My 'no dig' potatoes are really struggling and mice or rats have been digging them up. Is it too late to get some main crop potatoes in? I dont have any, so I guess there'd be no time to chit them.
If it's not too late, can you recommend a variety that would be good for very clay soil?
I haven't put all my main crop in yet, so it's not too late. Chances are if you find some seed potatoes they will have been chitting by themselves.
No recommendations for clay soil potatoes, would think they would all be the same.
Of course it's not too late. (Get them in before the end of the month, though!)
We've got clay soil and Desiree does very well. Or if you want a white, Picasso does well on my plot, although a number of folk grow Cara. King Edward does badly.
We only took over our allotment last June. We stuck some 'nicola' in and had a lovely crop :)
Go for it, they'll soon catch others up
Thanks all,
I write this reply while staring at a large clay bed (the joys of modern technology!). It's huge so will make a good potato bed and save me weeding it quite so often!
To the garden centre!
I planted (in bins) from Apr 24th up until June 20th last year. Got bumper crops from all of them
I haven't got all mine in yet, so you've plenty of time and maincrop don't really need chitting. ;D
Still some to get in here too... :-[
Definitely not too late, actually Suttons Seeds have an offer on their potatoes this weekend, buy 1 get 1 free I think (I don't work there, but know someone who does)
I think Maincrop are OK to plant up to about end of April
I'm going to try to be organised and grow some for Christmas by planting in August :)
As some others have said, later plantings grow faster anyway. I've heard of people planting them in June before - never risked it that late though! ;D
I've still got lots of pink fir apple to go in as well - it's hard work clearing enough new ground for mine to go in. And I've run out of manure :(
I planted Estima and Pink Fir Apple today, so no worries.
Last year I started planting my main crops about this time and finished at the end of April.
When I harvested I found that the ones I'd planted later produced a better crop. That was desirees.
This year I've not even started planting the maincrops yet.
still putting mine in.
Not even started........next week. ::)
I usually plant all of mine towards the end of April - earlies and maincrops together! In fact if your average last frost is mid May then now is the perfect time otherwise you may have to go to the effort of frost protection.
I have clay soil - an old riverbed! Last year I had cracking crops with mancrops Golden Wonder and Romano.
This year I am having a go with "Cyprus Potatoes". On a recent holiday in Cyprus I liked them so much I went and bought some from the greengrocer and am putting them in as well as other maincrops!
Put a row of maincrops in today - Maris Piper, never tried them before.
My maincrop went in today too.After years of growing Desiree I decided on a change so this year its Pentland Crown for me.
Quote from: PeterVV on April 16, 2011, 22:06:37
Put a row of maincrops in today - Maris Piper, never tried them before.
Can be a bit of a slug magnet... might be worth a nematode application... :-\