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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Digitalis on March 30, 2009, 20:46:25

Title: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on March 30, 2009, 20:46:25: (http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/100_1746.jpg)

I've weeded it the best I can, and just need to finish digging it over. Is it good enough for planting spuds in?

What do I need to mix in? Fertilizer? If so, do I line the hole where the spuds go with it, or just place it on the surface of the soil?

Also, can I plant peas up a frame where they grew last year?
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/100_1745.jpg)
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: SMP1704 on March 30, 2009, 21:08:32: Yes bed looks fine for spuds - you could just dig trenches for the spuds rather than dig over the whole bed - but swings and roundabouts really. Fertilizer? sprinkle some fish, blood and bone in planting hole/trench

Legumes are part of rotation, so would be better to grow elsewhere this year and use that space for brassicas - but if you really don't have anywhere else ready then use the same space and make an early resolution to practice crop rotation next year ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: saddad on March 30, 2009, 21:26:30: Yes and yes, with the same proviso... :)
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: cordyline on March 30, 2009, 21:39:55: Without knowing your soil and what nasties might be lurking under the nicely cleaned surface I'd say the bed will be fine for potatoes. Like SMP1704 I'd trench, add fish, blood and bone into the trench and displaced soil and then plant the potatoes about 8 inch deep in the broken up bottom of the trench. I'd also add a good layer of well rotted manure (you'd probably need about 3 bags for a bed that size - my local GC does 3 bags for a tenner) and then back fill with the displaced soil. You'll need to feed the potatoes once they emerge but the manure and FB&B will give them an excellent start.

You'll probably get away with the peas and beans for one year - unless the last occupant made a habit of always growing their legumes in the same spot. If that's the case move the framework to a different spot.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: caroline7758 on March 31, 2009, 08:29:38: Is it really worth spending 10 quid on manure for potatoes? I thought potatoes grow just about anywhere,although obviously they will grow better with some pampering.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: northener on March 31, 2009, 11:07:56: Its never good spending a tenner for manure.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: cornykev on March 31, 2009, 18:29:42: I never pay for sh#t, the soils fine for spuds, the peas like the spuds next year should keep moving in rotation but runners will be fine in the same place. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: ACE on March 31, 2009, 18:37:05: You're not growing many then?
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on April 01, 2009, 22:28:06: Quote from: ACE on March 31, 2009, 18:37:05
You're not growing many then?

I'm having two beds, and this is the first one ready.

(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/100_1754.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/100_1756.jpg)

I have weeded and dug it over, but there are still quite a few big lumps. I've tried to bash it up as much as possible.

I have also put fertilizer on the top and watered it in lightly.

What else should I do?

I plan to dig a hole for the spuds, put in a little compost, place the spud on it, then fill the hole up with compost. Is that ok?

Should I put some more fertilizer at the bottom of the hole, too?

Thanks......again!
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: saddad on April 01, 2009, 22:38:02: I trench mine, personally... a trenching spade then back filled and ridged with the chillington hoe... Sadly OH has to do them for me at the moment...

before
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e190/Plot52/DSCN2494.jpg)

after
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e190/Plot52/DSCN2501.jpg)
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on April 01, 2009, 22:46:58: Do you need to earth up after trenching?
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: saddad on April 01, 2009, 22:49:07: Yes, a bit. Probably over do the ridges at this stage... but they settle a bit while the spuds are coming up.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: ACE on April 02, 2009, 18:30:09: I know you can never have enough muck, but if you cleared the plot it must have been fallow for a while. Don't overdo the manure just yet. No need to fertilise each plant, as Saddad says dig a trench, place the seed spuds, overfill the trench and hoe up nice and tidy. The nourishment will get to where it counts, when it wants to.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: caroline7758 on April 03, 2009, 09:30:53: Howdoyou (or your OH) get your rows so straight? My plot neighbours do,too, but mine are a mess!
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: tim_n on April 03, 2009, 09:56:00: I grew spuds fairly successfully just in a foot of raw fresh manure for the last two years covered over in straw. Never does them any harm.

You can pick up fresh manure, usually bagged and free from most riding stables. They're always trying to get rid of it!

I'm intending to do a manure run in my little fiesta perhaps tomorrow and will pile it up in a corner of the plot to rot down. I tend to plant a squash (like a pumpkin or similar) into it as well and they absolutely love the heat.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: saddad on April 03, 2009, 10:54:17: We work off a scaffolding plank Caroline... :)
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: caroline7758 on April 03, 2009, 11:09:46: Quote from: tim_n on April 03, 2009, 09:56:00
usually bagged and free

Lucky you! All the stables round here expect you to bag it up yourself- can't really complain since it's free,though!

So do I, saddad! To be honest I think it's more that my soil isn't aswell-prepared. :-[
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: saddad on April 03, 2009, 11:14:06: A touch of OCD probably helps then... :-X
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on April 04, 2009, 16:34:11: I've put my 30 Maris Peers in:
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/100_1757.jpg)
How does that look?

I decided against trenches.

