Potatoes!!!

[Squirrel]

I tried a no-dig bed with mulch and I got a huge amount of clean spuds out of it! Was very impressed, I think others have tried but got a lot of slug damage. I used the straw and stuff from my chickens as mulch.

[sewer rat]

Lou Lou
See this months GYO re planting spuds for later in the year - espesh for Xmas

[Alice]

Lou- lou, your potatoe question is quite complex and there is no simple answer. It comes down to what kind of potatoes do you want to grow, what are you growing them in and where do you live.

Potatoes are half hardy. That means they won't tolerate frost. So to grow a crop now you need to work out if you can get them to eating size before the frost gets them.

So - when are your first frosts expected. Cant see where you live. In this neck of the woods it is September, but it could be later. Earlies take about 13 weeks to be ready so from now until September would be pushing to get a crop before first frost in open ground. However, if they were planted in containers that could be moved into polytunnel, greenhouse or covered with fleece, then there is every chance of getting potatoes. Even in open ground your frosts might be expected later, or might come later than usual. You might want to gamble on it.However, for maincrop varieties which need about 22 weeks to be ready I think you really would be gambling on the weather. I wouldn't do it.

If you don't know when to expect your first frost you should be voting FOR the weather board in the poll on the site.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck with your potatoes. I'm planting some more Charlotte in buckets tomorrow. Delicious and well worth while.

[Alice]

Charlotte in a bucket


My Charlotte had been in the bucket 15 weeks today and I emptied it out. WOW ! 4 lbs of gorgeous potatoes. I am just delighted . I still have a dustbin to empty so can't wait to see what's in there but I'll let you know.

[bramble]

Well done Alice, what a great crop. I still have some potato seed left and just put them in the other day. Glad to see I am not the only being adventurous. Good Luck with yours.