Topic: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds

[stevefarr440]

 :o

where are all you guys upto with your spuds? our first crop is about ready and hoping to plant a maincrop in a week or two, are we behind? i usually am lol  :-\

[Deb P]

My earlies are all flowering, but I haven't had a furtle yet..... ;D

[stevefarr440]

a furtle? that sounds like fun!  ;D

[Barnowl]

I think you might be pushing the envelope a bit with maincrops, but provided you are not in an area that gets early autumn frosts I'd say nothing ventured....

I put some second earlies (which normally have a shorter growing period than main) in a bag  in early October for Christmas and ended up harvesting them in May :)

[stevefarr440]

Cheers! we usually dont get an early frost do our lottie being only a ten min walk to nottingham city center, think it keeps us a bit warmer or so they say! not sure if this is true!  ???

gues the only thing to do is give it a try! are maincrop spuds still available?

if not i'm gonna grow a whole bed of radish, not sure why but i know they'l grow :0)

[Barnowl]

a furtle? that sounds like fun!  ;D

PS Historically on this board I think we've used firkle, but I like furtle:  it sounds like a furtive form of footle (although that's in the dictionary so might be disallowed) :)

[Stevens706]

It is Usual to plant all spuds, early and lates within a few weeks of one another (April-ish) the different types refers to the length of time they take to grow. You are a bit late to be planting maincrop, get them in asap and you should get some crop, if a smaller yeald.

[stevefarr440]

I See! thanks for that Stevens! it all makes sence now, i was under the impression you planted them in sucsession, not realising that the early mid late reffered to when there dug up not when there set!  oh well, i'll try for a maincrop if not i'll wait till next year!

my earlies are about to flower! gonna give this furtle mullaky a go  :0)

[Deb P]

I think the word furtle is a brilliant description for a furtive feel...now this is beginning to sound a bit pervy...YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I MEAN, I'M TALKING POTATOES HERE!!!! ;D ;D ;D

Honestly! ;D :-[

[stevefarr440]

haha infact i may have a furtle down the lottie with sarah and ian later... your right it does sound a little perverse!

If I do end up making my earlies the only spuds i grow this year has anyone got any idead of anything (other than raddish) that i can stick in the bed? i know its late! how time flies

[Pumper]

... has anyone got any idead of anything (other than raddish) that i can stick in the bed? ...

Not all that long back, someone posted a website with a seriously good crop rotaion planner; what to put where after/before what & when.

Anyone remember what it was, coz I could do with a reminder  ::)

[stevefarr440]

hey, just had a search back through the forums was it www.growveg.com?

[Sinbad7]

Hi Steve,

You could plant a bed of brassica's, Suttons are doing a good offer on 50 plants for 10.99 or something like that, they are cabbages, brocolli and cauliflowers.

I tried to find some seed potatoes as I wanted to try to put a late crop in but couldn't find any anywhere.  I know Wyevales, last week, were selling all their pots off for 50p a bag but I was too late.

Sinbad

[tonybloke]

I have just started to harvest my first earlies(rocket) I have some broccoli (purple and white sprouting) growing ready to follow on. I do this every year with no problem, saves a lot of space, and brassica plants like to have their roots undercut as this stimulates better root development.
You can also try leaving a few of your early spuds in the light, until they turn green, then replant for an autumn crop, (early refers to length of time in ground) early peas can also be late plantedas a follow-on crop. I plant some runner beans in late july/early august, this usually gives me fresh beans 'til november!
(I garden in the east near the coast), and seem to get away with it. rgds, tony ;)

[tonybloke]

Steve, forgot to mention, yes being in a city does protect from frost to a certain extent, Will Giles has a tropical garden in the heart of Norwich!! www.exoticgarden.com rgds Tony

[ACE]

As regards to planting potatoes etc late. Have  listen to gardeners question time, This weeks had a question about it.

[stevefarr440]

what stations that on? i'll do some listen again!

I cant believe it, if yoiu'd of asked me a 18 months ago if i thought id wanna tune in to a gardening radio show i would of run a mile! i'm happy i've found my green fingers! infact i think allotmenting is really increasing in pupularity! So many of my work friends of all ages have\want allotments! :0)

[ACE]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/gqt

I don't know if this link will work. worth a try. Radio 4 this week if you can't get the link to work.

 

[manicscousers]

we're planting half the early spud bed with leeks, next year, it'll be the squash bed, means the leeks don't get in the way  ;D

[STEVEB]

You can also try leaving a few of your early spuds in the light, until they turn green, then replant for an autumn crop,

That sounds interesting, does it work?Do they come up like earlies?