I have some pink fir apples that are (slowly) chitting in my downstairs loo - when should I plant them out? The chits are a rather fetching dark maroon colour with dark green tips and look quite healthy, but are only small (up to about 1.5cm)
Can I plant them out now (we are in the southeast if that makes a difference). Or should I wait a bit and see if they sprout more?
Also, what kind of spacing do they need?
Sorry for being so uninformed - the packaging they came in wasn't at all helpful.
sl
The last two years, PFA have gone into my plot around the last week of April, essentially the last of the potatoes that I planted. Spaced at about 15 inches, they were not lifted until October.
Definitely worth growing, I think the flavour of these is superb.
I would get them in in the next few weeks, PFA and Ratte types are not easy to chit always so you are doing well.
The long range forecast for the next couple of weeks in the south east is not showing much in the way of frost and they will not poke their heads up before then anyway.
HTH
Jerry
By rights they should be very grumpy with me and not have chitted at all - they have been moved between several rooms, in 2 houses and towns, been too hot, too cold, had things dropped on them, been dropped, and spent their time living in a downstairs loo (which I wouldn't like for sure)
guess I (or OH who is officially in charge of them) must be doing something right ;D
Think I'll plant them out on Easter Monday if the weather holds up - seems like a reasonable compromise and will allow me to reclaim a large shelf in the loo for some more seedlings - hoorah - more plants! ;D ;D ;D
sl
I grew pink fir apples last year and they were planted in April. Unlike Curry I can't wait until October to harvest them. I rumage around the plants from early August onwards, just taking enough to eat that evening with barbecued meat and sliced courgettes.
my chits are the same size on my pfa's and i shall be mostly planting them on good friday cos thats what me dad always did...
i also 'rummage 'around as i cant wait for the little blighters! ;D
I like Pink Fir Apple, but they are nobly. Have swapped over to Anya, witch has a longer, less twisted tuber. It is a relative of PFA, has the same issue of slow forming eyes. Planted them last year Easter weekend.
Tindying the plot over found few escapees a couple of weeks ago, they had stayed in the ground, through all the snow and frost and were in excellent condition. Good Flavour too. Would recommend over PFA
Clifford
Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
I was just going to suggest, Pauline, that if you are impatient, go for Anya.
One thing about PFA is that, being late, they keep so long.
It is too late for me to choose Anya this year as my selection of spuds is already made, and I have no further space, but I will definitely be trying these next year, as the comments seem to indicate they are only an improvement on PFA. Sounds like potato heaven.
They should be ok going in now if your ground is not cold and wet ..
But if you dont need space where they are perhaps another week or two would be better.Then hopefully when they come through you have less danger of frost
cheers ..Jim
The ultimate hight of decadence....whole Pink Fir Apple chips...Yum Yum ;D