Winter Veg

[skinny_bum]

Hi all,

Can any one give me some tips on what potatoes I can plant now ready for Christmas, I like the red potatoes but I am open to try any thing, also if you know where I can get them from even better

Any other veg that I can seed now to go along with the pots would be handy too.

Not sure if this thread has been covered, but veg talk is what we live for and I would love some help please.

Thanks

S.B

[Compo]

You have to be quick in order to get them going whilst there is enough warmth and light to help them get up and going before the colder weather. I have just put carlingford in, although not a red, apparently they do well as a second late potato, be prepared to fleece or cloche them up as the weather gets more risk of frost later in the year, other than that we are all in the same boat as this is (I think) a fairly new concept.

CoMpO

[nemo]

best to use a quick growing variety like Cara or something similar

[Mike Vogel]

Yes. I read that Earlies take 75-90 days from planting to eating, so you could try varieties like Red Duke of York.

mike

[skinny_bum]

As you say a bit late to try now, but I will have more room next year as I have just been offered my 1st allotment where I would like to try the Red Duke of York, thanks to mike and also another called Anya they are like a very nobbley new potato, I 1st tried them when they were on offer in saisburys and I have quite taken to there nobbley and nutty flavour.
S.B

[Stephen]

Taking note of the idea for future use (that's next year!) would people suggest putting the spuds into ground just cleared of the early spuds or somewhere else in the rotation?
Red Dukes sound like a good idea. I lifted the ordinary Dukes today and they looked great.

[Johnboy]

Hi Stephen,
Never ever plant spuds following spuds!
JB.

[Stephen]

Thanks Johnboy
It would not occur to me to do it regular crop to regular crop but was not sure for the novel idea of the Christmas spuds.

[donedigging]

Hi Johnboy,

May I ask why you should never plant spuds after spuds?? apart from the obvious.. disease. If the ground is good, is it possible?? I know we should rotate crops,but for a small Christmas crop would this still not be a good thing?

Sorry if I have missed something here.( Still learning!!)

[Johnboy]

Hi Donedigging,
You have actually answered your own question. The reason why you should never follow spuds with spuds is because of the disease/pest factor. Always remember that diseases are very easily caught but exceedingly difficult to cure. Quite frankly it is simply not worth the risk.
There are probably people who will read this and say well 'I've done it and nothing happened!'But what would they have done if something had happened?
I repeat, it is not worth the risk.
JB.

[gloworm]

I plant my second cropping new pots in the same ground as the first crop, can't see a problem with that, but keep this ground clear of pots next year. Middle July seems to be last date to plant here in Cheshire

[Johnboy]

Hi Gloworm,
Just imagine the pests that were in the ground where your first crop was and then plant your late spuds with the pests saying thank you very much!
The advice given to Stephen is sound and in line with best practice.
JB.

[gloworm]

I've set my second cropping pots on same ground as the first crop for quite a few years now with no problems. I agree with you that this should not be done the following year, but any carry over of disease from the first crop is minimal, also the first crop can be easily monitored for any probs. It's interesting that Marshalls where I used to get my second cropping spuds from also recommend planting in same ground.

[Johnboy]

Have it your way Gloworm but eventually you will slip-up. If you can actually quote Marshalls as an example where 99.99% of their staff have not got the foggiest idea about growing anything then let them be the example. I repeat best practice.
JB.

[chicken4]

I was always led to believe that spud shoud never be planted in the same ground for three years. A chap two plot away has grown them in the same place for four years and he always seems to get a good crop. My MIL also does thi, however in both cases they add a lot of manure to there planting area's each year.