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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: flitwickone on March 22, 2011, 21:45:44

Title: depth of spuds
Post by: flitwickone on March 22, 2011, 21:45:44
last year i put mine in at 7iches deep how deep do you put yours  :P

cos mine are going in tommorow lock stock and smoking early
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: nolandyet/nowwedo on March 23, 2011, 06:39:54
Don't know how many inches but I always put mine in at a spades depth.
Rich...
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: powerspade on March 23, 2011, 06:41:29
I take out a trench about 4 - 5 inches deep
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: shirlton on March 23, 2011, 06:54:27
4 inches here
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: saddad on March 23, 2011, 08:03:21
Welcome to A4A Nolandyet..
We use a trenching spade but never measure the depth accurately...
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: manicscousers on March 23, 2011, 08:35:56
we give the bulb planter a good shove and plant into the hole, no idea how deep  ;D
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: antipodes on March 23, 2011, 09:29:40
I developed a rather back breaking technique this year. Soil is well  manured and crumbly - I stick in the spade as far as I can, wiggle it well about, (that is starting to sound dirty in fact!!!) and then I push the spade forwards, drop the spud behind it and then pull the spade up a bit so the spud falls down under it. I am guessing that this put them at least 20cm down?  Of course I then earth up once they are through and heavy mulch.
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: laurieuk on March 23, 2011, 09:55:22
Quote from: antipodes on March 23, 2011, 09:29:40
I developed a rather back breaking technique this year. Soil is well  manured and crumbly - I stick in the spade as far as I can, wiggle it well about, (that is starting to sound dirty in fact!!!) and then I push the spade forwards, drop the spud behind it and then pull the spade up a bit so the spud falls down under it. I am guessing that this put them at least 20cm down?  Of course I then earth up once they are through and heavy mulch.

This is almost the same as I do but I doubt if mine go quite so deep. I just push the spade in , move some soil forward and put the potato in cover it and move on. I find this gives me plenty of soil to earth up with as they grow. I cannot see why we need to take out a full trench when we only use every 15 0r 18 inches.
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: vicki.m on March 23, 2011, 10:07:10
I've done it for the first time this year, I did a trench about 5 inches deep and put them in the bottom, whether or not it is deep enough I don't know we'll see what happens.
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: chriscross1966 on March 23, 2011, 10:38:20
However deep the trenching blade on my roatvator puts them....
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: flitwickone on March 23, 2011, 15:28:49
Quote from: saddad on March 23, 2011, 08:03:21
Welcome to A4A Nolandyet..
We use a trenching spade but never measure the depth accurately...



ive just used one for the first time what a bit of kit 21 rows done and dusted its on my xmas list
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: antipodes on March 23, 2011, 15:46:46
Oh I can't be bothered digging a real trench! I'd never get it  done. I think I probably plant mine too close together ( probably no more than about 8 inches per spud) but I leave the rows quite wide and I find that they find their own room.

last year I did some Ratte type - they grow very close to the surface! I had trouble with a few going green, first time I have ever had that. The other types didn't do it and I plant them all in the same way... odd that.
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: GRACELAND on March 23, 2011, 16:08:10
Quote from: nolandyet on March 23, 2011, 06:39:54
Don't know how many inches but I always put mine in at a spades depth.
Rich...

me too  :D
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: BoardStupid on March 23, 2011, 17:53:17
Make a trench with a hoe until it looks about right and then plonk them in. Nature doesn't measure in feet and inches so neither do I  :-)
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: cornykev on March 23, 2011, 19:42:58
A small trench with a hoe just to get a line, then make a hole with a planter, I have 6 inches all in all. :-[
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 23, 2011, 19:50:01
I plant them at whatever depth my trowel gets to, then pile mulch on top.
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: montbrayon on March 23, 2011, 21:44:49
Quote from: manicscousers on March 23, 2011, 08:35:56
we give the bulb planter a good shove and plant into the hole, no idea how deep  ;D

I like that idea, sounds easier than digging a trench, too late for me though, already dug 5 inch trench for mine earlier this week.   :(
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: lottie lou on March 23, 2011, 22:46:09
Tried the bulb planter method a couple of times but couldn't get the dirt out of the planter. 
Title: Re: depth of spuds
Post by: 1066 on March 23, 2011, 22:47:47
Quote from: lottie lou on March 23, 2011, 22:46:09
Tried the bulb planter method a couple of times but couldn't get the dirt out of the planter. 

I kind of know what you mean, it can stick to the sides (i'm on clay), you just have to bash it around a bit!!