Talkback: Chitting potatoes

Gardeners' World Web User · January 2012

we have just got our allotment so we are very new so any advice will be welcome,

Gardeners' World Web User · February 2008

To get around the rotation in my two raised beds and to ease my back, I have been very successful with using old car tyres. Take the first tyre and fill with compost and plant the potatoes. As the stems grow put another car tyre on the first one and fill with compost. Keep this going until you have about 4 car tyres and keep the compost well watered.

When it comes to harvesting you just remove the tyres one by one and all your lovely potatoes are there to be gathered. No backbreaking hoeing up or digging. The spent compost can either be recycled on the compost or sometimes I just lay over flower beds to improve the soil. I do not believe in using the same compost two seasons running.

Gardeners' World Web User · February 2008

we have an allotment, and are constantly fighting bindweed, in large amounts, can anyone help please!!!!!!!!!!! thank you

Gardeners' World Web User · February 2008

In reply to Jean, the only way to get rid of weeds such as bindweed is to carefully spray Glysophate on its leaves. Best time to do this is when the sap is starting to rise (say mainly springtime) & also just before the plant goes into dormancy (before winter). The poison gets absorbed through the leaves and taken down to the roots and then withers and dies. The chemical is harmless to the soil and only affects the plant its sprayed onto. It wont work if you then pull the leaves off in a frantic moment to get rid of them after spraying, its best to leave the stuff to do its thing. I garden and grow veg organically, and its the only thing I use when I have to resort to chemicals.
Happy spraying and check which way the winds blowing.

Gardeners' World Web User · March 2008

Hi a few years ago I had problems with bindweed, I used roundup mixed as per instuctions but did not spray it on the bindweed. I put some of the weedkillier in a glass jar and put some of the plant into the jar and let the bindweed absorb the weed killer, this seemed to have better results than spraying. (stablise the jar with bricks to stop it tipping over). Good luck.

Gardeners' World Web User · March 2008

I am worried about my potatoes as after planting them out they had to endure a severe frost; could anyone advise as to whether I should dig them up and start again, or will they pick up? I would be very grateful for some help. Thank you in advance!

Gardeners' World Web User · March 2008

I'm just about to try growing potatoes for the first time in a plastic container. I will only need about a third of my seed potatoes. Can I store the remainder for next year safely or is it inevitable that they will go off?

Gardeners' World Web User · March 2008

It can also be useful to stick a few twiggy branches or canes in the ground where the bindweed is growing, and wait for it to climb up them before spraying.That way, the weed is less spread out over the plot. Good luck. Whatever you do, don't rotovate the ground. that will just spread it around.

Gardeners' World Web User · April 2008

Hi, is it ok to seed shop bought potatoes - I'm seeding some now but not sure if it is safe to do, thanks mel.

Gardeners' World Web User · April 2008

Hi, I've just planted my very first lot of potatoes - how do i know when they are ready to harvest as I've never done this before. julie

Gardeners' World Web User · April 2008

Hi Mel, they say you should not plant shop bought potatoes that have sprouted as they can lead to a diseased crop. Yet I planted some last year and I got some tasty potatoes, yet not very many on each plant. I would opt for the potatoes from the garden centre that are specifically for the job.

Talkback: Chitting potatoes

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