potatoe pics wanted!

[Stacey]

hey all,this may sound odd but could anyone post some photos of potatoes that are ready to be planted?And explain the whole sowing,growing harvesting process to me in a step by step guide?The information ive had so far has been confusing! Please help.Also photos of what the plants look like when theyre ready to harvest would be good thankyou xx

[Alice]

Hello Stacey, are you growing the potatoes in the ground or in containers.
It's late tonight but I'll take and post some pics for you tomorrow. I've got some about ready to lift. Never thought I'd be taking pics of potatoes with half dead shaws (haulms , or top growth or whatever. ) But to help a grape..... well anything.

[Stacey]

in the ground. Ive already planted some but I dont think they were shooting enough.so theyr probably just rotting in the ground. Ive been told you cant just plant any potato! I hope ive not wasted my yummy organic vegbox tatoes cos theyr not cheap! and im not rich

[DirtDobber]

Here are pic's of mine..

I have potatoes that I am getting ready to plant...some planted just a couple weeks ago and hilled once and then some that have been in the ground for awhile and hilled several times...and I even took pictures of the blooms for you...There are a couple of other pictures there too sorry ...

Try this http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid13721019 link and you will see mine...

first you get your potatoes and if they are small you can plant them whole...mine were large so I cut them...if you cut them, it is better to leave them to dry for a day of two...they form a scab or dry cover over the cut...dig a deep hole and put the potato in...If it has already sprouted I am careful of the sprouts, otherwise I just toss it in....cover it with dirt...when you see the first leaves start to pop through, start covering them up...scrap the dirt from the middle of the row up against and over the plant...If I run out of dirt in the row, I'll just bring some in and dump it on top...I do that as long as I can, sometimes two or three times and then just let them grow...they are such fun and so easy to grow...

[Stacey]

oh thats brilliant thankyou xx why are the potatoes in half? I didnt do that. Also how long til they come above ground,if you know what i mean. Still trying to learn the correct terms lol

[DirtDobber]

They are cut in half because they were large potatoes...It isn't necessary to have but a small piece with a few eyes on it so I cut them in half...these came from the supermarket and they were beginning to sprout so when that happens I just plant them...rarely do you find a potato that won't sprout...they could possibly be treated to keep them from doing so but most companies don't go to the expense...

The coming above ground depends on how much dirt you have over them and the temps...they are a cold tolerant plant and will pop their heads through the ground even if it is very chilly, but they do it much faster as it warms up...If you planted them, I'd just be patient for a little while...I love growing potatoes...people say but they are so cheap at the market...well yes sometimes they are but if you have that kind of reasoning then I can't explain why I get out and grub in the ground until I am filty and bone tired to grow them...they just wouldn't understand...would they?

[Snadger]

When times were hard they used to eat the potato and plant the peelings!

Sounds feasible as the peelings have the growing eye in them and if you ever put potato peelings on the compost heap you usually get a crop from them!

Out of daftness I may try growing a few from peelings with eyes on next year as a trial!

Watch this space!

[Mrs Dobby]

We have tatties from peelings growing out of the side vent of our dalek style composter, so it does work, tho whether the crop in there will be of any use I have no idea!

[nosferato]

When times were hard they used to eat the potato and plant the peelings!

Sounds feasible as the peelings have the growing eye in them and if you ever put potato peelings on the compost heap you usually get a crop from them!

Out of daftness I may try growing a few from peelings with eyes on next year as a trial!

Watch this space!

just a note in this house we dont have peeling's we mash,roast,salad everything with the peel on you'd be amazed how much better it tastes and all that time you save from not peeling well look at me sitting here lol

[DirtDobber]

Yes I often have them in the compost pile too...I actually have never seen one grow a spud but I have a bed right at my back door and I often toss peels of most anything in there so there is always a potato growing and they do make spuds...I love growing spuds..

[veggieginger]

We have also had some potatoes growing from the peelings in the compost and were amazed!! haven't let any grow so may be worth an experiment.

Our potatoes are doing really well in as much as they are big and bushy, Mr VG read today that the flowers should be cut off so they don't seed/energy lost in the flowers, so we went out and cut the flowers off (in the rain!!) has anyone else heard this?

[Stacey]

Wow potatoes really are versatile arent they? In every way! I am so going to have join this great experiment! Another question though what size containers do you need for potatoes? How much space per potatoe? and is it potatoe or potato? it looks wrong with the e at the end

[Happydigger]

Oh dear the American V.P. error to add the e, much talked of at the time was it Al Gore? I never let spuds (no e) set seed, as I beleive goodness is lost, and green potatos are toxic.

[heebiejeebie]

I have a lovely, healthy looking tattie plant growing in my compost bin - pic on my gardening blog (see link below). Might update the pics later as they are a couple of weeks old and everything is much bigger now! Especially the spuds!