How many spuds ?

[janzbro]

Hi, I have 8x4' beds and was wondering how many spuds to plant in each bed.

Sq foot gardening says 1 per sq foot but the spuds say spread of 24"?

[Alison]

What type of spuds are you growing. One per square foot is OK for earlies but you need quite a bit more for main crop.

[janzbro]

I was thinking about
1st Swift
2nd Kestral
Main sarpo mira

each in an 8x4 bed

[Thelma Sanders]

Swift are earlies, Kestrel are 2nd earlies and sarpo maincrop.


My 8x4 beds will have 3 rows of 8 potatoes for the earlies or
2 rows for the 2nd earlies and mains.

[Martin H]

I have four foot wide beds and plant two rows with spacing of one foot. I've tried three rows for the earlies as per Thelma, but I found it tricky to earth them up. I have plenty of space though so didn't mind reducing the yield, I can never eat a bed full of earlies before the second earlies are ready anyway!

[Thelma Sanders]

I tend to plant the earlies deep and don't bother with earthing up tbh

[janzbro]

Thanks for the advice, 16 per bed for mains and 16 to 24 for the earlies.

I will plant the earlies deeper as Im up north and we always have late frosts, hopefully this will protect them untill they pass.

[Chippy Minton]

From experience (not much I admit) it also depends on what size spuds you want. Closer together = smaller tubers. If you want Baking size you need space...

[Scoot]

Am i right in thinking that you don't really need to "chit" main crop spuds?

[janzbro]

I think I will chit mine again (I did them in containers last year) but there is a train of thought that its not needed!

[Scoot]

I think I will again (I did them in containers last year) but there is a train of thought that its not needed!

Yeah, i remember reading it somewhere actually. I'll probably still chit mine but i was just wondering that it cant be that important.

[Bill Door]

Janzbro I am with Chippy Minton. I would inclined to plant deep in a trench and close together so that the spuds spread around. Also throw in plenty of compost to make sure they do not go dry.

I have heard that some just lay the seed potatoes under a layer of cardboard and paper and a light soil covering and let them develop on the soil surface. I have not done it so can't say how good it is.

Good luck with the garden

Bill

[Bill Door]

Scoot not sure about the chitting of potatoes. However, if you find a way to stop them developing shoots before mid March I would be very much appreciative. I have bought my first earlies and they have already started!

Bill

[Snadger]

Scoot not sure about the chitting of potatoes. However, if you find a way to stop them developing shoots before mid March I would be very much appreciative. I have bought my first earlies and they have already started!

Bill

Its all to do with temperature. Keep em cool and they shouldn't sprout.

[21up]

Put them in bottom drawer of fridge if your stuck for somewhere cold that will stop chitting or slow them down