Allotments 4 All

Hi all  I have been reading with interest the many potato threads.
But after get several pages from an old book from a friend last October.

I have planted 4 potato plants already under protection for last month.
The plants are planted in 4 pits that were 4 foot deep when I started.
each seed potato was about 1.5 lbs and where planted undivided. If all goes as planned I should get  at least 150 lbs of potatoes per plant.

4 foot deep? Wow... Never seen a spud planted that deep before... I imagine someone with more experience will be along in a min to help but I'd be worried that was perhaps too deep....

never heard of that before ???

iwould like to see the end result.

For once I'm not going to welcome a newbie... Plainleaf's style and "optimism" remind me of a previous poster too much... watch this space  :-X

Was it 4".

Quote from: saddad on March 26, 2009, 07:45:59
For once I'm not going to welcome a newbie... Plainleaf's style and "optimism" remind me of a previous poster too much... watch this space  :-X

;D

Quote from: plainleaf on March 26, 2009, 06:57:43
...But after get several pages from an old book from a friend last October.

I have planted 4 potato plants already....The plants are planted in 4 pits that were 4 foot deep ....each seed potato was about 1.5 lbs ......I should get  at least 150 lbs of potatoes per plant.

I'm intrigued as to who the great gardener advocating this growing method is. I am also wondering where 1.5lb seed potatoes can be purchased.

150lb per plant ::)

thats a lot of french fries!! :o

 Well spotted Saddad. ::) ;D ;D ;D

there are some great gardeners out there, aren't there?? ;) ;)

A good few years ago  a man named Cook (sp) from the Emsworth area grew112lbs of potatoes from four potatoes and held the local record, have tried Googling it but have found nothing, I tried it last year and got 8lb only.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D TONYBLOKE.

No, hang on a minute you lot, poking fun at him! Today is March 26th, and new moon. The next two weeks are leaf weeks, followed by two weeks of celestial circumstances beneficial to roots.  Maybe he can get great crops? :P

There's still no explanation of where 1.5lb seed spuds can be bought. A four foot hole in most places goes way beyond the topsoil into some nasty infertile stuff, often into solid rock. So how do you overcome that?

I  forgot to post the name of the book.
"how to grow giant vegetables" by colin bowcock
Well he grew 515 lbs from a 2.5 lbs seed potato.
So my goal of 150lb seems reasonable.
As for where to find 1.5 lbs seed potatoes I got mine at a farmers market.

Quotethere are some great gardeners out there, aren't there??

But still they have no camera.

I've said it before, no pics no result.

What I want to know is what the weather is like in Maryland, or should that be fairyland?

For the information of genuine newcomers to this forum may I point out that from time to time we get buzzed by flies. Their sole purpose is to annoy though they often amuse.

If anyone has been tempted to dig a deep hole for their potatoes please do not. Most if not all tubers are formed at or close to the soil surface which is why we earth them up.

Eristic i did not bury the seed potato 4 foot deep.  Only 6 inches.
As for being an optimist I always am.  Great gardeners come from many places.

[ I have planted 4 potato plants already under protection for last month.
The plants are planted in 4 pits that were 4 foot deep when I started.
each seed potato was about 1.5 lbs and where planted undivided. If all goes as planned I should get  at least 150 lbs of potatoes per plant.


just quoting you plainleaf..... I understand from this you planted 4feet deep,

QuoteEristic i did not bury the seed potato 4 foot deep.  Only 6 inches.

As I was reading down the replies I was developing an idea in my mind and it is this;

You dig your hole, you plant your seed  then you cover it with 6" soil then I guess you are going to layer the soil in around 6" layer as the plant/s grow am I right?

Basically they are being grown in a similar manner as container grown potatoes but without the container.

Thats my thoughts on the matter!

ps I don't fancy the digging that is required to harvest them  ;)

lolabelle i said the pits were 4 ft not the plants being planted.
Try reading my post again.
I estimate each plot will be 8 ft total at harvest 4ft below ground level 4 ft above.
As for pictures I will post few when I get chance.
I might write blog about whole effort.

ps I find that those who can not comment constructively are not worth responding to.

saddad ...spot on :-X

 Yes !, may i suggest we all ignore this post, its so obvious who it is .
Do not satisfy the poster just have a good chuckle, it stands out a mile who it is, the replys from him says it all. So hard luck it diden`t work this time.

