WOW! I've actually grown a potato!!!

Hello gardeners,

I've only posted on the chicken pages before but I'm bursting with pride at my 5 yes FIVE potatoes!  Never before have I grown any, managed tomatoes but even then I haven't looked after them and only had a few.

I have realised now that with a bit more attention I could've topped up the compost and had even more of a harvest, but i'm pleased as punch with the buried treasure my son and I have just unearthed.  I was told that as my plants had flowers on they were ready to dig up.  So from only 1 rather wrinkly seed potato and a forgotten large plastic tub we have grown our lunch in the back garden.  The sweet peas are growing like mad too this year and I wish now that I have paid more attention to the tomatoes.  We have planted out courgettes too, in gro-bags, hope they survive the hens.

After having a new roof last year, the builders left some planks, (their loss eh?!) I have laid them out and they fit perfectly into a bed alongside the house, doesn't get much rain there though as it's sheltered, but plenty of sun on horrid hard clay soil, which I have only ever grown weeds in  so I feel a raised bed coming on.  If I pull my finger out will I manage to get some carrots in or is it too late?  Will they grow in a raised bed?  thought it will look better and be easier for the boys to tend too and bit of proctection from the hens, although any suggestions for added protection will be welcomed.

GOSH I chat too much!  (thanks for listening)

Happy digging everyone.

C. X

Congratulations, there's nothing quite like the taste of your first harvest 

Not too late to get carrots in, but might be worth looking for one that says it is a shorter growing season - an early or autumn variety.

Here's a chart showing sowing and harvesting times.

If the bed is more than 24" high then you are perhaps less likely to get the dreaded carrot fly, many people net against this but it can be quite expensive and perhaps worth planning out a bit more first so you get the right size etc

uh oh!  now you've done it!  you'll not stop at potatoes and tomatoes though

 

Don't worry though as plants actually want to grow and  overcome all sorts of obstacles.

And if you are worried about your beds looking a bit empty. well don't ------------ everyone starts somewhere and the most important thing is that you have started. 

We all love piccies 

I too have just dug up my first potatoes, but I have noticed that some of them have little white spots on them, that seem to rub off , is this anything to worry about.

Please could someone also tell me why the carrots that we have just dug up are all twisted round.

Nick

Congratulations Clairebeau!
It's so great getting veg straight out of the ground for eating. 

I wouldn't worry about the spots on your spuds.  I've had that before and it's not affected their storage or cooking.  Don't know what it was - if it's scabbier then it's scab but that isn't a major problem, you can just peel the worst bits off.