Potatoes taking over greenhouse

[AdeyT]

I have three lots of tatties in bags at the back of the greenhouse and the foliage is taking over the greenhouse. I have Desiree and Arran Pilot planted March (I think?), both types are flowering. The problem is the foliage is encroaching on my tomato plants, I've tried my best to hold the foliage back as it's flopping over.
I can't really move anything without causing damage to the plants (or my back). Just wonder/hoping the tatties will be ready for harvest soon, maybe best try and have a furtle?

[SarzWix]

The Arran Pilot should be ready if they're flowering - they're First Earlies, so only take 10-12 weeks. The Desiree are about 20 weeks from planting, so they'll be a little while yet. You could, at a pinch, cut the foliage back a little bit, but it might be easier to contain them if the Arran Pilots have been harvested?

For future reference - I wouldn't bother putting the Desirée in the greenhouse; if there's a risk of frost, they can be earthed up to protect the foliage. And as you've seen, they get a bit rampant Plus, they won't take up as much water outside, because they won't be so hot.

[Two_Sheds]

They don't need to be in a greenhouse now: just in the cooler months

[Pies]

Time to evict the spuds

[rustylady]

Why on earth do you have potatoes in the greenhouse?

[SarzWix]

Adey says in the first post that he can't move them out at this stage, because the containers are too heavy and unwieldy, so he needs other solutions And we all make the odd mistake eh? Even the more experienced gardeners

I'm pretty sure you'll get away with giving them a tiny hair-cut if necessary; although the plants do use the foliage to produce 'food' for the plant, it won't help it if it gets so big that it snaps

[zazen999]

Why on earth do you have potatoes in the greenhouse?

We grew potatoes in the greenhouse at one of our schools as we just didn't have the ability to clear the land in time.....we harvested some 2 weeks ago and will do the rest just before the end of the school year. Sometimes, needs must. Not everyone has the same space to grow in.

[FionaH]

I have tried to grow some really daft stuff in the greenhouse. Spring onions was the biggest disaster They got too hot..........anyone for fried onion?

[zazen999]

Is this a Mod convention?????

Or did we all just walk through the same door at the same time?

Freaky.

[Flummery]

I had two large shrub tubs of spuds in the greenhouse. Very difficult to remove! However, the spuds are all eaten now. If you only sow first earlies you can get your crop in May. Well worth doing. I put them under the staging though, so I don't have to shift them out to put my toms in the border soil.

[womble]

I have tried to grow some really daft stuff in the greenhouse. Spring onions was the biggest disaster They got too hot..........anyone for fried onion?

They do really well in the greenhouse if you sow in Autumn though and if you do it in pots, you can take them out in spring and allow them to bulb up.

[AdeyT]

Thanks for all the replies. It's my first year growing veg etc and probably making loads of mistakes but hopefully I'll learn from them
The spuds were put in the greenhouse when there was some frost a while back and there was plenty of room for them, I didn't realise just how big and fast they would grow. As mentioned I have Arran pilot and Desiree, I'll have to figure out which are the Arran pilot and have a furtle, they're most likely ready to be harvested. As for the Desiree if I can manage to move them outside without damaging then I'll do that. Thanks again for the help.

[Bigmallly]

Talking of growing tatties in the greenhouse, when the toms have finished would it be worthwile putting a few in for xmas...............have never tried it but then again have never grown any xmas tatties either.