Tatties 2017

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Scrungee, Jan 5, 2017.

  1. Mowerman

    Mowerman Gardener

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    Have acquired a share of an allotment and was going to grow potatoes but are 'potato sacks' a better alternative? The plot contains Field horsetails (Equisetum arvense), much to my horror today :doh:

    Couch grass roots have been known to go right through spuds so there's little doubt Horsetails have the same ability. Also, the bags should keep out some of the pests.

    Basically, are bags a waste of time compared to good soil?
     
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    • Linz

      Linz Total Gardener

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      That bloke has been made into a meme
      16142335_10158003293860507_2383073783637589305_n.jpg

      Bless him.

      Those moorhens are pretty cute mind, I'd let them eat a spud or 2.


      Congrats on the bit of allotment @Mowerman . I'm sure as long as you get most of the couch grass roots/marestail out you'll be fine. I say this as I (and my dad) just dug out 2 beds worth of the stuff (not marestail though, thank jesus) plus creeping buttercup and put spuds in there. But to your question, spud bags are pretty good I had some lovely ones last year on the patio, bit small but I under watered.. doing it again this year with more bags :)
       
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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        Well, I bet when he had to cut it up it brought tears to his eyes:dunno::snorky:
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I have always started my very early ones off in seed trays with a layer of compost. I do the same for onion sets. I think it gives a week or two advantage.
           
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            Last edited: Apr 3, 2017
          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            Bags will be more work, watering mainly. They would be OK for first earlies, I used old plastic recycling boxes for mine. For main crop I should imagine you'll do much better growing in the soil.
             
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            • Linz

              Linz Total Gardener

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              I was wondering why it wasn't known practice for spuds to be chitted in a layer of compost when I was putting my onion sets in trays with it, I think I might try it with my main crops. Onion sets were well rooted when I put them out and they seem to be loving life in the ground now.
               
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              • Scrungee

                Scrungee Well known for it

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                Anything that delays planting into my cold, wet, clay soil, or even into containers in a cold polytunnel is an advantage. I used put my dahlia tubers into trays of compost to get them sprouting before planting out (plus some cuttings).
                 
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                • silu

                  silu gardening easy...hmmm

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                  I have planted all but 1 variety of my chitted seed Potatoes. My Pink Fir Apples seed potoatos haven't started to show any forms of life yet:yikes:. The Potoatoes are nice and firm and look healthy enough but no shoots.
                  Should I just plant them as is or wait until they decide they would like to grow?
                   
                • Steve R

                  Steve R Soil Furtler

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                  All my spuds where planted last Tuesday (28th). I always aim to get all in at the end of March to help avoid blight later in the season for which our allotment site is quite prone to.

                  I'm also trying growing a few again in large containers, as @vegmandan does. Mine got blight last year in these large containers..so have gone for two blight resistant varieties for this years attempt.

                  The pipes at the back have a 2ft diameter and I have enough of these drain boxes to add a second level as can be seen on one of them. 4 seeds in each.

                  [​IMG]

                  [​IMG]

                  Steve...:)
                   
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                  • Scrungee

                    Scrungee Well known for it

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                    Using these, plus just ordered another 10 of the 'tree pots' in the middle:

                    containers.JPG

                    At £2.60 each delivered (to Argos), all I need to do is get several years use out them and they'll still have sufficient value to sell on and work out as cheap as buying DIY store's 'rubble bags'.
                     
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                      Last edited: Apr 3, 2017
                    • silu

                      silu gardening easy...hmmm

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                      Hey @Scrungee I could do with a few of what you've just ordered.Where did you order them from and how much? Also any idea about whether to plant the Fir Apples now or wait, re my last post on this thread.
                       
                    • Scrungee

                      Scrungee Well known for it

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                      Ebay, £25.95 for 10 30 35 45 50 60 70 LITRE PLANT TREE POT CONTAINER PLASTIC WITH HANDLES LARGE BIG | eBay , 14p per pot cheaper if buying 15.

                      N.B. If required, 30L pots can easily be 'extended' by adding a Correx (corrugated plastic sheet)collar, a very cheap way of converting a £2.60/30L pot to a £4.15/35L pot. Proplex Surface Protection Sheet 1200mm x 2400mm | Wickes.co.uk Should cost less than 30p/pot. Even cheaper if found in skips.
                       
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                        Last edited: Apr 3, 2017
                      • rustyroots

                        rustyroots Total Gardener

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                        Planted my spuds in potato bags tonight, can't remember what they are though.

                        Rusty
                         
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                        • JWK

                          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                          Surprised they haven't started chitting yet, but Pink Fir Apple are about the slowest to get going and the last to harvest. I would hang on for a week or two to see if they chit.
                           
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                          • silu

                            silu gardening easy...hmmm

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                            Thanks @JWK will do. Oh would it be an idea to maybe put them in the unheated greenhouse in some damp peat or likewise as I do with Dahlias and see if that will speed them up?
                             
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