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POTATOES
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by smilingrosie2 (U10973578) on Thursday, 19th January 2012
when do you buy potatoes and start chitting them thanx
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Message 2
Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Friday, 20th January 2012
Now is as good a time as any!
Choices will be greater at the moment so get the varieties you want before they run out of stock.
Then follow this link.
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Message 3
Posted by David K (U14115317) on Friday, 20th January 2012
I did this ages ago and keep it on file as is it is a FAQ.
"Once home, seed tubers are best 'chitted' or sprouted.
Unpack and lay the tubers out in a single layer in a tray with the 'rose' end uppermost.
This end has the most eyes or buds and sprouts will arise from these. Some suppliers offer 'pre-chitted' seed.
Keep the trays of tubers in a cool but frost-free place with at least moderate light, such as in an unheated room.
Direct sunlight is best avoided. Sprouts will form within a few weeks. The tuber is therefore ready to grow away as soon as planted.
Tubers can be laid out to chit from January onwards, but planting should be delayed until March in sheltered and southern areas or April in less favoured districts.
Earlier plantings can rot in the ground or the shoots can be frosted off on sharp nights. By this time the sprouts should be about 5cm (2in) long and dark coloured. Longer thinner sprouts are caused by excess heat or too little light or both, and tiny sprouts suggest conditions are too cold.
Chitting takes about six weeks." -
Message 4
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Friday, 20th January 2012
Not an advert, just a honest comment. Townsends G/C just over the prison bridge as you go into Devizes must have about 40 different varieties of spud. You can buy a single spud or a cwt. They even have bags and sticky backed named labels so you don't mix your spuds up.
Cheers, Tony. -
Message 5
Posted by Braidman (U11753668) on Saturday, 21st January 2012
Hello,
It totally depends in what part of the country you are in!
There is about four to six weeks difference in growing conditions between south and north!
Also whether you have earlies, seconds or main crop!
Certainly chit "earlies" if you are able to plant within the next four weeks, you only want them starting to burst into life, not haulms a foot long, as the haulms will only rot if planted deeply and that is what you do with potatoes>
As for the others put them in trays by all means, but keep them cold, as you don't want them throwing long sprouts (haulms) and then going soft!
There is plenty of time to get them all planted into the ground>
It is also better to buy early, as you get the varieties you may want, and also they probably are not kept in ideal conditions in the garden centre or where ever!
Dundry Nurseries are having their potato weekend this weekend, between 135 and 150 varieties are on offer!
Cheers! -
Message 6
Posted by netherfield (U3897706) on Sunday, 22nd January 2012
If you are anywhere near Leeds,there is a potato day on 5th Feb Midday at Almscliffe village Hall,Huby out on the Harrogate road. Around 150 varieties to choose from and expert advice from Joe Maiden.
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Message 7
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Sunday, 22nd January 2012
I have heard that spring works its way 'up country' at the speed of a brisk walk. Cheers, Tony.
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Message 8
Posted by StaffordshireMags (U1624415) on Monday, 23rd January 2012
If you want just a few potatoes try discount shops like Poundland. I got a bag of 8 Pentalnd Javelin potatoes for £1 which is all I wanted. Maggie
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Message 9
Posted by weckie (U15112424) on Monday, 23rd January 2012
Not an advert, just a honest comment. Townsends G/C just over the prison bridge as you go into Devizes must have about 40 different varieties of spud. You can buy a single spud or a cwt. They even have bags and sticky backed named labels so you don't mix your spuds up.
Cheers, Tony.Ìý Hi Tony....
Does Twonsends also ship to the Netherlands?
And can i find them anywhere online.
In Holland we have only a view varieties
Would be nice to experiment with diff varieties.
Greetz,
Herman -
Message 10
Posted by weckie (U15112424) on Monday, 23rd January 2012
Hello,
It totally depends in what part of the country you are in!
There is about four to six weeks difference in growing conditions between south and north!
Also whether you have earlies, seconds or main crop!
Certainly chit "earlies" if you are able to plant within the next four weeks, you only want them starting to burst into life, not haulms a foot long, as the haulms will only rot if planted deeply and that is what you do with potatoes>
As for the others put them in trays by all means, but keep them cold, as you don't want them throwing long sprouts (haulms) and then going soft!
There is plenty of time to get them all planted into the ground>
It is also better to buy early, as you get the varieties you may want, and also they probably are not kept in ideal conditions in the garden centre or where ever!
Dundry Nurseries are having their potato weekend this weekend, between 135 and 150 varieties are on offer!
Cheers!
Ìý wow, thats a lot of varieties.
Do they ship to the Netherlands?
And can i find them on the internet?
greetz
Herman -
Message 11
Posted by Global_Worming (U14532104) on Tuesday, 24th January 2012
Tony do you visit this site
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Message 12
Posted by Braidman (U11753668) on Wednesday, 25th January 2012
Hello,
It totally depends in what part of the country you are in!
There is about four to six weeks difference in growing conditions between south and north!
Also whether you have earlies, seconds or main crop!
Certainly chit "earlies" if you are able to plant within the next four weeks, you only want them starting to burst into life, not haulms a foot long, as the haulms will only rot if planted deeply and that is what you do with potatoes>
As for the others put them in trays by all means, but keep them cold, as you don't want them throwing long sprouts (haulms) and then going soft!