The Baltimore kid tumbled again.  ;D

he must like fishing, someone always bites!! ;) ;D ;D

Jesus Christ I must have drifted into a coma is it April the 1st already.  :P    ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

No Kev it's still Lent, but some people never give up....  ::)

i hope he gets the blight!!!...that will fu*k up his 150lb of spuds
remember the name....PLAINLEAF....  ignore

I'm sure someone will explain this to me soon, in the meantime I'll just go and have a lay down.

Weed-Digga

 Weed-Digga they think i am another poster who they started a fight with because he showed them up or there just interested starting trouble.

jimtheworzel  Posted on:  becarefull who you curse since you might curse youself instead.

So if your not this poster, how come this poster ( your words ) hasn't been on here this year but you seem to know about this poster and this is only your 5th post.  ??? ??? ??? ??? ???   :-\ :-\ :-\          ;D ;D ;D

Kev, can't you find the 'ignore' button?  ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D

cornykev even though I have not posted untill recently does not mean I have not been reading this forum.

Telepathic?  ::)

tele-pathetic!  ;D ;D

How did you guess...  ;D

you are aware the the posts on this forum can be veiwed without registering.

OMG, which part of 'go away' don't you understand? ;)

This thread is calculated to get a rise out of si=ome members, and give the poster the opportunity to say 'you started it'. Let's ignore him until he comes back with results, backed up by pics.

To tell you the truth the more I think about this 4 foot pit the more I'm warming to the idea, would you put some sort of catch net in as its very deep, I spoken to my spud experts but none seem to have seeds that large.  ;D ;D ;D

Robert_Brenchley sorry this thread was describing how my potatoes where planted. the only wind up was provided by other poster and the off topic posts.

cornykevin if you would like I will email you the book pages I metioned in a previous post.

OK plain leaf, what does it feel like to be sussed out, named and shamed immediately on your first post under a  new identity. Losing your touch or what? You cannot even grow tomatoes in tomato country never mind potatoes. You were soundly thrashed in your own local competition in the land where everything is big, except your produce.

The book, if it exists is a hoax just like you. The world has always been full of braggers and boasters, and some juvenile readers think that because it is printed it must be true. I grew a 500lb carrot last year but the mice ate it before I had a chance to photograph it.

By the way, It's raining here today.

What happens to the potatoes in the pit when it rains and the pit fills with water?

 A gentle word to all newbies,  I have been enjoying your posts so much - new

 allotments , what to plant - when and where  --  lovely pics of beginnings and

 satisfaction at your hard work,  

 Just now and then you get a poster who wishes to upset a successful , friendly  and

 close knitwork of nice people  --  don't be put off by this person's wish to spoil things,

 I have an ignore button and shall use it ,

 floss xxx

Hi Tattie long time no speak hows it going.  ;D ;D ;D  ;)

Hi Kev. Been really busy lately as there has been a big demand for 1.5lbs potatoes for some reason.

You couldn't send us a few could you and I'll have a word with Harry and see if he could give you Hutton on loan for the rest of the season.  ;)     ;D ;D ;D

Sounds like a good deal to me Kev. I think we will grow all our potatoes this year in 4 foot deep pits and harvest them with a jcb or maybe I could employ some ex miners?

Quote from: plainleaf on March 26, 2009, 17:17:44
Weed-Digga they think i am another poster who they started a fight with because he showed them up or there just interested starting trouble.

Oh, I see. Are you?

What about some pot holers or excavators.   ;D ;D ;D

Ignore - resist - whatever - but every time, everybody joins in & prolongs the agony. Why not just let it rot? Don't press ignore - just resist the temptation to look. I dare you!!

Quote from: Eristic on March 26, 2009, 17:57:56
The book, if it exists is a hoax just like you. The world has always been full of braggers and boasters, and some juvenile readers think that because it is printed it must be true.

Colin Bowcock's book does exist although it is out of print, however although the 11kg (25lb) salad bowl lettuce Colin bowcock grew in 1974 is frequently mentioned as a record breaker the only mention of his 234 kg (515lb) yield of potatoes I can find are all made by one individual using various names to post on internet gardening forums, other than stating details can be found on pages 49-56 of the book in question no other evidence has been offered by the poster that the record does indeed exist.

