We were first timers last year and grew charlottes and king edwards. Despite the fact we were late in getting them in they both cropped really well, unfortunately the king eds were badly affected by blight :-( We lifted them in time to save the tubers, but they were a bit on the small side because of that.
I love hearing about your potato choices - now I want to get some Charlotte, one of the first potatoes I ever grew. As for scab, the organisms which cause it are in the soil (sometimes on the potatoes themselves which is why you should always start with fresh, certified stock). Don't forget to practice crop rotation on your beds, this will help, as will watering the potatoes that you've planted if it doesn't rain in the first few weeks. Dry potato plants tend to me more susceptible to scab I find.
Bought this years seed today at the Potato Fair in Peckham - which was as packed and popular as last year, amazing value and despite bun fight well worth it - over 80 varieties to select from which is a daunting selection.
Trying a different tack with selection this year, we are keen to get a good spread through the season and keep us well fed avoiding getting fed up by their respective culinary qualities.
Got all the varieties I was after but not Harlequin or Ratte so substituted Maris Piper instead.
After much head wrangling and spread betting on issues of shape / skin colour / uses and disease resistance: bought 16 each of: Duke of York, Charlotte, Cara and Maris Piper
I am working in a High School at present and have proposed an allotment project which has been greatly welcomed. I entered a competition for an allotment make over not realising it was for primary schools only. This highlighted that the incentives are all geared up for primary. I have a few really interested pupils and staff keen to get this project off the ground. We have been allocated £1,500 grant aid to get us started but as you know this will not be enough. One boy inparticular is really enthusiastic about the allotment idea as he says 'it would help the 'hipo' kids to calm down. We are a challenging school and I feel an allotment would be a great assesset for the school community as a whole. Can anyone advise of any site geared up for secondary schools? Thanks Ann.
Is it too early for potato blight? The leaves on my plants are only just coming through and show signs browning. Not sure if its lack of water or of blight has struck already? I'm in the NorthWest near Manchester and weather has been a bit hit and mis but quite frosty in the mornings. any advice ??
Here in N. Peru we get a big selection of potato varieties we never saw in North America, even though we live on the Coast where potatoes are not grown. Nice to see interest in other varieties up there in the N. Hemisphere.
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As for scab, the organisms which cause it are in the soil (sometimes on the potatoes themselves which is why you should always start with fresh, certified stock). Don't forget to practice crop rotation on your beds, this will help, as will watering the potatoes that you've planted if it doesn't rain in the first few weeks. Dry potato plants tend to me more susceptible to scab I find.
Trying a different tack with selection this year, we are keen to get a good spread through the season and keep us well fed avoiding getting fed up by their respective culinary qualities.
Got all the varieties I was after but not Harlequin or Ratte so substituted Maris Piper instead.
After much head wrangling and spread betting on issues of shape / skin colour / uses and disease resistance: bought 16 each of: Duke of York, Charlotte, Cara and Maris Piper
Can't wait to dig them in and earth them up!
Kind Regards
I'm in the NorthWest near Manchester and weather has been a bit hit and mis but quite frosty in the mornings.
any advice ??