The good old days . . .

[CJS]

Mmm . . . Reading about chitting . . . remembering back, some of my earliest recolections of my Grandad growing potatoes, and my Father as well. We are talking 1950/53? still some rationing on.

I dont remember Grandad or Dad chitting potatoes, simply a dibber, punch a hole, drop the taty in, cover up, job don, even remember, they cut big ones in half to make two seeds?

Am I imagining this a bibber hole might knock the shoots off? In fact I recall being told that dibber planting is old hat and detrimental to the early growth?

My available space wont accommodate a potato patch, however, heard about 'potato grow bags'. I love new Jersey potatoes and butter, with salad, would it be possible to do this, or have I missed the boat this year? Is it even practical, yield v cost against buying in the shop . . . I will now wash my mouth with soap.

CJS

[glallotments]

Still possible to start of a bag we are planting first earlies in bags this week.

As for planting potatoes in the ground we have used the trowel method for a few years now and had successful crops.

[Clive.]

Hello CJS,
Some in this area used to set potatoes by "stope holing"..perhaps stoop holing.??..
Basically it involves going along the line of the first Potato row taking out a quick series of scoops with a spade to suit the spacing along the row.
Then return to drop in the Potatoes.

Move to the next row up and proceed to take out another line of spade scoops....the soil from which would be thrown forward to cover the potatoes in the previous row...and repeat...

I think that is how it went.?...certainly the old gentleman next door to us used to use this method.

He also used to have a rather nice 2 stroke Atco mower that used to put out a lovely scented 2 stroke smoke haze... As a very young lad I used to walk alongside holding one handlebar "helping" him to mow his lawns.

The old Atco now resides in our garage here........................

..and back to Potatoes.

Mum sets a few earlies in 10L and 15L pots which start off in the unheated greenhouse...they were planted, one to a pot, only this week. ...Swift and Lady Christl.
Eventually as they grow on the pots move to a cold frame then out into a sunny, sheltered corner outside... the end result gets us some early Potatoes for a few days...ahead of those from the garden...which then follow on.

At work we have a small section of the front conservatory that has some electric tube heaters so the Potato pots can be started a few weeks earlier....one year on the 27th Jan'.?..but somewhat later this year.!

For the last few years I have used a variety called Premiere which seem to move on very quickly... 2 to a 15L pot.
We have to watch that they don't get too drawn up in the front conservatory...quickly moving them to a cooler back greenhouse once growing away...and then, like at home, they eventually move to a very sheltered sunny spot outside...with a bit of fleece ready to throw over if it looks like a late frost is about.

Clive.

[CJS]

Oh dear, that all sounds complicated . . . I know it ain't, but I have trouble keeping the mind moving in the right direction, the attention span is short?

Rather than worrying about 1st earlies, is it practical to go for main crop 'Jersey Royals' in a tatie grow bag? I remember recently listening to Bob Flowerdew on GQT saying the yeald is better on main crop? Bob of course, promotes stacking old tyres . . .

It seems no one has seen a 'dibber', usually a broken or cut down fork or spade handle, about 12" long, pointed at the end, Grandad and Dad both used these to 'dib' a hole for the seed tatie. I will have to go to the local garden center see if I can find some 'new' seed potatoes? Is a garden center the best place to go??? or maybe buy on the 'net'?

Sowed first of the seeds to day, toms, peppers, etc., Marigolds and a few bedding plants, brighten things up . . . They have pride of place on the table in the back lobby looking out through the patio doors. I really struggled yesterday, working out what needed sowing, what was to stay in the greenhouse and which ones to leave in the packets until next month?

Seems the brain is not working so well these days? but we sorted it, I think . . . although I forgot the cabbages . . . They will have to wait a couple of days now. Out on my mates boat tomorrow, early start, stock up the freezer with some cod fillets. . . I hope?

CJS

[Compo]

CJS

You say a 'Tatie' grow bag, do you mean a bag with home made compost in or something or a standard grow bag, if you use a standard grow bag you won't have the depth for the spuds to root and grow tubers in, unless you stand it up somewhere and cut the end off? I am putting in international kidney's tomorrow in a large cold frame but have not done them this late before, so it should be ok I reckon. Good luck with the brain too!! If you don't use it you might lose it!!

CoMpO

[CJS]

Seen them talked about, I think I have seen a picture of one where a black builders rubble bag was used. I assume a few holes in the bottom with a fork, roll the sides down, compost, couple of seed 'tatties', and as it grows, I suppose ad more soil and roll the side up a little each time. Hay-presto one 'tattie' grow bag. Thats how I would do it . . . it's getting hold of the 'seed tatties' that stumps me, for the time being?