The problem I had was mounding them up. The soil on the top has turned almost to concrete and it was tough to get it into mounds. I'm really worried about how I'm going to earth up, as there is hardly any 'spare' loose soil left. Can I earth up with multi purpose compost? Or should I use the compost from my bin?
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: manicscousers on April 04, 2009, 16:59:57: we use grass clippings, leaves, old compost, even a newspaper collar covered in grass clippings to keep it down, ;D
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 04, 2009, 18:09:58: If you can manage six inches of organic mulch, that would do them lovely. I put mine in on the flat with a bulb planter. I'm almost there; now for the mulching!
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on April 04, 2009, 18:45:58: Organic mulch?

What is it called in garden centres, etc? Is it chipped bark?
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Deb P on April 04, 2009, 18:53:51: I use mushroom compost on top of my potatoes (just been doing it this afternoon in fact!) , some say you shouldn't as the small amount of lime it contains may predispose to scab, but I've never found it a problem and it improves the overall condition of clay soil no end..... ;D

Any organic matter you can put on top of them as previously mentioned will help retain moisture and keep weeds down until the plants are big and bad enough to look after themselves. You need something to cover the vulnerable shoots whilst there is still a frost risk, what you use is up to what you can lay your hands on!
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 05, 2009, 18:43:41: Chipped bark is OK up to a point, but it tends to soak up nitrogen which isn't what you want for veg. I use grass cuttings and dead leaves. We get them delivered by the ton, so I can smother the whole plot with them.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on April 05, 2009, 20:30:42: I've seen bags of soil improver/enricher in B&Q. Is that suitable for organic mulch?
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: ThomsonAS on April 05, 2009, 22:06:13: When it comes to mulching, grass cuttings work well enough for me.

I just planted a row of second earlies today so if I cut my lawn next week there will be enough to cover my firsts!
A.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: grannyjanny on April 06, 2009, 07:57:35: SD Your spud bed looks wonderful. Would your OH like to come & plant ours please. Hope you are soon well enough to do more of what you want to.
Janet
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: saddad on April 06, 2009, 07:59:50: OH wants me to plant a row today... just so she can brag about how much better her rows are!!! :-[
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: gardentg44 on April 06, 2009, 08:06:21: Quote from: saddad on April 03, 2009, 10:54:17
[We work off a scaffolding plank Caroline... :)]

me too, there invaluble around garden. ;D
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: grannyjanny on April 06, 2009, 08:14:06: SD She loves you really! She's had a very good teacher.
Janet
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on April 06, 2009, 20:18:05: I've put some B&Q soil improver on the rows of spuds, and I will fill the rest of the bed with either bark or leaf mulch.

(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/Image001.jpg)

(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/Image002.jpg)

(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/Image005.jpg)

How does that look/sound?

Can I fill the rest of the bed with bark? Or would leaf mulch be better? There is a massive heap of it at the allotment. (Well, I presume it is leaf mulch. It's a pile of rotted leaves, by the look of it. Am I correct?)
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: saddad on April 06, 2009, 20:53:09: Yes, barrow as much of the leaf mould on as you can... :)
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 07, 2009, 09:09:21: That's fine. You might be better off looking for a source of dead leaves or grass cuttings; garden contractors are often glad to drop them off. I don't know what I'd do without them!
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on April 08, 2009, 21:23:34: I've added leaf mulch to the gaps. Is this ok?:
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/Image011-1.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/Image013.jpg)

I used this as the leaf mulch:
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/Image009-1.jpg)
Does that look like leaf mulch? There is a massive pile of this stiff at the end of the allotment. I hope I've used the right stuf?!

Will it now rot down into the soil? Do I dig what's left of it after the spuds are gone into the ground?

Thanks for your advice, by the way.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: saddad on April 08, 2009, 21:26:46: Yes it will rot down, and the worms will probably have pulled it all in before the spuds are out... grass cuttings on top will help keep moisture in the soil, build it up as the season goes on... :)
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Digitalis on April 08, 2009, 22:06:35: Thanks, saddad.

Does ot matter that there are still a few intact leaves amongst the rotten ones?
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 08, 2009, 23:02:10: Not at all. I put dead leaves on when I don't have grass cuttings, and it all disappears in a few months.
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: sawfish on April 10, 2009, 01:50:30: I love this image. I didnt know the clangers had started growing tatties?
;D

Quote from: Cosmo and Dibs on April 04, 2009, 16:34:11
I've put my 30 Maris Peers in:
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o246/cosmoanddibs/100_1757.jpg)
How does that look?

I decided against trenches.

The problem I had was mounding them up. The soil on the top has turned almost to concrete and it was tough to get it into mounds. I'm really worried about how I'm going to earth up, as there is hardly any 'spare' loose soil left. Can I earth up with multi purpose compost? Or should I use the compost from my bin?
Title: Re: Is this bed acceptable for planting spuds in?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 10, 2009, 10:23:09: Don't worry too much about earthing up, I grow them on the flat. A good layer of dead leaves or leafmould will go a long way!