When to sow Christmas spuds

[ameno]

You think? So why do spuds accidently left in the ground produce another crop the following year?

They don't produce "another crop". The crop from the first year goes on to produce it's own crop the next. It's how potatoes overwinter and how they spread in the first place.
The original seed potato will not grow again, though. Most of them time it's well rotten by then, and even if it's not, it won't have enough energy left to crop again.

[Marb67]

that is as big as they will get.

You think? So why do spuds accidently left in the ground produce another crop the following year?

[history gardening]

that is as big as they will get.

[Snoop Puss]

Well worth the experiment, Marb. Congratulations.

[Marb67]

Well I just dug up a spud and clearly they are producing. Not large but they are there and hopefully get full size when I water them.

[Nicos]

Absolutely…go for it, but at least now you are aware of potential outcomes.
It’ll be useful to see how they do incase anyone else is tempted to try next year.
Always good to share advice.

[Marb67]

Well I haven't much to lose really all things considering.

[ameno]

Thats ok as blight is over now and the spores will have died.

That depends how long ago you disposed of the dead plants. The spores can last a few weeks without a host, so may still be hanging around. It'll be fine by spring, but I'm not sure I'd want to risk using it in the autumn.

[Marb67]

Broad beans are not potatoes.
Broad beans grow from seeds, and thus are designed not to require much of a food reserve to get started. They are meant to start small and get many times larger. They are also completely frost hardy.
Potatoes grow from a tuber and require a decent reserve of food in the tuber to get going. They are meant to get off to a strong start like that, then grow quickly. They are not meant to have to struggle to get going and grow slowly. And of course potatoes are not hardy in the slightest, and will turn black at the slightest frost.

Yes but not in a greenhouse with protection.

[Marb67]

Urm…didn’t your tomatoes have blight? ( just a thought if you are going to use spent tomato compost….)

Thats ok as blight is over now and the spores will have died.

[Nicos]

Urm…didn’t your tomatoes have blight? ( just a thought if you are going to use spent tomato compost….)

[ameno]

Well I shall plant them in spent tomato compost from this year with some bfb feed and a little water. They have to produce something. I have seen broad Beans sown in Autumn go through a hard winter in the greenhouse come back from thin, wispy plants to produce healthy beans next June.

Broad beans are not potatoes.
Broad beans grow from seeds, and thus are designed not to require much of a food reserve to get started. They are meant to start small and get many times larger. They are also completely frost hardy.
Potatoes grow from a tuber and require a decent reserve of food in the tuber to get going. They are meant to get off to a strong start like that, then grow quickly. They are not meant to have to struggle to get going and grow slowly. And of course potatoes are not hardy in the slightest, and will turn black at the slightest frost.

[Snoop Puss]

Well I shall plant them in spent tomato compost from this year with some bfb feed and a little water. They have to produce something. I have seen broad Beans sown in Autumn go through a hard winter in the greenhouse come back from thin, wispy plants to produce healthy beans next June.

Good luck. I really hope it works out.

[Nicos]

Do let us know how you get on marb.

[Marb67]

Well I shall plant them in spent tomato compost from this year with some bfb feed and a little water. They have to produce something. I have seen broad Beans sown in Autumn go through a hard winter in the greenhouse come back from thin, wispy plants to produce healthy beans next June.