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Talkback: Growing potatoes
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I agree, I can't even think about gardening at the moment; without a pneumatic drill my parsnips will have to stay in the ground! I do however plan to go to Potato Day at Garden Organic at the end of the month, so maybe inspiration will hit me.
Last year I grew Charlotte, Rocket, Nicola and a couple of others (can't remember what though) and the Charlotte did the best of the lot. I dug some of them as new potatoes and then left the rest in as main crop. My parents swear by them and that's all they ever grow now. They eat them as new and maincrop potatoes and also leave some in the ground that they have only recently harvested.
The problem is that although I prefer Charlotte, if I go to Potato Day I will come back with all sorts, as usual, as it's all too easy to get carried away. I am however determined to try some Sarpo Mira as my plot neighbour grew them this year and they were untouched by blight.
Last year I grew Charlotte, Rocket, Nicola and a couple of others (can't remember what though) and the Charlotte did the best of the lot. I dug some of them as new potatoes and then left the rest in as main crop. My parents swear by them and that's all they ever grow now. They eat them as new and maincrop potatoes and also leave some in the ground that they have only recently harvested.
The problem is that although I prefer Charlotte, if I go to Potato Day I will come back with all sorts, as usual, as it's all too easy to get carried away. I am however determined to try some Sarpo Mira as my plot neighbour grew them this year and they were untouched by blight.
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1st earlys or salad crop i grew arron pilot pentland something + one other its in my diary but thats in the greenhouse and its too cold to go and look stil useing some still ok and stored well. weather has put a hold on things although im waiting for seed deliveries by post all my planing is done just need some fine weather or my planed heating cost will go outa skew
I grew Nicola too last year and though the potatoes were affected by scab they were absolutely delicious. Ditto Kestrel but they were unblemished. I shall try Nicola again for sure - but how do I prevent scab?
Ian
I was wondering though if i want an early mid, late and christmas lot of potatoes which different varieties do you suggest?
Also the trick to getting bigger potatoes, do you actually cut the other buds off and leave one on? Then wrap newpaper round or do you just wrap newspaper round.
We all grow maincrop potatoes in Glasgow with no problems, so you should have no difficulties in the North West of (England)?
However the snow will have to go first before I can think about anything!!
you weather is bad
it will get better
not as bad here in ireland
set a few seeds today,inside of course
The ground is frozen solid so I am struggling to dig up our jerusalem artichokes and swedes currently, and the snow has covered the dwarf kale completely. Can see tops of purple sprouting and cavelo nero to harvest though.