There is plenty of time to get them all planted into the ground>
It is also better to buy early, as you get the varieties you may want, and also they probably are not kept in ideal conditions in the garden centre or where ever!
Dundry Nurseries are having their potato weekend this weekend, between 135 and 150 varieties are on offer!
Cheers!
Ìý wow, thats a lot of varieties.
Do they ship to the Netherlands?
And can i find them on the internet?
greetz
HermanÌý .
Hello!
Try
www.dundrynurseries.co.uk
Carriage would be prohibitive i'm sure!
Nurseries here charge from about Four to ten pounds sterling just for ordinary plants such as hostas!
That is what I have paid in the past year, if you want the plants the only is to pay the carriage!
Hope this helps?
Cheers! -
Message 13
Posted by smilingrosie2 (U10973578) on Tuesday, 31st January 2012
thanx everyone, ive bough earlies and maincrop i live in essex, they are in an unheated greenhouse at the moment
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Message 14
Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Monday, 6th February 2012
Last year was an excellent summer for growing potatoes and this was fortuate as I had planted more than usual (Thames Valley). Hence I did not lift all the crop but left the maincrop in the ground to dig as needed. The Cara suffered a little damage from soil creatures whereas Sarpo Mira very little. Leaving them in the soil means less storage spaced used and they remain really fresh. However it is wise to cut off all the foliage and earth up again to stop the light spoiling the tubers close to the surface.
Hence I am looking for varieties with tough skins that resist soil creatures, does any one have any recommendations? -
Message 15
Posted by Braidman (U11753668) on Monday, 6th February 2012
.
SANTE!
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Message 16
Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Monday, 6th February 2012
Kestrel
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Message 17
Posted by marinelilium (U8293024) on Tuesday, 7th February 2012
Last summer must have been ideal because the tastiest crop came directly out of one of my compost bins! 'Old' (unidentified) supermarket potatoes were lobbed in with kitchen waste. Two months later, when I needed to roate the bins, lo and behold lush potato foliage sprouting from that bin and 18 tubers on just one of the healthiest potato plants ever! Buttery, crisp potatoes with no eelworm, no slug damage at all. They thrived on neglect. No chitting, earthing up or watering other than rain.
Obviously my bins are not generating enough heat from anaerobes to reduce everything properly - but I didn't care if they could produce half a sack of really delicious potatoes. I also thought supermarkets zapped produce with gamma radiation, antifungals etc to render the potatoes useless and sterile for cultivation but obviously not.
MLx -
Message 18
Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Tuesday, 7th February 2012
Many thanks I have Kestrel seed for this year, so will look out for Sante.
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Message 19
Posted by ThroTheLookingGlass (U3151485) on Sunday, 26th February 2012
I was interested to read your comments re ground creatures and the potatoes you left in the ground until needed, just a thought and others may have the answer, what would the result be if main crop potatoes grown in sacks with potato compost were left in their sacks undisturbed until needed after all the foliage was removed.
I too live in the Thames Valley. -
Message 20
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Sunday, 26th February 2012
Hi, ThrouTheLookingGlass,
In answer to your Q...I tried to grow xmas spuds the year before last in grow bags but planted them late, the foilage was hit by frost and died off after the bags were moved into the GH. The compost then froze solid and didn't defrost until February.
If you can recall we had a rather harsh winter. When the bags were emptied the spuds were still edible, these weren't main crop though and the biggest were only tennis ball size..
In answer to your Q the spuds seem to have survived the winter but couldn't be dug up because the compost was frozen. -
Message 21
Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Monday, 27th February 2012
The advantage of leaving pototoes in the ground is primarily less work and storage space used, also the tubers retain their freshness and do not sprout. Orla is a great potato with beautiful foliage free from early blight, however leave it in the ground too long and it will becme a maze of tunnels and uneatable. So thick skinned varieties have much merit and you could do the same with potatoes in growing bags too, if that meant convenience.
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Message 22
Posted by tulipmania (U3090145) on Sunday, 4th March 2012
We got all the UK varieties we were looking for via the Vreekens of Dordrecht website.
Arrived a month ago, have nicely chitted and are going in the ground tomorrow under the plastic we spread to warm the soil! I understand their origin is Scotland.
Not many UK companies send here because of the risks of plant disease. Did however get 1000 snowdrops in the green last year and what a display they're making now!
Good luck Herman!
Greetings Tulip -
Message 23
Posted by Braidman (U11753668) on Sunday, 4th March 2012
.
Good planting Herman, still a little bit early here to put them in the ground!
By the way, what varieties did you get in the end?
No I suppose our continental cousins don't want returned, the pests and diseases they kindly sent over here to try us!
Especially as there are no proper products to fight back with now!
Cheers! -
Message 24
Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Sunday, 4th March 2012
Providing they are kept frost free they should be OK
When you consider that years ago farmers stored their potatoes outdoors in what was known as " clamps"
This was simply a process of covering the potatoes with a thick layer of straw as an insulator then covered it with soil to keep the straw in place.
So you are part way there with the soil covering so all you need is an insulator and that could be a frost free garage or shed.
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