Newbie question on growing potatoes

moretvicar · « **on:** March 14, 2012, 13:53 »

Hi All.
Not a complete newbie as such but just aquired first allotment

and am after some advice on growing spuds in a bed system.
What would be your advice on spacings for a "typical" 4ft wide bed?

Second question, just ordered some seed, ETA one week - is it worth chitting earlies now, or should I plant them straight away?
Ta
Nick

Goosegirl · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2012, 14:41 »

I use a 4ft bed though I do have trouble earthing up two rows lengthwise. My D-I-Law was a farm labourer and they never chitted them but used to plant them deep and earth up at the same time. Spacings I have used before have been 12-15", depending on variety.

aelf · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2012, 14:52 »

I agree, you will just fit 2 rows into a 4' wide bed. I plant mine 12" apart and 8" deep and earth up as they show. I think the jury is still out on chitting - some say you do, some say you don't

Ice · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2012, 16:14 »

I have 8'x4' raised beds and get 28 potatoes in by planting seven rows of four spuds across the width. With lots of manure and water I've always had a good crop. I earth up by adding more manure and compost. Werks fer me.

JayG · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2012, 17:04 »

Given that many buy their seed spuds from garden centres which insist on stocking them from the beginning of January, chitting is more of a necessity than an option!

The spuds have to sprout before they can grow so it seems pretty likely that a chitted potato will be up and running before an unchitted one, but in my opinion it's not worth actually delaying planting just to chit earlies (or any others.)

MyAchingBack · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2012, 12:17 »

Quote from: Ice on March 14, 2012, 16:14

I have 8'x4' raised beds and get 28 potatoes in by planting seven rows of four spuds across the width. With lots of manure and water I've always had a good crop. I earth up by adding more manure and compost. Werks fer me.

I have a plot 8'x4' and am going to plant British Queens. Will this spacing work for me or will I run out of soil earthing up?

JayG · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2012, 12:32 »

Quote from: MyAchingBack on March 20, 2012, 12:17

Quote from: Ice on March 14, 2012, 16:14
I have 8'x4' raised beds and get 28 potatoes in by planting seven rows of four spuds across the width. With lots of manure and water I've always had a good crop. I earth up by adding more manure and compost. Werks fer me.

I have a plot 8'x4' and am going to plant British Queens. Will this spacing work for me or will I run out of soil earthing up?

That technique and spacing also requires the "earthing up" to be done by adding additional manure and compost (the "rows" are only 1 foot apart which means there is no soil in between the rows to earth up with.)

I just about get away with spacing my rows only a little over 2' apart - the spuds are planted in trenches, then some of the excavated soil used to cover them up - I can subsequently earth up at least twice from the between-row soil, but it takes a certain amount of precision work with the draw hoe!

(If space wasn't at a premium I'd space the rows nearer to 3' apart and make life much easier for myself!)

gavinjconway · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2012, 12:52 »

Your earlies can go in from about now onwards dependent on future frost conditions... and it would seem pointless chitting for a few weeks when they could be in the ground.. I'd just put them in now if your frost belt is sort of over in 6 weeks or so. My FIL never chits at all and has grown spuds for 30 years. He also always just digs a trench a foot deep, shoves a handful of potato fertilizer, plants and then covers and then also pulls up the soil from the sides to make a ridge about a foot high. He then forgets about them for a few months till they are needing a bit of feeding which he plonks some on the ridge, and lets the rain take it down. No need for earthing up at all.. It saves a lot of time and effort later on. His spacing is at least 2' apart so your 4' can just get 2 rows in..

MyAchingBack · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2012, 16:13 »

Quote from: gavinjconway on March 20, 2012, 12:52

Your earlies can go in from about now onwards dependent on future frost conditions... and it would seem pointless chitting for a few weeks when they could be in the ground.. I'd just put them in now if your frost belt is sort of over in 6 weeks or so. My FIL never chits at all and has grown spuds for 30 years. He also always just digs a trench a foot deep, shoves a handful of potato fertilizer, plants and then covers and then also pulls up the soil from the sides to make a ridge about a foot high. He then forgets about them for a few months till they are needing a bit of feeding which he plonks some on the ridge, and lets the rain take it down. No need for earthing up at all.. It saves a lot of time and effort later on. His spacing is at least 2' apart so your 4' can just get 2 rows in..

So I'll only be able to plant 20 chitting spuds then

sunshineband · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2012, 16:22 »

Quote from: Ice on March 14, 2012, 16:14

I have 8'x4' raised beds and get 28 potatoes in by planting seven rows of four spuds across the width. With lots of manure and water I've always had a good crop. I earth up by adding more manure and compost. Werks fer me.

Exactly so

and there is plenty of earth to earth them up, no worries

beaker141 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2012, 22:05 »

I've got 8ft * 5ft beds and planted 3 rows last year with about 4-5 potatoes - it worked well and I had some really big potatos but felt there was too much room between everything.

This year I'm planning on planting a bit denser, so I'm going for 4 rows and probably 7 spuds in the 8ft row.

I realise the potatoes might be smaller - but smaller than a house brick isnt going to cause me too many issues ;-)

Ice · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2012, 22:14 »

Raised bed growing is all about planting closer, usually equal distances between each plant. If the seed packet says 12" apart I put them in at 8"all round. What you lose on the paths you gain from the closer spacings. But, you do have to keep on top of the weeding watering and feeding.

Potatoes - a very newbie question! Started by Digger Mum on Grow Your Own	4 Replies 1335 Views	June 01, 2009, 11:38 by aelf
Newbie question on potatoes Started by ianjmatt on Grow Your Own	5 Replies 1235 Views	January 27, 2009, 13:25 by DD.
Newbie question re potatoes Started by Bowmanera on Grow Your Own	1 Replies 1038 Views	July 31, 2008, 18:34 by Caddi fuller-teabags
Courgette Growing-Pollination question(probably a silly novice type question!) Started by Marcus10 on Grow Your Own	3 Replies 2650 Views	April 30, 2012, 10:11 by compostqueen

Newbie question on growing potatoes

moretvicar

Newbie question on growing potatoes

Goosegirl

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

aelf

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

Ice

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

JayG

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

MyAchingBack

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

JayG

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

gavinjconway

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

MyAchingBack

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

sunshineband

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

beaker141

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

Ice

Re: Newbie question on growing potatoes

Similar Topics

Potatoes - a very newbie question!

Newbie question on potatoes

Newbie question re potatoes

Courgette Growing-Pollination question(probably a silly novice type question!)