Potatoes Made Easy

[nerdgas]

Funnily enough I have just started chitting my first earlies today and use exactly the same method (as per the guide on your website).

Glad to see that I did it right!

Just one other question.....

You recommend 45g of fertiliser for the grow bag with 5 seed pots. If I go for 2/3 seed pots per bag is 45g of fert still the recommended amount? Just don't want to risk over-fertilising the pots.

[Jewel]

Do i start chitting potatoes now?

Hi
This is my first year growing potatoes. I'm in warwickshire and have just bought my seed potatoes. I've got a variety of earlies and maincrop. Do i start chitting them all now or just the earlies? Also where do i store them whilst chitting? I was thinking the garage, which has windows to let in natural light.If i am not chitting them all together, can i store them in the dark under the stairs?
I know it's a lot of questions but i want to get it right.
Thanks for any help and advice.

[zazen999]

Jewel - I'ver merged your thread with the current potato thread which should answer all our potato needs

Do not leave them in the dark though - they will grow long shoots and that's not what you want.

[tattieman]

Funnily enough I have just started chitting my first earlies today and use exactly the same method (as per the guide on your website).

Glad to see that I did it right!

Just one other question.....

You recommend 45g of fertiliser for the grow bag with 5 seed pots. If I go for 2/3 seed pots per bag is 45g of fert still the recommended amount? Just don't want to risk over-fertilising the pots.

Yes you will always use the same amount of fertilizer in your compost mix.
It will allow you to grow a larger crop from fewer potatoes planted.

[Alison]

Do not leave them in the dark though - they will grow long shoots and that's not what you want.

I think he was talking about storing rather than chitting which I always do in the dark and cold (frost free ). If you look at Tattieman's advice, he suggests the fridge ie in the dark (well it is unless your light is bust

[tattieman]

I think he was talking about storing rather than chitting which I always do in the dark and cold (frost free ). If you look at Tattieman's advice, he suggests the fridge ie in the dark (well it is unless your light is bust

Alison are you sure the light goes off in the fridge when you shut the door?
I think you will need to climb inside and see

If I had received my potatoes last year I would store them in the dark but at this time of year your probably better in a cool light place as they will be wanting to grow now anyway.

[Sanjo]

Tattieman, as an expert - and you have possibly been asked this question many times - but what do you do about replenishing your soil. Was talking to my OH today when we were out and about and we wondered how suppliers/commercial potato growers manage with crop rotation.
It's like turf suppliers, they have to keep taking off the top lot of soil and turf so they must be constantly replacing their topsoil.

[Alison]

Alison are you sure the light goes off in the fridge when you shut the door?
I think you will need to climb inside and see

Oh God have I got to empty out all the jams, yoghurts, cheese, milk etc etc to check it out. And I think I'll need a chair to help me get in as it's over a freezer and what happens if the light does go out and I can't work out how to go out Thanks goodness it's OK to store them in the light at this time of year!

[Ian White]

Spud Help please

OK boys and girls

When i have planted my spuds and they need earthing up could i do this by placing well rotted manure on top of them,or would that be too much goodness for them at one go.

All the best,Ian

[BUFFS]

hi ian, when your spuds need earthing up,just draw up the surrounding soil, i have just laced my spud soil with handfuls of chicken pellets before i do any planting,they will disolve in a few weeks,i give my spuds two good drenchings of seaweed fertiliser,one in june,one in july,and thats it...great crops,any rich compost for that area would be better put on soil in autumn,readying the ground for the next year,then you can more or less put in what you like..good luck.

[esrikandan]

We're gonna try fairly deep planting for this years spuds and hopefully not worry about earthing up at all.

We think about 12" deep should do it. Dunno if it will work and/or make much difference but will hopefully save some effort later on.

[jacob marley]

I read a big article about this once don't know if a foot deep is ok but i plant 8 inches and only lightly earth up it seems to work not many green one's....jacob

[COMPOST CORNER]

Frost and potatoes

A question for all, but I suppose mainly Tattieman.
I am going to try to get ahead of the game by putting in a couple of first earlies in my unheated Gh in pots.
Do I need to be concerned about frost immediately, or only after the shoots have popped their heads through the compost?

[Rocketron]

The latter.

[Snadger]

The latter.

I'm not so sure Rocketron? The compost in my greenhouse has frozen at times. If a well chitted and growing tattie, which hasn't made it above soil, became frozen, I reckon the plant would be killed?

You could wrap the pots in bubblewrap or temporarily insulate them in some way to combat this. I use the thin polystyrene you get to put under laminate flooring. You can then insulate by adding extra layers if a heavy frost is forecast, or even use the old tramps trick (not that I would know, of course), of insulating them with layers of dry newspaper!