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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: tim on July 14, 2009, 06:58:52

Title: PFA
Post by: tim on July 14, 2009, 06:58:52
Would never look good on parade!
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: Digeroo on July 14, 2009, 07:41:36
Mine look ok but when I dug up one which looked a bit sad, there was hardly any tatties.  In fact hardly more than I had planted.  Dug up a desiree and there were loads.

Next year think I shall try and go to Dundry Nurseries in Cheltenham.  They sell them loose so I hope to try lots of different varieties. 
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: 1066 on July 14, 2009, 07:56:56
looking nice and healthy Tim. Mine haven't enjoyed the dry spell we had here (high temps and no rain for 3 weeks). But they've had some good rain now and I've given them another mulch of grass clippings. Just thinking about them starts my mouth watering!
Digeroo, you are probably a bit too early for PFA yet as they are a maincrop, few more weeks and have another look. I'd also like to find somewhere near here that sells spuds loose so I could try a few more as well

1066
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: tim on July 14, 2009, 09:10:45
And a late maincrop at that.

Did a course at the School of Conservation in Hastings 30 years ago.

Came home with a box of freshly landed Plaice!
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: 1066 on July 14, 2009, 09:22:56
Interesting Tim. we now have Brighton Uni's art department /campus here.
You can't beat fresh, and I mean fresh fish. I feel very lucky to live here. But its a bit of a battle on a windy/stormy day to cycle down the seafront to the fish nets / shops !
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: betula on July 14, 2009, 10:27:13
My Pink Fir Apple are doing well too.For those who do not know the name it is a main crop that you harvest late.Very strange shapes come out the ground with these.A bit firm to eat,I like them with a salad. :)Click pic to enlarge.
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: tim on July 14, 2009, 11:40:51
As said so often, they are a Salad potato but cook in every way except mash.

And peeling? After cooking. Easy. Bot if not for salads, don't peel!

This is how they should be -
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: 1066 on July 14, 2009, 12:03:37
About a month to wait now..........
In the meantime enjoying the Charlottes  :)
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: Digeroo on July 14, 2009, 12:29:56
I have only harvested two PFA plants because they were dieing.  I am not sure why.  Thought I would remove them in case it spread.  I am very much hoping the rest which look very bonny will be a little more productive. 

I also have a couple of pumpkins on a take over bid so I am not sure if the potatoes will survive much longer. 


Title: Re: PFA
Post by: Trevor_D on July 14, 2009, 12:49:08
Not just late, but very late!

Years ago, we used to buy our potatoes in bulk from a farm near where my in-laws lived in North Wiltshire. We always went down in the autumn half-term, ie. the very end of October or beginning of November. If we wanted PFA we had to phone them and they would dig some for us specially, because they never harvested them till late November.

One year, I never got round to digging all mine up before Christmas. By late January, the yield had doubled .
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: 1066 on July 14, 2009, 12:54:00
Not sure if I could wait that long   :D

Digeroo - I know what you mean about the take-over bid  ;)
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: katynewbie on July 14, 2009, 13:14:00
I have some PFA growing in a large plastic recycling box (helpfully left by the council!) and they have grown into massive plants. I have earthed them up and covered with grass clippings. Now they are looking a bit ropey and the lower leaves are yellowing. Should I dig them up now or wait til they are supposed to be ready?  ???
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: betula on July 14, 2009, 13:24:50
Bit earlyyet,have a look and see what is happening .
Title: Re: PFA
Post by: tim on July 14, 2009, 15:30:43
1. Don't be fooled by the size - they exceed 4'.

2. What I do for love! This is from a 24th March planting.

3. If you only have one lot - WAIT.  And they STORE well  into the Spring.

Title: Re: PFA
Post by: Barnowl on July 14, 2009, 16:13:07
Quote from: Trevor_D on July 14, 2009, 12:49:08
Not just late, but very late!


Last year my first harvest was in mid-October.  Ate the last of them in early April.