potatoes

[Philbasford]

My spuds which i thought i had burried to deep after earthing up have just started popping thier heads up:)!

[Philbasford]

[MaryM]

When did you put them in Philbasford?

[Sprout]

No sign of my earlies yet which I put in about 26 March. Mind you, I did earth them up a bit which will take them a bit longer to reach the fresh air.

[Philbasford]

We put them in about 4/5 weeks ago, just pleased to see them coming through,not had an allotment before you see

[MaryM]

Me too-planted my first potatoes 3 weeks ago

[Melbourne12]

We took a chance and put our first earlies in VERY early - 12th March.  They're coming up nicely (we may have lost some to the cold weather, but not many), and we're earthing them up.  The second row, planted a week later are also showing signs of life!

[amanda21]

Mine are through too!   ;D  Do I wait for them to grow a bit before earthing up again or do it as soon as they come through?

[plot51A]

Mine on the plot are showing well too. Also my bucket spuds (sitting on my balcony) are absolutely romping away - have topped them up twice and now the foliage is at the top or above the top of the buckets. Beautiful!  :D

[myrtle]

When I was planting my 2nd earlies (Smile) about 3 weeks ago I got tired and the last row I just dug a hole for each spud instead of a trench with all the trimmings (muck paper etc.) I did throw a handful of chicken pellets in.  Yesterday the trenched ones were all up and looking really healthy but there is no sign of the last row at all (that'll teach me to cut corners)  It'll be interesting to see what the yields are like in the different methods  though..

[Mouseski]

A. Pilot put in at the end of March just peeking through - hurrah first plant to grow on allotment! :D
(Except couch >:( - it will die, it will!))

[weedbusta]

i named mine last year too! first year in. spud, tottie,chip,mash, boil, fritter, ran outa names in the second row so they were spud2, tottie2, anybody else as daft as me?

[Philbasford]

ITs going to be down to 2 degrees tonight in the nottinghamshire area, do i need to earth my spuds up or put some fleece on them?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Not unless you think there's going to be a frost. One of my earlies is just poking through.

[Hot_Potato]

I'm putting this question here because I just can't find the thread that showed a lovely picture posted by tim of his potato in a bucket - all lovely and green.

After seeing it, I decided to try one for myself which I did immediately and I've already 'earthed' it up 2 or 3 times....problem now is that the compost is right to the top of the bucket & I'm worried as to what I should do when the leaves start poking thru again - we could still get frost (in fact may tomorrow night)

the bucket is about 9" high and 10" across but maybe I didn't set the potato low enough in the bucket - about 3" from the bottom.....it's just grown so quickly.

It's outside on my patio at the moment but should I move it into the greenhouse I share with someone or just cover it over with newspaper or fleece if a frost is expected....advice would be appreciated please...first time I've tried growing veg. of any sort in a bucket.

[Merry Tiller]

Double layer of fleece if it was me

[keithnmags]

been up to lottie today our first ever tatties have appeared above ground!!!!! HELP What do we do now ??????
We have only Just started and love it

[deboydoyd]

Exciting isn't it. Our first potatoes (extra earlies) were started under a cloche in March and are now about a foot tall. Not really sure what were doing but they look in good health. Have kept earthing up to prevent green tatties and increase yield (apparently!)and are now watering frequently to allow the potatoes to swell. Early and maincrop in and about to emerge!!

[Rosyred]

The ones at the allotment aren't showing at all first few planted 19th March then next lot 16th April.  As I had some left a put three in a tub in the back garden and they are showing. I feel like digging the ones up at the allotment just to see they have died. I'm new to this allotment things and just want veg now....

[tim]

Early? Ours went in 16 Feb!

Tubs? Don't try to be clever - I couldn't bring myself to drill holes in it, so I put lots of crocks in the bottom & watered 'carefully'.

WRONG!! Checked today & decided to drill. Just as well!!

[tricia]

Tim, how long do you leave your spud bucket before harvesting? If you started the spud bucket on 16th February - when do you expect to enjoy the very first new potatoes of this year?

I started my first earlies in strong rubble sacks on 15th March, the haulms are about 15 inches above the rim of the sacks now. I seem to remember that we enjoyed our first new potatoes in the middle of June last year. Does this sound about right?

Tricia