Topic: Potato room

[aquilegia]

If I was to buy 1.5kg of seed potatoes (or whatever they are called) how much room in my garden would I need to plant them in? roughly?

I'm planning for next year already!  ::)

[rdak]

this was covered in the 'Spud-u-like ? help !' topic on page 3 of this forum

[aquilegia]

Thanks Rdak. Looks like far too much room for my little garden!

[tim]

- 'borrow' a few and grow them in containers? = Tim

[aquilegia]

Tim - Containers? I thought potatoes would need more depth than that.

Where can you buy seed pototoes individually?

[rdak]

you can grow potatoes in an old compost bag.

unroll sides of bag (so that light gets to it), put potato on some compost and add compost as it grows (earthing up), whilst rolling the sides back up.

you can apparently get individual potatoes from Potato Days.
See from your Profile that you're in London- there's one in Dulwich on 22nd Feb:

http://www.organicgarden.org.uk/potato_days.htm

[rdak]

oh, and see this as well:

http://www.nugget.demon.co.uk/MetaFAQ/potato.html

[Plantsman.]

Certified seed potatoes are graded by whether or not they will pass through a certain sized sieve. Government legislation.

If we take the average weight per tuber to be around 80 grams we will have 12.5 tubers to a kilogram bag.
For early varieties this would sow a row about 12 ft in length. (tubers spaced 12 inches apart).

For maincrop varieties you may be sowing  a row 15 ft in length (tubers spaced 15 inches apart.

When sowing more than one row, earlies are spaced 24 inches between rows and maincrop 30 inches between rows.

[cleo]

I think that Tim has mentioned this before,but it does no harm to repeat, there is always room for `new potatoes`-as for maincrop it`s a close call,they are so cheap to buy (if not as good)and the space could be better used to grow stuff that costs a fortune to buy.

No easy answer.

Stephan.

[aquilegia]

Stephan - it would be new pototoes as I hardly ever eat big potatoes - only the occassional roasties, but not enough to bother with growing (and storing!)

[cleo]

Aquilegia-grow them!!-nothing like your own new spuds,and they will be lifted in time to plant/sow something else in the same season.

Stephan.

[aquilegia]

Stephan - I thoroughly intend to now. As long as I can get just a few seed potatoes from somewhere! (Won't be able to make the potato fair thingy rdak suggested.)

[tim]

See why I said 'borrow'? Lottiers, neighbours? But all our local hardware stores and Countrywide-type places sell them as you wish.
If you want new-type pots all through, try for a few Pink Fir as your Oct-Mar crop. Oh, no - too unruly - Anya might be more restrained - but earlier. Salads, casseroles, sautéed - even baked! = Tim

[Ragged Robin]

[quote author=rdak see from your Profile that you're in London- there's one in Dulwich on 22nd Feb:


Just round the corner from me, might pop along, got mine from here last year; you can just buy one or two of each variety. ......... and if any one is planning to come along let me know and I'll get the kettle on!

[Garden Manager]

One of my local GC's sells many different varieties loose.  They charge so much per bag but you get to fill the bag! :) If you cram them in they are great value.

As for planting i tend to grow mine closer together on my plottie than the books recomend. this is partly to save space in my beds (i only ever use one bed for potatoes, half earlies half maincrop) the beds are 3m by 1 metre and can comfortably get 30 well spaced seed potatoes into them. This works out at 15 early 15 maincrop.  

The other reason for spacing them closer together is because i use a mulching sheet instead of earthing up (which isnt easy in my raised beds).  No earthing up means they CAN be grown closer together.  The crop per seed may be slightly reduced, but as there are more plants per 1m sq there  the overall crop is just as good. and no space is wasted!  ;)

[philcooper]

Just a point or 2 on the above discussion - I've been away for a wweek organising the Hampshire Potato Days - very succesful, over 1,000 visitors - pictures at www.hhdra.org.uk/potato_day04_pictures.htm (lots of emphasis on kids - the gardeners of the future)  :)

The question of how many is difficult - 80gms is a good weight but I have certiifed seed weighing between 50 and 200gms. The real thing to watch for is that there are not damaged or have sprouts already but do have several eyes.

The traditional spacing for 1st earlies is as stated 12" by 24".  Growing them closer (as seed growers do) results in more but smaller tubers - if you like small new pots that's the way to go.

On containers see www.nugget.demon.co.uk/MetaFAQ/potato.html the smallest container is a 12" pot (1 tuber) up to a dust bin or pile of old tyres (3-5 tubers), The smaller the container the more attention needed because potatoes need lots of water.

Potato Days are the place to go for choice and advice but for small quantities GCs are now stocking 10 tuber packs.

For location of P Days and good mail order locations see www.hhdra.org.uk/potato.htm - other sites have copied some of the information (not always correctly)  :'(

Phil

[tim]

- to bear out what Phil says - these are some of mine. The nearest ones are much smaller than they appear, being much closer to the camera. Typically 30gm = Tim



A last thought - don't wait until the tubers are fully grown - especially if your demand is not great. When the plants appear fully grown, and even before the flowers open, it's worth scuffing carefully around the roots for the first fruit. Enjoy them as really new potatoes!!

[Ceri]

while we are on about potatoes...  I checked my seed potatoes yesterday - I rubbed off the spindly sproutings as advised, and nice little new ones are sprouting nicely - however, they feel a bit soft - I've never grown pots before so is this normal - or are they not cold enough?  I have then in an unheated utility at the moment, but could move them into the garden shed if this wouldn't be too cold??  Advice please

Ceri

[Garden Manager]

I think (dont hold me to this) they do go a bit soft as they start to grow, since they are starting to use the food stored in the tuber in order to grow.  It should not be a problem.

If though they get very soft, then this is not good and there is something wrong with them.

Fell free anyone to correct me on this.

[The gardener]

Yes they do tend to go soft as they dehydrate.

Ensure you don't have them too warm. Light yes! heat No!
6°C (43°F) to 10°C (50°F) should do.