Read somewhere else that the Irish way of planting is reliable (no, not rose end down), but on St. Patrick's day, 17th March.
Celtic_Growers, thanks for the straw tip... where's the cheapest place to get it from, is the petshop the best bet? Thanks.
2nd week in March, then I plant and cover each row with 3-4 inches of straw as a safety net.
I check to see it the plant is showing and then lift the straw off and just keep it around the plant. and if there is a frost alwert. just replace and cover the plant.
It is usually the Easter weekend for ours, though it does depend on the weather. In our trench we put well rotted manure and grass to lay the potatoes on, though I have even heard of paper being used and also seaweed. I think it is like leeks and broad beans everybody has their own little foible. :D busy_lizzie
No Alishka. Too much lime in the soil encourages scab.
As far as manure goes, apply as much as you can as potatoes love it. I dont need to tell you it should be well rotted manure do I?.
No Alishka. Too much lime in the soil encourages scab.
As far as manure goes, apply as much as you can as potatoes love it. I dont need to tell you it should be well rotted manure do I?.
Of course it's lime! Senior Moment there ;) but...errrr...no, didn't need to be told about the w/rotted - still 3 years, is it? ;D
Watched the repeat of Monty Don visiting B'ham allots 2 years ago - anyone else see it? Anyway.....the chap who grew superb Pentland Javelin prepared his trenches, lined with a layer of leafmould, then 3 sheets of newspaper, then a layer of grass clippings & set his pots on that...grew beauts.
How deep into the ridges was Hamilton planting his pots, Richard?
No it wasn't; it showed my allotment gate, which I put up in 1999. My hedge was well grown too, which dates it to at least 2003.