Potato Growing 2024

I just stick to Desiree now. I used to do Charlotte but found they attracted keel slugs and I struggled to get an unaffected crop. For me, I find Desiree to be fairly pest free when I grow them and they store well too.

 

That's good to know @Emptyheadtime . i found some Désirée this year and am growing them for the first time.

 

I bought my seeds from Dobbies, some varieties are loose and you can have a few of each instead of a bag full of one type.

 

Oh that’s interesting, I’ll have a look if there’s one near me

 

Sowed the Pink Fir Apples in a raised bed today, the farmers are putting the Roosters in.

 

I've been back in the veg plot today. Weeded, dug and added compost to this year's potato patch. The soil was heavy after all the rain. Then I planted the potatoes, Charlotte. It was hot, 27C here in Dordogne, so I was glad there is some shade in the afternoon from the bay tree. I like Charlotte, they start off like new potatoes then I leave them in the ground and dig them up when needed, can keep going until the start of winter. Never had any problem with slugs.

 

I planted out some Charlotte yesterday, they were part of last year’s crop. They were very big, large baking spud size, as they were the last ones I lifted. They had begun to chit in storage but were still in good condition so I thought I would give it a go. It will be interesting to see how well they crop starting from such a large tuber, about 5 times the size of last year’s seed tubers.

 

You could have cut them up if you had wanted. That would have given a larger(R) crop. Will be interested to see if you get an enlarged output, never having done such an extravagant thing !! Perhaps they will all be 'bakers' ??, my Charlottes are used as second earlies , as salad (new ) potatoes.

 

Wow yours are well on @JWK my ones in buckets are only just poking through so not exactly early! I met a retired potato farmer today, I live in an area where many potatoes are grown commercially. He was waxing lyrical about a potato called Sagitta which he still grows but now on an amateur scale. He has given me a few to eat/ grow. I normally grow Anya, Belle de Fontenay and Setanta but will give these a try but wondered if anybody has grown them,I had never even heard of them.

 

Tempted now to pick the three I put in a pot. I need the pot soon anyway to put a chilli or two in. I planted them 8th march in the greenhouse and they are variety rocket. Shall have a little furtle in the next day or two

 

I am giving potatoes a go for the first time this year.

In late March we had some Tescos potatoes in the vegetable rack that were sprouting.
So thought I would see what happens if I planted them.

How long should I wait to harvest?