Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Brogusblue on June 18, 2007, 11:41:47

Title: Potato Questions
Post by: Brogusblue on June 18, 2007, 11:41:47
Hello

I was clearing my lean-to out over the weekend and threw some junk away, In the junk was the growing instructions for my potato's  :( . What i need to know is how long before they are ready as my potato's where planted on the 28th of April and are growing mad some are even getting there flower buds on. The variety's that i am growing are 1) International Kidney 2nd earlies and 2) Sarpo Mira Maincrop also Cara that Jitterbug gave me they where planted mid may.

I am desperate for potato's i grew some last year and was too tempted and didn't get much, So i am trying to follow the rules.  ::)

Cheers
Brogusblue.

Ps i forgot to say mine are in are car tyres and trugs
Title: Re: Potato Questions
Post by: asbean on June 18, 2007, 11:54:16
I wouldn't have thought the 2nd earlies would be ready yet, they've only been in for six weeks.  In 2003 we planted Int'l Kidney in week 13 and dug up a plant in week 24 and that was too early.  The MC need much longer, we planted our Sarpos in week 19, and I didn't make a note of when we dug them up - it was very late summer, I remember.

If you nip off the flowers apparently you get 10% more crop, don't know if this is true, but we do it anyway.
Title: Re: Potato Questions
Post by: BarbaraGood on June 18, 2007, 13:16:18
I had Int Kidneys and planted them out on 7 April. We dug up some yesterday as they hadn't flowered but I was DESPERATE for a rummage and had a REALLY good crop from 1.5 plants that we dug around :)

10 weeks and one day they had so wait a bit longer maybe for those at least?
Title: Re: Potato Questions
Post by: Brogusblue on June 18, 2007, 13:35:44
Hello

Thanks for the info.

So International Kidney will be ready around the last week of july and the Sarpos around sept/oct.

few more weeks  :-[  :'(

Cheers
Bogusblue
Title: Re: Potato Questions
Post by: telboy on June 18, 2007, 14:49:58
Asbean,
Also read about pinching flowers off to increase yield. Something about energy going into tuber production rather than fruit. 
Title: Re: Potato Questions
Post by: asbean on June 18, 2007, 18:53:44
Telboy - Yes, it's obvious really, the flowers turn into little potatos or seed pods if left long enough, it's sure to take a lot of energy.  I'd rather have the spuds.  :) :)