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latest date to plant potatoes in Kent?

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  • latest date to plant potatoes in Kent?

    I've not grown potatoes much in the past, a few in pots is all I've had room for, but at school we are trying to get a bit of land to convert into a growing area. As time is getting on, and we haven't had permission granted yet, I was wondering about putting in spuds, and what would be our last realistic date to plant in order to get a crop when we get back after the summer?
    The idea I had was to grow the spuds for a Jacket Spud Day when we get back in September. I was also wondering about varieties, as seed potatoes will be getting in short supply but I do not want to buy until I know we can get them in the ground. I know we will need a main crop one. The ground is grass at the moment, and hasn't grown anything else since the school was built in the 70s. We have access to free well rotted horse manure. Any advice welcome as to how feasible the idea is, and how is best to approach the project, assuming we can get permission.
    I could not live without a garden, it is my place to unwind and recover, to marvel at the power of all growing things, even weeds!
    Now a little Shrinking Violet.

    http://potagerplot.blogspot.com/

  • #2
    A First Early variety can be as little as 8 weeks to mature, 10 - 12 weeks for a more decent crop. They will need plenty of water during the summer though - would that happen when the school is on holiday?

    There is a higher risk of Potato Blight in mid Summer - so that might soil the plan - but fingers-crossed.

    You can buy seed potatoes for growing for Christmas - they usually ship in July (but are much more expensive than Spring ones). Suppliers might ship early to you if you ask them nicely - e.g. JBA

    Or buy some seed tubers in the garden centre now / soon - they'll probably be reduced price - and put them in the fridge to slow them down - but start them chitting in the light if they start to grow white shoots more than an inch or so. Its not ideal, but even if they shrivel up significantly they should still grow OK

    You could convert your grass-covered plot to a potato patch with your horse manure using the "lasagne method" perhaps?

    First link from Google:
    Lasagna Garden - How to Make a Lasagna Garden
    K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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    • #3
      Originally posted by BarleySugar View Post
      The idea I had was to grow the spuds for a Jacket Spud Day when we get back in September.
      Who's going to water and weed during the summer hols?
      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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      • #4
        The idea behind potatoes is they won't need water, my Dad never watered potatoes when he grew them as a smallholder, so even if it gets dry and reduces size/yield we should get a crop. Also, potatoes do tend to crowd out weeds and digging them will then clear the ground ready for the winter. I will be able to go in occasionally in the holidays anyway, especially as it looks like my own allotment site won't be up and running until the autumn. Blight may be an issue, but again, we'll need to see. I also thought we could we might put in some squash as well. The main issue was not needing to harvest too much in the holidays. The school is open everyday, so access won't be a problem.

        We had the go ahead today, the site groundsman says if we get the turf up (he wants to use it elsewhere, so no lovely compost ) he will rotovate it. I know that isn't a good idea with weed roots, but as it is just grass it doesn't look as if there will be many roots to chop into new plants. He's also got some fencing, to keep unwanted kids out, so we don't need to pay for that either.
        Last edited by BarleySugar; 18-03-2011, 06:05 PM.
        I could not live without a garden, it is my place to unwind and recover, to marvel at the power of all growing things, even weeds!
        Now a little Shrinking Violet.

        http://potagerplot.blogspot.com/

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        • #5
          I reckon you could still plant as late as May but it seems as if you maybe ready to plant in April which is ideal.
          Mark

          Vegetable Kingdom blog

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          • #6
            Go for one of the sarpo potatoes. They are a maincrop and will shrug off most of the blight and they are not to bad for jacket potatoes.

            Ian

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            • #7
              Originally posted by BarleySugar View Post
              Blight may be an issue
              If you have keys, you can run up their at the first Blight Alert and hack off all the foliage - that should save the tubers
              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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