Author Topic: 2nd crop potatoes.... challenge maybe, or at least camaraderie. (Read 15468 times)

Jeannine · « **on:** June 21, 2010, 01:05:33 »

I am going to do some 2nd crop potatoes again this year.Anyone fancy joining me?

We could decide when to plant etc and all start on the same day..could aim for harvest on Christmas Day or whatever.

All ideas welcome

No doom and gloom now, we know we won't get a big harvest but this is just a bit if fun.

Never done it before, no problems, advice will no doubt be available here from other spuddy folk.

XX Jeannine

gwynnethmary · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2010, 07:26:49 »

I like the idea, but am wondering where the seed potatoes would come from? And would they need to be chitted?
I must admit, Christmas potatoes sound very tempting!

manicscousers · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2010, 09:01:51 »

wouldn't mind having a go, could keep some of our spuds, maybe..we shared some from T &M last year, disaster, one lot just rotted without even growing , still, we learn from our mistakes ;D

earlypea · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2010, 09:14:03 »

I think you can just use your own from what you dig up and no need to chit.

Someone here posted last year that they replanted some of the ones they dug up in late July and was cropping them in abundance, best crop ever apparantly, on 15th October. Don't remember who nor the variety.

But I made a little note of the timing in my gardening diary ;)

Of course, we did have one beautiful autumn and no blight here so maybe they were lucky, but I thought if I got around to it I might give it a go.

Jayb · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2010, 09:35:39 »

Yes please, love to join the fun. I have some Charlottes I ordered from T and M. Not the second crop ones though, but I left my order which as late as I dare with out them running out. Thought they would do a better job of storing them than me!

So I have the potatoes, I have a spare bag or two, do we have a date to start?

No need to chit.

I remember reading somewhere newly lifted tubers have a dormancy period, but I'm not sure how long. I think it may have been a post by Tattieman.

Jeannine · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2010, 10:17:52 »

Oh goodie, I am doing mine in pots, and guess what JayB, Charlottes as well!!

OK so plenty of time I think for pots or bags..

You can use your earlies or pick up a few organics at the supermarket.

So what do you think, should we aim for Christmas or do it earlier. I have some I need to get in soon but I will have more to use shortly.

If everyone is agreed on a date, Christmas or whatever,a little research should give us the best time to plant..

oh..just a sec...

yes just remembered, in the Vegetable Expert is the following

Christmas Potatoes

New potatoes for Christmas dinner-something of a gamble but worth trying.When lifting your crop of first earlies in July set a few tubers aside.Plant them in a warm spot in the garden and look after them in the normal way.In late September cover the plants with large cloches and use them at Christmas.

I don't fancy the garden I have done it in pots in the greenhouse though.

But about mid July sound about right. I am using second earlies though.

What does everyone else think.

I was going to use a 5 gallon bucket, easy to find I think.Or I might take a trip to SPEC, a recycling group near the city dump, they have all sorts of stuff.

XX Jeannine

Jayb · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2010, 12:35:41 »

Super choice Jeannine ;D

Mid July sounds like a plan. I'm going to do mine in bags so i can put them under cover if need be. I think they will be ready before Christmas, but store well if left in their bags. The skin won't just rub off with your fingers but a quick rinse and eaten in their skins yum yum!

5 gal buckets sounds ideal. I'm going to use a few old compost bags with the tops folded down.

gwynnethmary · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2010, 16:15:47 »

sounds like I've found a use for my new greenhouse!

manicscousers · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2010, 20:02:21 »

B&M have 2 potato bags for 1.99, going there tomorrow to stock up ;D

Jeannine · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2010, 22:10:31 »

OK, so who is planting what?

XX Jeannine

Digeroo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2010, 22:16:48 »

I have a couple of Red Duke of York which got forgotten are are sitting in the kitchen looking like rather weird monsters from some other planet Since they are still alive I think they deserve a bit of TLC. So when are are aiming to plant.

I enjoyed the last challenge.

Jeannine · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2010, 22:19:51 »

We are still in the deciding stage..any ideas?

XX Jeannine

Jayb · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2010, 22:33:45 »

I'm going with Charlottes, I may have some overgrown Blue Danubes too ;D. I'll go with the majority but would favour early to mid July, blight just becomes a nightmare.

lottie lou · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2010, 23:08:12 »

Can I join. I was a total failure in this year's spud challenge, due to the darned things refusing to grow. Think I have some anyas lurking away under the kitchen sink so with a bit of luck I can use them. Did spuds last Christmas - didn'g get that good a crop but amusing.

Jeannine · « **Reply #14 on:** June 23, 2010, 10:45:30 »

Hi, I have been thinking a lot about a good day for us all to plant on the same day same and I think I have found a good one.

What do you all think about St Swithains Day July 15th, folklore says if it rains that day we get 40 days of rain and if it is sun we get forty days of sun.

So what do you all think, is it ok with everyone else. Suits me.

XX Jeannine

gwynnethmary · « **Reply #15 on:** June 23, 2010, 12:05:30 »

15th July sounds good to me- we should have dug up our Kestrels by then so I could use one of those (I dug one up accidentally this morning trying to dig out some mare's tail- looks good but now with a large cut in it!) I'll leave them until 7th though, which will be exactly 13 weeks since planting- can't wait!

calendula · « **Reply #16 on:** June 23, 2010, 15:25:36 »

I'll join in, mine will be in tubs in the greenhouse and will either be Annabelle or Homeguard :)

GRACELAND · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2010, 16:12:06 »

i will give it a go

so lets have a plan of action ;D

onionsquash · « **Reply #18 on:** June 23, 2010, 17:19:13 »

Hi

Just registered for this forum and found this thread that interests me a lot.

I have grown 2nd crop spuds for many years, including ones bought from mail order (expensive!), ones saved from the early crop (slow to sprout) and seed tubers saved from the spring (OK). But in recent years they've barely got out of the ground before the blight got them. Last year I bought (at very great expense) Sarpo Mira from Alan Romans, which resisted the blight and I got a great crop for Christmas and even some retrieved in spring from under the snow.

This year I have saved some Sarpo Mira from spring and was going to plant them in July after I've finished the first earlies.

Just let me know when to plant them and I'll let you know how I get on at Christmas.

manicscousers · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2010, 17:40:24 »

Hiya, onionsquash, welcome to a4a ;D
15th sounds fine to me, I'll be doing some sharpe's express in leaf bags :)

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Author Topic: 2nd crop potatoes.... challenge maybe, or at least camaraderie. (Read 15468 times)