day 1 on my very first plot!

[mr tiler]

hi guys well today I got started on my plot... here are some pics




also found this cheeky little chap... theres a couple of plants I think but by the time I noticed them I had already strimmed them over... will they grow back if I leave them be for a bit?

any advice on what to do tomorrow I would like to get some potatoes in that have small roots coming off them what you wrekkon? cheers

[Nicos]

If you can still move tomorrow...

yup get those spuds in as it's getting on the late side for them.

So long as those strawberry plants still have their crowns they will come back.
Might be easier to dig them up and put them in a new bed?

Have you got a compost bin sorted yet? Pallets are the cheapest and really easy to make ( double or treble bays)
...might be worth finishing off the strimming and taking a look around your boundary to see what is worth keeping first though??

Always good to keep changing what you are doing so you are tiring different muscle groups!

[mr tiler]

well as a matter of fact I have inherited a compost bin that is full of compost (and ants!)... I don't know what part of the plant the crown is? if it is the tope then that has certainly gone lol... these plants have been trod all over I hope they survive.. how easy is it to move them as I will do that and get working on the rest of the plot tmoz thanks

[Greenleaves]

Make sure you keep taking the pictures, not only do we like seeing your progress, but sometimes when things dont turned out as planned you have a visual reminder of what you have achieved.

Bite sized chunks is my advice, dig a patch and plant, then move to the next area.

[mr tiler]

still need some pallets to section off 3 bays for the compost heaps though so will get on that.. also have a shed that is falling apart so think im gonna build one in a couple of weeks or so

[mr tiler]

so how deep and far apart do I plant the potatos? cheers

[Nicos]

I can't see any plant/leaves on the piccie...did that strawberry flick from nearby??

The very centre is the crown- even if there are no leaves, if it is intact it will grow again.


If you accidentally dig them up, just pop them in a pot and keep them until later....you'll find out either way sooner or later.
Always good to have free plants!

If you are really achy either take dimensions and make up a chart/plan of what you want to grow where and think about crop rotation...or...go driving round peering into skips...you'll soon get hooked on recycling for your lottie!

[mr tiler]

haha my father in-law is a skip lorry driver so I can go into there yard anytime I want so free materials is no issue. that strawberry in particular was attatched to the plant... I didn't go down low enough to hit the crown so that is all good... I may try to dig it up and put it down into the fresh soil I have dug over tmoz I am now buzzing that I have strawberrys its one of the main things I wanted to grow lol

[Guykp57]

Hi, answer to potatoes try and get a patch dug over ASAP, then plant root up, not being funny by my neighbour at allotments thought they went root down. Put them in about a foot apart and maybe leave just two chits on them as you should get more potatoes from them. I put mine in this time last year and got a nice crop back. Keep pics coming and Welcome.

[Nicos]

what looks like roots now will actually be the leaves!..so yup chits( they are not roots) uppermost...although they will eventually find the light if planted upside down!

[mr tiler]

mine don't have chits that big they are about 10mm sticking out of the potato will they be ok to plant? thanks guys

[Guykp57]

You have nothing to loose by trying them as somebody said to me last year when I first started it's all trail and error.

[Martin H]

10mm is ideal, Mr T. Get them in, shoots facing upwards if possible, in holes maybe 150 mm deep. In this weather they'll be growing away in no time.

[mr tiler]

cheers guys

[Raybon]

Great to see the enthusiasm and commitment, enjoy yourself!
Lovely to be in your own space!