Tater And Onion Problems!

problems!

1. my taters are flopping over dramatically. their leaves have began to curl up at the edges, and some have gone a really dull colour. some much lighter but not to the extent to be called chlorisis i don't think.

i've sprayed them with insect killer in case its leaf curl virus (i think that's the self evident name) from aphids...but no evuidence of aphids.

2. my onions also are flopping over and some leaves are going a bit yellow. should i have dug the earth up to expose the bulbs at this point? i have done a bit, and the bulbs are pretty darn small, no brown skin, and about the size of a babies hand.

i've been feeding them the past fortnight, although very late i'd imagine, with tesco soluble plant food - which is blue.
would this provide the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and magnesium i need...

do i need to buy potash still? as i'm gonna pick some up this afternoon.

 

I think that they might be ready for lifting?
stony

 

Hi DS. Sounds to me like the potatoes are almost ready for lifting (I`m assuming that they are main crop ?). With the onions, i`d say it`s too late to be adding nitrogen and, if they`re already flopping over, i`d say it`s also too late to be adding potash. Mind you, i`m no expert, so if i`m wrong, i`m sure someone will say so. Cheers...freddy.

 

David, don`t quite know what you mean by " should I have dug the earth up to expose the bulbs ". The onions should be growing on top of the soil, anyway. Freddy has it right by the way, re feeding.:thumb:

 

I couldn't actually find any potash in any case. everything is soluble plant food. is that what you all are using? where on earth can i get potash....you make it by burning wood yes?

my onion bulbs are growing a teensy bit above the soil but to be honest i've planted them in too little compost so they are absolutely tiny....how can i judge when i need to drag them up.

 

Hi again DS. Best thing with the onions is to just leave them for now. Gradually, the leaves will turn brown and when they do, that`s the time to lift them. Leave them on the surface to dry out and after a week or so, they are ready for use. If the forecast is for rain, then put them somewhere dry out (I use a shady spot in the greenhouse). As for the potash, not sure about that. I`m sure someone can help you out there. Cheers...freddy.

 

On fertilizer foods you get the NPK....K stands for potash. A balanced food is 7.7.7.

N stands for Nitrogen, P stands for Phosphorus (phosphates) & K stands for Potassium (or potash)

Or to put it another way...Tomato feed is high in potash..but your too late now mate.:thumb:

 

Or you could buy Sulphate of Potash.:thumb: