thinking, I have never seen potatoes looking like those.