more xmas spud advice

[supersam]

oops sorry forgot this bit............
am I better to buy seed potatoes for this? Ive read about a few failures using supermarket ones. I was thinking seeds of Carlingford... are these the best?

[nick the grief]

Whatever grows well for you Sam, you may struggle to get any now but try if not try the supermarket ones.

[lspittles]

I hedged my bets and put in both seed and supermarket. The 'proper' ones are doing nicely but the supermarket ones have yet to appear. I'll leave them in, though, just in case.

Lesley

[supersam]

Thanks all, I think I'll try and get some 'proper ones' and see what happens.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi SS - there are plenty of threads if you type in xmas potaotes in the search wotsit, you will find plenty of advice. best wishes dexterdog

[big digger]

novices

Hello to all you gardeners,
My partner and I bought an old farmhouse for renovation in Normandy in summer of this year.(I anticipate the Frenchie nickname ofcourse)

I shall be starting work on about an acre of land in Normandy France at the end of March but havent a clue where to start. The land has been used most recently for growing maize. What is the real first thing I should do as an absolutely scratch novice with hands and a few tools.

I was hoping Potatoes would be my first project along with all the other regulars for the first year, since we want to feed ourselves as soon as possible. I planted pear tree in an orchard there in late September, in the hope that it might take root, but otherwise have it all to do. I look forward to all your advice and comments of whatever kind and have seen already what a useful sight this is.
I have just been reading about the Moon gardening project which sounds fascinating. I picked this out as we were told by an architect in France that the old beams of the house, although they appear worm ridden are actually quite sound, since these massive old beams were cut when the SAP WAS HIGH DURING A WAXING MOON and stored in the dark for 10-12 years, after which time the rock hard solid core of the tree acts as a natural antiworming agent.
Looking forward to all your lively contributions for my project folder!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi Big Digger and may I welcome you to the vine.

The people here are very friendly and will soon give you lots of helpful advice.

I started growing veg for the first time this past spring and my tip would be to try growing a small amount of everything you like to eat. If something is not suited to your land you will not have wasted a whole plot and you can sometimes be surprised!

I cannot say much more than treat it as fun and an experiment for the first year. Plant some quick-growing things too, such as lettuce, as it is very satisfying to eat the first things you grew yourself!!

My OH said to me just last night that shop-bought tomatoes now taste like cardboard since he ate our home-grown ones!!

Good luck and enjoy your garden.

[big digger]

Hi Shirlthegirl
many thanks for your quick reply and words of encouragement
Reet

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Big Digger, congrats on the plot in France and a warm festive welcome to the vine! There's a good bunch of friendly grapes on here who'll not only share loads of advice, but also keep you entertained too, so hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

First things I'd look at are trying to sort out some structure to the growing area, marking out your beds, putting in paths (if you are going for a bed type system), then clearing the growing areas of weeds and improving the soil, perhaps start a compost heap now (ready to compost down all the non perennial weeds ready to use as compost next year) and then getready to start planting when the weather improves!

Please let us know how you get on and if possibvle share some piccies of how it looks, try and remember to take some before, during and after, it gives you an easy reference journal of just what you've acchieved!

Oh, and remember, dont do too much at once, take it slow and steady, properly clearing the areas you need first rather than rushing and ending up doing yourself a mischief! If you cant clear it all at once, then perhaps cover some of it over to tackle later, a good covering will help stop any weeds getting established while you are working on other areas!

Anyway, I hope this is of help, I'm sure some of the other more experienced grapes will be along with their advice too!

[nick the grief]

Hi Big Digger,

It very gerenous of you to offer all us grapes free holidays in Normandy in exchange for a bit of advice (well you have to try don't you ) Mrs D's advice os spot on really. 1 acre is a more a smallholding rather than an allotment, but more planning is needed because with so much to go at you are in danger of completely knackering yourself !!

If you can get hold of a book on how they uses to look after a walled garden thats the sort of thing you could do with - only you won't have about 12 helpers I guess

As to crops Tatties will help clear the ground for you and also Brasica's, leeks, Onions & Garlic as well. I can't advise on varieties though as I'm sure there are local vasrieties that may well out perform the favourites thet we grow.

Also, as an acre is roughly the equivalent of 4 allotments why not divide it into two and have Fruit & veg on one part & the other part you could keep a few chooks & a goat or two that would make you almost self suffuicient - John Seymours book would be a good one for you to get.

[big digger]

Hi Mrs Dobby
Great advice many thanks but hey - I thought a weed was a weed was a weed - how do I tell the perennial weeds apart for starters.
Can you get the black ground cover anywhere cheaply
All suggestions gratefully received
Big digger

[big digger]

Hi Nick the grief
Thats all very useful stuff many thanks. incidentally you dont know me but if you are interested in coming to France, by all means, there is plenty to keep you occupied.
Big digger

[big digger]

Mrs Dobby
further, we wont be in France until March so cant do any composting yet - sadly - how can I get round that later on - will i need to buy ??
Big digger

[yoanbob]

if your not out there till march big digger, you may want to concentrate on clearing the land and preparing, ready for next spring. how much time will you have to spend on the land?
if your doing the farm as well you may seriously need some pigs.
pigs are the best least labour intesive way of preparing and weeding the land, they will co habit with chickens well and chooks will remove any seeds after the pigs have pulled up all the deep rooted weeds.
also there combined poop makes excellent fertillizer and will help get the soil ready for growing.
if having your own pigs seems a bit much ask around the village and offer the land to a local pig farmer for a year, maybe in exchange for a hock of ham.
then you can easily divide the perfectly primed land and get planting properly in 2008.
you could also have a small patch near the house and grow some simple things like garlic and spuds and carrots and lettuce just to get you started, its amazing how much you will learn from just a small plot.
i would also recomend john seymores book.
that way your compost will be well on its way, for the next season.
otherwise i think your looking at a lot of hard labour and a few years to it how you want it.
most people take 3 years to get a small allotment producing well and laid out productivly. with a whole acre you could triple that at least. how ever the pig method could half it.
good luck.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Best advice I can give re: xmas tatties - is if there is going to be a frost - make sure you cover them up! Mine were killed off by the frost we had in November - good lesson learned there methinks! Dexterdog