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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Plot69 on September 12, 2008, 21:50:39

Title: PFA's
Post by: Plot69 on September 12, 2008, 21:50:39
Started digging my PFA's up today... Jeez I've never seen so many tubers on one plant.

Trouble is, with so much rain it's washed a lot of soil away from the top of the ridges so I have quite a few greened tubers. I'll leave them to green all over and save them for seed next year.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: vegmandan on September 12, 2008, 23:36:18
What's a PFA ???

Is this txt tlk pls expln ??? ???

LOL ??  ???
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: Deb P on September 12, 2008, 23:39:14
Pink Fir Apple potatoes..... 8)
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: vegmandan on September 12, 2008, 23:46:09
Oh I see.

I've just harvested my SO's RS's and ENC's today.

They were lovely. ;D
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: cornykev on September 14, 2008, 09:31:19
My PFA's didn't go in until June so I won't be touching them for a while, and i've still got MP's to dig up first.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: shirlton on September 14, 2008, 10:03:51
Its enough to bring on my PMT ::)
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: tim on September 14, 2008, 10:11:35
Leave them to green over - why, 69??
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: Plot69 on September 14, 2008, 10:18:11
Quote from: tim on September 14, 2008, 10:11:35
Leave them to green over - why, 69??

So that I can use them for seed next year. It's not necessarily green, more of a wrinkly dark grey colour the same as seed potatoes are.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: Plot69 on September 14, 2008, 10:19:43
Quote from: shirlton on September 14, 2008, 10:03:51
Its enough to bring on my PMT ::)

My wife's past that so it don't mean SFA to me anymore  ;)
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: tim on September 14, 2008, 10:56:05
IMHO(!) - lift, clean & store. Nothing gained by greening, & they'll wrinkle if they want to - probably in a few months time.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: gwynleg on September 14, 2008, 14:54:18
Is it normal for PFA's to resemble giant star fish?
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: Sparkly on September 14, 2008, 18:43:37
I dug ours up today and had a good harvest. These went in during June as a last minute hope as we had run out of planting space on the plot and still had not planted these. They were just in a raised bed. They were not earthed up or had anything added to the soil. Am pleased though as I wasn't sure we would get any. Next year I am definately going to plant these on the plot. They are really tasty.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: Plot69 on September 15, 2008, 14:15:26
Quote from: tim on September 14, 2008, 10:56:05
IMHO(!) - lift, clean & store. Nothing gained by greening, & they'll wrinkle if they want to - probably in a few months time.

I'm only doing it to the ones that are already green through too much rain washing the soil off the ridges.

I'v got bags full of good ones.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: gwynleg on September 15, 2008, 19:48:23
Yes, but is it normal for them to resemble giant star fish? Sorry, this is a serious question - I havent grown them before and the potatoes are all joined up together rather than separate from some of the haulms. Are these mutant PFA's or normal ones, please?!
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: Plot69 on September 15, 2008, 19:59:51
Quote from: gwynleg on September 15, 2008, 19:48:23
Yes, but is it normal for them to resemble giant star fish? Sorry, this is a serious question - I havent grown them before and the potatoes are all joined up together rather than separate from some of the haulms. Are these mutant PFA's or normal ones, please?!

It's perfectly normal. They come in all manor of shapes and sizes. Two old boys on my site were discussing wether the one I showed them had prostrate trouble or not.

The reason my missus wanted me to grow them is because they're impossible to peel so she gets away with it.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: tim on September 15, 2008, 20:00:18
No need to peel, unless you really must. Then do it - easily - after cooking.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: hopalong on September 16, 2008, 15:49:44
I dug mine up yesterday and got a good crop - much better than last year. I think the green manure in that part of my plot must have helped. Have had them in two meals so far and they are delicious. Well worth growing.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: tim on September 17, 2008, 15:58:40
We too have a lot of green ones. One reason for lifting early. Could only get worse.

Very pleased though - typically 30+ to a plant, better average size & strangely, few 'starfish'. But oh, the clag!!

Here are some on a broadsheet paper.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: Barnowl on September 17, 2008, 16:23:54
As you say Tim, surprisingly even.
Title: Re: PFA's
Post by: jlottie on September 18, 2008, 20:15:20
Quote from: gwynleg on September 14, 2008, 14:54:18
Is it normal for PFA's to resemble giant star fish?

Hi gwynleg ,  I've never seen such a strange shaped crop of spuds as the PFA's but they taste very good :)