Topic: Potatoes

[ed_and_emma]

We are about to embark on our first growing season, got everything sorted bar potatoes.

Finding it a bit of a confusion as to what to grow, earlies, main crop, early main crop, lates etc etc etc confusion reigns on terminology.

We want some "new" potatoes and then enough "Old" potatoes to sack and store - enough for 2 people.  Any recomendatiions on variety and how many tubers will we need?

Help appreciated

Ed

[Plantsman.]

Hello Ed and Emma, varieties are only a suggestion out of many -

This was two years ago on my vege plot.

first earlies - 'epicure', set out to chit 06-02, planted 12-03, first lift 27-06

first earlies planted as second earlies - 'rocket', set out to chit 22-02, planted 27-03, first lift 28-06

early maincrop - 'pentland squire', set out to chit 24-03, planted 04-04, left to mature throughout the summer.

They were set out to chit (sprout) on the bedroom windowsill. Chitting in not necessary but gives a little gain on those not chitted, also shows up any bad seed and shoots may be reduced if preferred.

Earlies plant 12 inches between seed and 24 inches between rows.
Maincrop 15 inches between seed and 30 inches between rows.

For the first earlies the ground had been well prepared by manuring in the autumn and black polythene laid over to warm up the ground. The potatoes were planted through slits made in the polythene.

[Mrs Ava]

Great info plantsman, but how many seed pots would you (and others) suggest you would need to provide enough spuds for 2 peeps for...well....until the next lot are ready to start digging I guess? Is this possible - do any of you actually have enough spuds to supply you year round?

[Plantsman.]

Oh! that's a difficult one EmmaJane. Depends a lot on how frequently  you eat them and how much per meal; also on the weight of the crop produced and how well they store.

How about two stone of maincrop as a trial.

[gavin]

Now that IS a tough one EJ -

The last couple of years 4 beds of potatoes, 15 - 20 feet long, two rows of potatoes per bed provides more than enough potatoes for my household (me and 4 kids every weekend), and ex's (her and four kids all week).

I got three bags of seed from the Organic catalogue (3kg each, from memory - 20 to 30 in each bag)

• one early (eat as new potatoes, and a bag stored which we're still using in December when we've had Red Duke of York)
  
• one second early (one bag, can last through to end february - I like Kestrel)
  
• and a main (which should through to March/April - assuming that we got some, and that neither foxes nor vandals got them first!  Sante has done well for me)
  

I'm cutting back to three beds this year - should easily be enough.  But I must not go to Potato Day ...  I must not go to Potato Day ... I must not go to Potato Day ... I must not go to Potato Day ... I must not go to Potato Day ........

Good luck - Gavin

[tim]

- a lot of good info,  worth printing out.

But are we getting confused between Ava and Ed - or are they now the same?? = Tim

[Mrs Ava]

No Tim, Ava isn't Ed, Ava is Ava (aka Mark).  And Emma is just the best name ever!  All the lookers are called Emma don't you know!  ;D

[tim]

Thought as  much - I have to keep people on track! = Tim

[ed_and_emma]

Many thanks one and all for the advice and info, will let you know how it goes.