Mne are chitting but i've forgotten when I should plant them. What are others doing?
I know we're early but all ours are in, the earlies are earthed up once and we're standing by with fleece :)
120 of mine are in (started mid-March, same as last year) but I am not bothering with fleece as I always seem to get away without using it. Still have some Desirees to put in, then I'm done.
Charlotte and Foremost , are in, main crop will go in Good Friday, as my Dad always told me. and yes fleece at the ready...
First earlies in last weekend. Starting on my seconds and then to finish my Skerry Blues. Put them in around this time last year. Usually put them in Good Friday but rather late this year
All first and second earlies are in and some mains. still got some more main to go in
First earlies have been in for 2 weeks. Seconds going in this weekend hopefully, late/maincrop will go in before end of April.
On the way to work I drive along the Ayrshire coast around Girvan. This is the first place the farmers harvest the earlies (Epicures) and the ones under plastic cloches have been in for a month - the non forced ones were all put in last week. My International Kidneys are chitting in the greenhouse (that sounds weird :D ) now wondering if I should put them in this weekend. Too early do you think?
Meg
My I/K went in last week.
Quote from: tomatoada on April 05, 2011, 14:00:37
My I/K went in last week.
Where are you tomatoada?
Meg
mine went in yesterday
Rockets and Winston were put in 2/3 week of March
Kestrels started going in over a week ago and will finish the rest today hopefully
Pentland Crown will go in3/4 week of this month
;D
Lady C went in March 2nd; Roseval, Red Duke of York & Rudolf on March 17th; Charlotte on 20th.
I've still got Desiree, PFA & Yetholm's Gypsy chitting, so they can go in soon. Picasso I only bought at Wisley this morning, but I'll get them in fairly soon as well.
I normally reckon to get all my spuds in by mid-April at the latest.
(Kev - as a self-professed spud-nut, how come you're only growing 4 varieties??)
The place I buy them from Trev, sell them in 3kg bags so I normally buy an early, 2nd and main, but I swapped some Rocket for Winston this year, but I have found a cheaper supplier this year that sell them for £1 a kilo, so I will buy different earlies and main. I've just put in my last Kestrels. :P
Quote from: meg_gordon on April 05, 2011, 14:03:57
Quote from: tomatoada on April 05, 2011, 14:00:37
My I/K went in last week.
Where are you tomatoada?
Meg
I live in Bournville near cadburys chocolate factory.
started to plant 5 th march, only growing earlys [ sharpes express ] 6 rows
just starting to push through.
jim
:)All first and second early,s are in earth up , and ready to plant main but no rush ;D
My Nadine spuds went in two weeks ago, just two rows for us not big spud eaters, :)
My Charlotte, kestral & Pink Fur Apples went in last weekend
Mine should go in tomorrow - I have been soooo busy this year that I haven't had time, plus they were slow to chit! That's my excuse anyway!!! ;D Love this time of year - once the spuds are in it all seems to get going!
This weekend for the main batch, assuming I can get the Howard fired up with it's ridger on it should all be done Saturday morning..... There's abeen a few lady Christl's and Pnetland Javelins in big pots on the patio for a couple of weeks though nothing showing yet....
Quote from: tomatoada on April 05, 2011, 17:08:30
I live in Bournville near cadburys chocolate factory.
Quite a few miles further south then - watched the Beechgrove on Monday night, and Jim still has all his tatties chitting - advises another week or so. Maybe I should be in between - if it's not pouring on Saturday I'll put them in.
Meg
Mine went in end of March, Charlottes on 22nd and Desiree on 28th - nothing showing yet!! :(
Mine went in 19th/20th of March.
Popped up plot before work today and loads of dark green shoots peeking into the sunlight :-)
Is there an idiot's guide somewhere online for a complete beginner to look at for growing potatoes?
There are that many different kinds and varieties that I've literally no idea where to start, let alone how to actually grow them!
The JBA seed potatoes site is really good, lots of useful info and tips as well as videos to get you started, you can also order online too!
http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk
I planted my first ones end of Feb (in bags in the shed). More planted 2 weeks ago (also in bags) Planted first and second earlies in the ground yesterday and the rest in bags today.
Mains will probably go in next week or the week after.
I only grow first earlies - Home Guard - went in 12th March. Earthed up yesterday.
Alison
All done! Kestrel went in a couple of weeks ago, then the Charlotte, Nicola and Nadine all went in on Thursday-no Roosters this year as the slugs like them too much!
Quote from: JamesMio on April 08, 2011, 10:34:47
Is there an idiot's guide somewhere online for a complete beginner to look at for growing potatoes?
have a look on u-tube at " claires allotment "
or
http://www.dundrynurseries.co.uk/pete.asp
Quote from: JamesMio on April 08, 2011, 10:34:47
Is there an idiot's guide somewhere online for a complete beginner to look at for growing potatoes?
There are that many different kinds and varieties that I've literally no idea where to start, let alone how to actually grow them!
Potato council is pretty good reading as well :-)
http://www.lovepotatoes.co.uk/
first set of 1st earlies went in this morning (grow mine in bins) Thought I was running late but checked and I didn't start planting mine last year until April 25th! (Planted 8 differe t varieties between Apr 25th and Jun 20th. All in bins except 2 and got bumper crops for em all. Harvested between August and October.
Last ones went in yesterday afternoon.
Now I can concentrate on the really important crops! (Well, time-consuming: peas, beans, tomatoes, courgettes, squashes, sweetcorn. And flowers.)
ditto Trevor! Mine went in today, let the bean and squash sowing commence ;D
Got my first earlies in a month ago, then second earlies two weeks later. I'm now working my way through maincrops. Having said that, I am in Bristol so probably a lot milder weather than what quite a few of you lot get.
Thanks to the ridger on the Howard I got mine in in jig fashion yesterday morning..... still got some microtubers to go into pots through...
Got another ten rows in over the weekend.. still about six to go. Got 4/5 of the specials in pots (dustbins). First tops through (Edgecote Purple) but they are in a frame as we are predicted a frost tonight... so I'll be covering them up .. :)