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Potato plants fallen over but look healthily green

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  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Thankyou @Dovefromabove. I will make a note to expect them to be ready around then. Does dappled 'sun' count? The sun goes behind airy foliage so it might be more than four hours if that counts.  Next time I will put the supports in when I plant them. I was not very organised this year and did not realise they flop about! I will try to earth them up a bit more too now. They were growing very straight and strong until today. You are growing quite a bit there @sheps and it does look a sunny spot. Ten hours? They must taste amazing! How tall are your tallest? I will measure mine, but by eye I think the Charlottes are 3 feet ish. Will try to get a photo. Are your supports designed specifically for potatoes? Those potatoes in your bowls look very tasty - what varieties are they? 
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  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Hi @clematisdorset

    The tallest is 3ft 6in from the top of the pot.

    The sun starts to hit them at about 11.30 and carries on till about 9.30 so roughly 10hrs at this time of year.

    The supports are just regular hoop style plant supports, I've ordered another 10 from B&Q for £22 delivered ready for next year.

    The varieties in the garden are Charlotte, Maris Peer and Nicola.

    The ones in the pictures are from a few years ago and are Maris Peer and Nicola too.
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Thankyou @Sheps. I have checked and mine are 38 inches tall, and the pot is only 13inches high! The pots came with a 'grow your own potatoes' pack, with the other two varieties being Pentland Javelin & Desirée. 
    It looks like you should have a good harvest again this year! I am rather embarrassed that I thought 4 hours plus dappled light was good for growing potatoes. I have tried various french and runner beans before but they definitely seemed to need different conditions to what I can offer.
    Those supports look the business - thank you for letting me know where to find them.
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  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Just to add, they look more blue-green than lime-green in reality & I don't have an attack of white-fly or anything - it is just blossom that is all over the place!
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Fill the pots up to within an inch of the top asap!    All the stem that’s under the soil will produce potatoes. 😊 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Will do... Thankyou @Dovefromabove ! Perhaps they flopped to tell me to add more soil!  :) 
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yes … I think that could be part of it 😆 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    A piece of horse fencing can be utilised as a frame for them to grow through, this stops them from being blown over.
    If you can then sink your buckets into the ground, they'll get some moisture up from there (if there is any).
    Shield the buckets from the sun and mulch on top. The mulch stops evaporation and hides the potatoes from the light so they don't go green.
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    I am not sure if I should be proud of perturbed! .... 🤔 These are my Charlotte potatoes, harvested today, probably about 20 from 6 seed potatoes😄 the compost was quite damp, especially nearer the bottom of the tub. I guess the proof is in the pudding...thank you for all your help, hopefully I will do better next year. Thankyou @dovefromabove for getting me on the right track and advising me not to dig them up weeks ago. 😁
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
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