Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 12:37:14

Title: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 12:37:14
 :o

where are all you guys upto with your spuds? our first crop is about ready and hoping to plant a maincrop in a week or two, are we behind? i usually am lol  :-\
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Deb P on June 05, 2008, 12:54:19
My earlies are all flowering, but I haven't had a furtle yet..... ;D
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 12:56:42
a furtle? that sounds like fun!  ;D
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Barnowl on June 05, 2008, 12:56:52
I think you might be pushing the envelope a bit with maincrops, but provided you are not in an area that gets early autumn frosts I'd say nothing ventured....

I put some second earlies (which normally have a shorter growing period than main) in a bag  in early October for Christmas and ended up harvesting them in May :)

Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 13:04:32
Cheers! we usually dont get an early frost do our lottie being only a ten min walk to nottingham city center, think it keeps us a bit warmer or so they say! not sure if this is true!  ???

gues the only thing to do is give it a try! are maincrop spuds still available?

if not i'm gonna grow a whole bed of radish, not sure why but i know they'l grow :0)
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Barnowl on June 05, 2008, 13:06:16
Quote from: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 12:56:42
a furtle? that sounds like fun!  ;D

PS Historically on this board I think we've used firkle, but I like furtle:  it sounds like a furtive form of footle (although that's in the dictionary so might be disallowed) :)
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Stevens706 on June 05, 2008, 13:08:11
It is Usual to plant all spuds, early and lates within a few weeks of one another (April-ish) the different types refers to the length of time they take to grow. You are a bit late to be planting maincrop, get them in asap and you should get some crop, if a smaller yeald.
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 13:13:38
I See! thanks for that Stevens! it all makes sence now, i was under the impression you planted them in sucsession, not realising that the early mid late reffered to when there dug up not when there set!  oh well, i'll try for a maincrop if not i'll wait till next year!

my earlies are about to flower! gonna give this furtle mullaky a go  :0)
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Deb P on June 05, 2008, 13:20:29
I think the word furtle is a brilliant description for a furtive feel...now this is beginning to sound a bit pervy...YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I MEAN, I'M TALKING POTATOES HERE!!!! ;D ;D ;D

Honestly! ;D :-[
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 13:43:23
haha infact i may have a furtle down the lottie with sarah and ian later... your right it does sound a little perverse!

If I do end up making my earlies the only spuds i grow this year has anyone got any idead of anything (other than raddish) that i can stick in the bed? i know its late! how time flies
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Pumper on June 05, 2008, 13:55:35
Quote from: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 13:43:23
... has anyone got any idead of anything (other than raddish) that i can stick in the bed? ...

Not all that long back, someone posted a website with a seriously good crop rotaion planner; what to put where after/before what & when.

Anyone remember what it was, coz I could do with a reminder  ::)
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 14:18:40
hey, just had a search back through the forums was it www.growveg.com?
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Sinbad7 on June 05, 2008, 14:35:26
Hi Steve,

You could plant a bed of brassica's, Suttons are doing a good offer on 50 plants for 10.99 or something like that, they are cabbages, brocolli and cauliflowers.

I tried to find some seed potatoes as I wanted to try to put a late crop in but couldn't find any anywhere.  I know Wyevales, last week, were selling all their pots off for 50p a bag but I was too late.

Sinbad
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: tonybloke on June 05, 2008, 14:53:03
I have just started to harvest my first earlies(rocket) I have some broccoli (purple and white sprouting) growing ready to follow on. I do this every year with no problem, saves a lot of space, and brassica plants like to have their roots undercut as this stimulates better root development.
You can also try leaving a few of your early spuds in the light, until they turn green, then replant for an autumn crop, (early refers to length of time in ground) early peas can also be late plantedas a follow-on crop. I plant some runner beans in late july/early august, this usually gives me fresh beans 'til november!
(I garden in the east near the coast), and seem to get away with it. rgds, tony ;)
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: tonybloke on June 05, 2008, 14:57:00
Steve, forgot to mention, yes being in a city does protect from frost to a certain extent, Will Giles has a tropical garden in the heart of Norwich!! www.exoticgarden.com rgds Tony
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: ACE on June 05, 2008, 15:08:15
As regards to planting potatoes etc late. Have  listen to gardeners question time, This weeks had a question about it.
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: stevefarr440 on June 05, 2008, 15:43:57
what stations that on? i'll do some listen again!

I cant believe it, if yoiu'd of asked me a 18 months ago if i thought id wanna tune in to a gardening radio show i would of run a mile! i'm happy i've found my green fingers! infact i think allotmenting is really increasing in pupularity! So many of my work friends of all ages have\want allotments! :0)
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: ACE on June 05, 2008, 16:25:31
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/gqt (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/gqt)

I don't know if this link will work. worth a try. Radio 4 this week if you can't get the link to work.

Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: manicscousers on June 05, 2008, 16:26:53
we're planting half the early spud bed with leeks, next year, it'll be the squash bed, means the leeks don't get in the way  ;D
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: STEVEB on June 05, 2008, 19:04:10
You can also try leaving a few of your early spuds in the light, until they turn green, then replant for an autumn crop,

That sounds interesting, does it work?Do they come up like earlies?
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: antipodes on June 06, 2008, 14:57:43
Yes I predict that some leeks will go where the earlies, by timing mine should be ready mid-June, I will look tonight and see if the foliage is starting to die off. (and maybe firkle around for the bigger ones while I am at it ;)

Good time to direct sow some French beans too, isn't it?
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Barnowl on June 06, 2008, 15:34:59
Quote from: STEVEB on June 05, 2008, 19:04:10
You can also try leaving a few of your early spuds in the light, until they turn green, then replant for an autumn crop,

That sounds interesting, does it work?Do they come up like earlies?

I thought first earlies were too day length sensitive and that you should use second earlies for a late crop?
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: tim on June 06, 2008, 16:44:58
Put Cara in last week June - dug first week September - 25 tubers each.

Franceline - first week July - dug first week September.
Carlingford - last weeh July - dug 15 December - 10 March.
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: Barnowl on June 06, 2008, 17:32:39
Just to expand on that:  Cara is a late main crop and the other two are second earlies.

Tim, did you get in a new batch of seed potatoes or use some of your own crop?

Hope you're feeling better despite tomato watering issues..
Title: Re: another quick question (i think lol) .... spuds
Post by: cornykev on June 06, 2008, 18:21:21
I still haven't put my PFA's in yet, too late maybe but whats there to lose.  ???     ???    ;D ;D ;D