As far as record potato yield goes there are numerous sources that state Eric Jenkins grew 168 kg (369.6 lbs) of potatoes from a single plant in 1974, this is said to be a world record that still stands today. If this record had been surpassed I would expect it to be mentioned somewhere.

If the book is 'How to Grow Giant Vegetables', then there are a couple of copies on Abebooks.com. Unfortunately I'm broke; does anyone fancy finding out what it actually says on pages 49-56? I find it very hard to believe that if such a record exists it wouldn't be as well-known as the lettuce. That's out there on the net, so how come I can't find the spuds?

Yes that is the book there are a couple of copies on amazon marketplace too.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Giant-Vegetables-Colin-Bowcock/dp/0902375563/ref=sr_1_1/277-2041372-3508211?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238160965&sr=1-1

I received a PM this morning with the subject "try the following other sources for bowcock info" which lists another source.

Quote from: plainleaf on March 27, 2009, 07:27:03
emailing guinness book
guinness book 1983-1987

Perhaps its this book? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Giant-Vegetables-Bernard-Lavery/dp/0004127714

Baccy Man maybe the reason you can find very limited in on the record,is the record was set before the internet was in wide use.


guinness book 1980 blurb p 53

QuoteA yield of 515 lb 233.5 kg from a 2 1/2 lb parent seed by Bowcock planted in 1977

first paragraph from colin bowcock chapter on the potato record
                                                                                                 p49



516 lbs of Potatoes From one Seed potato

To grow this amount amount of potatoes takes a very large piece of
ground, at least 15 yards by 10 yards. Prepare the ground in the Autumn, digging
in two tons of cow manure, it should be left over the Winter for the frost to get at it.
During this time search for a large potato, preferably, one with 22 eyes on it. Don't Drop
or bang it as it will bruise easily.

ps if can't you can't afford  to buy the book try borrowing it from or going to the following libraries to read it.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16477598&tab=holdings?loc=uk#tabs (http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16477598&tab=holdings?loc=uk#tabs)  
lewic: wrong book.

Eristic you are wrong about book being a hoax and the 515 lbs record.
I wonder what else you have gotten wrong.

As I said, the lettuce is well-known, and out there on the net. So why isn't the incredible spud?

maybe the person who posted the lettuce info from the book was not interested in the spud at
the time.

Quote from: plainleaf2 on March 27, 2009, 15:14:43
Eristic you are wrong about book being a hoax and the 515 lbs record.
I wonder what else you have gotten wrong.

You're American I take it?

plainleaf =pain fella

Have a look at this: http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_seeds/potato_heavy_weight_cropper_kit/ (http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_seeds/potato_heavy_weight_cropper_kit/)

I've been reading up on TGG threads becuase I didn't get it - blimey I do now!  It is so obviously him = some of the responses to him have been hilarious - saddad, corneykev et al.  Its funny but also a shame - I'm new round here but i have loved reading threads and asking for advice.  I have been taking more than giving but am really looking forward to the day that i can share some of my knowledge and experience with others in the same generous way most people on here do!

PLAINLEAF you are about as welcome as all that horrible couch on my new alottment!!

Lushy    >:(

To bad you have and the others have it wrong. Since i am the tomato plant ,the carrot the cucumber, the bok choy and the watermelon. For You all attack me because you can't learn to listen or forgive since there is no humor in attacking someone trying to teach you how to garden better. Since you and others started this fight just after Christmas 2001 the first day my brother  posted on a garden forum.

I will give you all a chance to end this by giving you all one chance.

I challenge  you all to tomato growing contest. the biggest/ heaviest tomato
wins. The prize will be  the same 10 1oz silver coins and complete copy of my gardening
library ever digital book,and photo copied magazine page, growing diary (all 16 gigs)and the bragging rights that you have beaten me in garden combat.

I hear by throw down the gauntlet. Beat me  if you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 WHY OH WHY, do peeps keep on answering this person.?
Is it the entertainment value, i wonder.
         
    See who can last the longest without giving a reply