Has anyone tried tatties growing up?

[Snadger]

I'm growing PFA again this year. I've grown them before and the foliage grew 5 to 6 foot high!

Too much mulch required for these beauties but I will have to build some sort of support for them!

[susieq100]

Question for Two Sheds?
Does the leaf mould have to have mouldered? Could I mix grass clippings, newspaper and fallen brown leaves that I have collected recently?

Sorry - should explain ... I have planted the spuds into roughly dug ground (extra beds that I have acquired this spring and did not have time to properly clear) which I then covered with newspaper and a thin layer of bulk bought in compost/soil improver. When I need to earth up the spuds (assuming they grow) there may not be enough loose soil available and wanted to improve the soil anyway.

[binley100]

An update..........

Yesterday we uncovered the second earlies (Kestrel) and ...........drum roll...........they are bl'ddy marvellous very little slug damage , and a good selection of decent sized spuds. For the first time ever I have managed to grow some baking sized tatties.........
and to OH who didn't think it'd work (thought they'd either be green or rot in the rain) ...nernernenerner

[veggiechicken]

Did you use straw Bins?

[binley100]

Yup a mixture of straw and grass clippings ......That has all now been moved onto earth up my celery ...

[Bigmallly]

I covered mine in straw Bins but not for the same reason as you. A frost was forcast so I went down and put a foot of straw over them. Got fantastic results.

[veggiechicken]

I put straw on mine too - and that's where I've been for the last hour or so - hunting potatoes. I cut down the foliage a few weeks ago as it didn't look too healthy and dug up some tatties. So I've been redigging - found a few more but not a good crop overall. The ground looks good though - time to plant it up before the brambles grab it again.

[bearded bloke]

Well done Bin's

Yesterday we uncovered the second earlies (Kestrel) and ...........drum roll...........they are bl'ddy marvellous very little slug damage , and a good selection of decent sized spuds. For the first time ever I have managed to grow some baking sized tatties.........

That ^^ saved me asking

[kathycam]

I grew my potatoes in 3 ways this year. It was also my first time growing potatoes.

The first lot were some shetland blacks in a grow bag. I found the plants tended to dry out really quick, even if there had been rain. I needed to water them a lot. The potatoes were good but small. No damage.

The second lot were some poundshop red dukes in a layer of manure and compost and then covered with straw. These grew well and got to a good size. Less potatoes than the other methods, but the ones that grew were bigger. Was very easy to harvest them.

The third method was some purple majestys in a mound. The mound was made up of stacked upside down grass and weeds, taken when digging a new bed. The mound had sat for about 6 months before growing stuff in it. I had added various bits onto the mound from cardboard, wood ash from bonfire, soil improver. I put the potatoes in about 4 inches deep. And earthed them up when needed. I found the mound needed less watering than the others. The potatoes suffered more damage than other methods but got to a good size and a good quantity.

Next year I will probably use the straw method, as was the easiest. The mound method is a great way to make use of stuff and everyone complimented it. The sacks were good if you don't have ground to put things in.

I now have some christmas potatoes growing in a sack and some end of season potatoes growing in cheap compost in old bags. (allotment shop was chucking them out) They all seem to be growing ok.

[Kaiya]

I think I'll have to try this method in future, if I can get the straw. My ground tatties have blight but I've thrown my back out and can't sit, let alone dig!