As I say, I will have to email the individual about the picture I saw of his garden. In fact I think he was using the 'builders rubble grow bag' for other things as well? A thought, old compost bags, black inside, they would do the job or how about, one grow bag cut in half and the two halfs stood on end . . . open ends up . . . of course

Not sure about not using the brain . . . dyslexia, depression (which I have under control), 63 years, and no experience of gardening, are not a good combination!!!!! But I try my best, it works eventually . . . if I give it time, and I can bounce ideas . . . I finally remembered seeing pic of the rubble bag etc . . . !!!
CJS

[Chantal]

You won't be able to buy seed potatoes for "Jersey Royal" as they can only be called that if grown in Jersey.

In England they're called International Kidney and are, I believe, one and the same. Our local garden centre stocks them as does our local allotment trading hut.

[Elaine]

Hi CJS. My dibber is exactly that...an old wooden handled garden fork, cut down and sharpened at the end....which my husband made for me. It is ideal for making the holes for my leeks.
Cheers.

[Cider Boys]

I have considered sprouting potatoes as a luxury for many years now. I have finished planting Rocket on some steeply north facing red sandy soil last Friday. None of the tubers had sprouted but I have some more that are now just starting to sprout , no doubt I will have to wait before planting since the ground is too wet now. It would be good to do a comparison and if I can get them in after sprouting on the same patch of land I will let you know the results. My guess is the earlier they are planted the better they will do regardless of chitted or not.

Barney

[Compo]

Out of interest I have just put some first earlies in 'International Kidney' and the label on the bag says main crop..(it could be an error?)..are there two types or are the IK spuds able to be main crop and first early dependant on planting time and then later, harvest time?

CoMpO

[CJS]

Thanks all for your replies. We have a 'Garden Show' at the Suffolk Show Ground from good Friday to Monday, I might have a look see if they have any seed potatoes. Apparently this part of the UK has a strong seed potato industry . . . so I'm told?

There was a 'Seed Potato day' a few weeks ago at the 'SSG', you could buy just '1 potato' if you wanted . . . doh I miss it didn't I

Urgent advise please . . .
Hazel has just presented me with half a dozen (self chitted, 0.5" to 1.5" shoots) new potatoes she found at the bottom of her veggie box, no idea what variety, but we have been eating them! Will it be worth my while planting these in a couple of thick black bags, will they grow out side?

I presume one starts off, bag rolled down, 12" of compost, plant the chitted potatoes, then as they grow, unroll the bag a little and ad more compost. Is 12" enough . . . or to much to start with? . . . how deep should the potato be in the compost, how do I know when they are ready to harvest, assuming they will grow (How long do they take to grow, as I would like to put them where I grow my toms, which I wont be putting out before the end of May?).

Sorry, I can be a bit dim sometimes . . . CJS

PS, Just had a though, if the weather might get to them, I have room on the greenhouse floor for a couple or three bags, then cary them out later on when frosts are less likley???

[Compo]

CJS I think that your plan will work fine, you will get a hastier growth if left undercover but you can easily protect from light frost if you just roll the bag back up and twist the top over, your only worry would be a serious -3/4 plus frost that would freeze the compost and the tuber in the bag. I am not sure if you force the potatoes in the greenhouse how good the crop will be, so why not do a trial put two outside and one in the greenhouse to see if there is a different crop rate.

Twelve inches of growing medium will be fine, a little less say 8 or 9 inches would work too, as the potato won't root down too much it will go up and sideways as you cover the green shoots, keep it well watered towards the end and use some liquid feed, such as home brewed comfrey or sprinkle chicken manure pellets into the mix as you top it up.

What have you to lose with this free seed?

CoMpO

[CJS]

CJS I think that your plan will work fine, you will get a hastier growth if left undercover but you can easily protect from light frost if you just roll the bag back up and twist the top over, your only worry would be a serious -3/4 plus frost that would freeze the compost and the tuber in the bag. I am not sure if you force the potatoes in the greenhouse how good the crop will be, so why not do a trial put two outside and one in the greenhouse to see if there is a different crop rate.

Twelve inches of growing medium will be fine, a little less say 8 or 9 inches would work too, as the potato won't root down too much it will go up and sideways as you cover the green shoots, keep it well watered towards the end and use some liquid feed, such as home brewed comfrey or sprinkle chicken manure pellets into the mix as you top it up.

What have you to lose with this free seed?

CoMpO

Thanks Compo, I will give it a go, out in the greenhouse Sunday having a potter

CJS