Potatoes

[Kristen]

I second this, potatoes grown in the bags were much better than what I took out the ground.

My bag-grown ones are always very clean, no scab, but more faff to grow

[Penellype]

Agree about the clean aspect - I do sometimes get scab in the bags if I use home made compost (particularly if it contains soil), but they are usually mostly undamaged and the compost comes off much more easily than my heavy clay soil.

Maybe I am getting fewer potatoes per plant than I should because I never remember to feed them at all (oops). After earthing up I don't think I have ever fed a potato plant anything. Maybe I should try it this year

[Potstubsdustbins]

#15 Kristen.

I am lucky, semi retired just do the office work for the lads, therefore I have plenty of time to devote to my hobbies.

I tend to use slow release pelleted fertiliser in my smaller pots as the are more difficult to feed correctly afterward and I put 11/2 times the recommended amount of pelleted potato fertiliser in the pots. They will then get one maybe two feeds of high potash before harvest.

Larger containers which I use for 2nd early and main crops are much less of a fuss to deal with. I tend to use dried FYM for a quick boost along with a standard amount of pelleted potato fertiliser.

After week 6/7 I use a high nitrogen fertiliser such as Miracle Grow to hopefully produce a good strong haulm up until week 14 for second early and week 18 for main crop and then change to high potash such as tomorite to help swell the tubers. How often I feed depends on the plant, if its growing strongly it will get fed more often. It is very difficult to overfeed containers as every time you water you dilute the feed in the compost.

[Lamboluke]

I have some Maris piper which are in the fridge. Bought the seed potatoes from the garden centre but seems it's still too early to start chitting now as I don't have a heated greenhouse and the last thing I want to do is plant too early on and the frost kill them off.
Is the fridge a good way of slowing down chit production as I've had them in a month and virtually no chits so far which I'm guessing is from the cold.
When would people recommend I get them out and on the windowsill and when to plant in the bags in the greenhouse?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Maris Piper are a main crop, normal planting time in open ground where you live would mid to late March.

If your growing in bags in the GH you could pinch a month or so. If the GH is unheated you could always through some fleece over them if a frost threatens.

I would give it a fortnight and have them out onto a frost free, light window sill, they'll be fine in the fridge till then.

[Lamboluke]

Maris Piper are a main crop, normal planting time in open ground where you live would mid to late March.

If your growing in bags in the GH you could pinch a month or so. If the GH is unheated you could always through some fleece over them if a frost threatens.

I would give it a fortnight and have them out onto a frost free, light window sill, they'll be fine in the fridge till then.

Thanks for the advice. 2.5cm chits about right to plant out?

[Kristen]

Thanks for the advice. 2.5cm chits about right to plant out?

Yup, any longer and they might be brittle / fragile when when planting. In strong light mine never get that long

Be careful that the spuds, in the fridge, don't touch the freezing element (and thereby freeze)