[Iain@JBA]

Well I keep getting asked for more info so my plan is:
Step by step instructions for:
1)Preparing seed potatoes for Chitting
2) preparing potato bed
3) planting the spuds and when to plant
4) earthing up
5) disease inspection and action to be taken
6) when to harvest and how to store them safely

Container growing
1) preparing seed potatoes for chitting
2) preparing the container and list what you need
3) planting spuds in the bag etc
4) when and how to harvest

Exhibition growing

1) preparing seed potatoes for chitting
2) preparing the container and list what you need ( special mixes)
3) planting spuds in the bag etc
4) when and how to harvest

Christmas Harvest/ August planting
1) preparing seed potatoes for chitting
2) preparing the container and list what you need
3) planting spuds in the bag etc
4) when and how to harvest

I bet that has put you all to sleep but that is the sort of thing I will do for people free of charge so that they can make the most of their spuds.

[garddwr]

Thanks and no Iain I am still very much awake and you are very kind going to all this effort.

Thanks very much

[MoreWhisky]

I for one always appreciate your potatoe advice Ian.

[Bombers]

Same here, and for what it's worth, I think a video is a great way of showing 'how to do it'

[Iain@JBA]

Thanks for that. Just out of interest, (as an expert), what varieties are you growing for yourself this year?

This year I am growing spuds in my grower bags and exhibition grower bags.
I plan to reveal all my top tips for success
Here come the big list now:
Kestrel
Pixie
Bonnie
Celine
Ulster Sceptre
Dunluce
Pentland Dell
Maxine
Edgecote Purple
Ulster Classic
Osprey
Winston
Nadine
There are another 14 I am doing in my Garden but they are secret and 60 that we are growing to produce seed. It is a lot of work.

[MoreWhisky]

Earlier pottatoes needing high nitrogen was mentioned does this mean my compost would be wasted on my potatoe plot? sorry if supid question.

[Iain@JBA]

Is there anything you would like a video of?
I maybe over looking something because I think it is obvious but could be a crucial detail that you need?

[Iain@JBA]

Earlier pottatoes needing high nitrogen was mentioned does this mean my compost would be wasted on my potatoe plot? sorry if supid question.

The thing to remember is that nitrogen grows what is above the soil which is the Haulm.
Phosphate/potash grows what is below the soil.
The balance for potatoes is 1-1-1.5 so an Ideal fertilizer would be 6-6-10 or 4-4-7 or my stuff which is 13-13-21 for example.

[Bombers]

Is there anything you would like a video of?
I maybe over looking something because I think it is obvious but could be a crucial detail that you need?

"A picture paints a thousand words" as the saying goes. We interpret the written word, in our own way. Moving pictures however, can reveal the tiniest of detail, which can otherwise be overlooked. (Blimey, did I write that?) :blink:

[MoreWhisky]

on my potatoe plot? sorry if supid question.
[/quote]

The thing to remember is that nitrogen grows what is above the soil which is the Haulm.
Phosphate/potash grows what is below the soil.
The balance for potatoes is 1-1-1.5 so an Ideal fertilizer wo

Earlier pottatoes needing high nitrogen was mentioned does this mean my compost would be wasted on my potatoe plot? sorry if supid question.

The thing to remember is that nitrogen grows what is above the soil which is the Haulm.
Phosphate/potash grows what is below the soil.
The balance for potatoes is 1-1-1.5 so an Ideal fertilizer would be 6-6-10 or 4-4-7 or my stuff which is 13-13-21 for example.

Ah i see you have a very good web site Ian  never noticed b4  do you sell this 13-13-21 fertilizer on yur site as i cant find it?

[Iain@JBA]

I can't sell the powerful stuff as it is all seperate and mixed by a machine as we plant the spuds. You should get on fine with the Q4.
Glad you like the site.

[Salmo]

The potato fertilisers that are sold in garden centres all have high potash which,as has been mentioned by other contributors, is what potatoes need. The potash is usually in the form of sulphate of potash which is supposed to give better quality crops than the cheaper muriate of potash used in growmore and other balanced fertilisers.

Clay soils tend to be rich in potash and often low in phosphate, whereas light sandy soils tend to be low in potash and often high in phosphates.

It is quite difficult to build up potash levels using organic fertilisers without supplying the same level of nitrogen which the majority of root crops and legumes do not require.

I have light sandy soil and I use a base dressing of potato fertiliser on everything.

[andreadon]

how essential is earthing up?

does it increase the number of potatoes you get?

I have never done it, and i usually get about 3 or 4 pots per stalk - they're usually really big though.

[Aidy]

Interesting reading this thread, and more so as it appears my seed spuds are JBA's, bought from my local GC. So I will ask for Iain's opinion, A very good friend of mine is Irish and his father was a spud grower too, now he always insisted to feed the plant above the seed spud based on the root growth is from the chits and hardly anything grows from below which to me makes sense and I have for many years done as advised to great effect, so whats your thoughts?

[Iain@JBA]

Andreadon- Earthing up prevents your potatoes going green.

Aidy- You want the root system to go down and establish a deep root as this will benefit the plant in dry summers. The potatoes will grow towards the surface with the energy/ feeding from the soil. We place our nitrogen below the potatoes and the potash is broad cast on the soil before hand. but in the past all the fertilizer was placed below the potato.
You can spray seaweed onto tha Haulms to help thing but we found it to be of little benefit. Does that help?