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Talkback: Growing potatoes and onions

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Not sure why, but I am completely terrified about growing the potatoes.

As you can probably gather I am new to all of this and I have never grown potatoes before. All this stuff about chitting them and growing them in bags etc. then piling up the soil around the green growth.

Guess I just need to get in there and get growing.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Tony - don't worry about it! You don't really need to chit them, some argue it increases the yield but it's not essential. If you do, here's an article on chitting potatoes. The easiest thing to do is just grow them in an old compost bag or dustbin - just pop them over roughly 10cm compost, cover with another 10cm compost, then keep topping up with compost as the leaves start poking through until you get to the top. Increase watering frequency when the potatoes start to flower, then when they've died down, your spuds should be ready!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Try some perpetual spinach - I put a row of seeds in last year and we have been eating it all winter - also had enough to keep our 6 chickens and 2 guinee pigs going as well. You just pick the leaves and it comes back again. Other good grows last year were marrows and broad beans. Just think about what you like to eat and have a go.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I grew potatoes in raised beds last year and har a couple of really good crops. This year I want to grow something else in the beds. Can anyone tell me what should go in after potatoes? I have some onions and garlic started off in the greenhouse but not sure if that's the right thing to put in next.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Hi! I Made Up An Idea For Growing Vegatables And Recycling At The Same Time. Get A Pesto-Size Jar And Wrap It Up In Folded Newspaper. Tuck In The Top Of The Paper And Take The Jar Out. When You Have A Paper Cup, Fill It With Compost. Put Your Seed In And Watch It Grow!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    PLEASE don,t laugh i thought last year i,m sick of throwing away old shooting veg.so i put some potatos in soil and it worked they were lovely,try this year i have put a old turnip that was growing roots in the cupboard in some soil and its growing will it be edable ?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Gardeners World prog on Fri 10.4.09. Joe and Carol discussed garden tools and Joe had a tool looked like an extra large hoe - a Zabo?. What is the correct name and are they still available to buy? Thanks
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Fortunatly I have just planted some without anything bad happening to them. I boguht a kit from Wilkinsons and it had all the supplies and instructions inside and I completed it with no trouble!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    hi all
    new to site.
    very much a novice at growing veg.
    my young daughter loves onions and
    decided to buy her some onions sets.
    i chose red baron for her.
    is there any tips or guidlines i need
    to follow .
    any advise more than welcome
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Hi Tornado,just keep youre eye on the birds as they tend to think the onion top is a worm and tend to pull from the soil.just replant and that should do the trick.Just put 70 in my self.GOOD LUCK..
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Hi Ciaran, good idea about the paper pots. If you type 'newspaper pots' into Google, it comes back with how to make them quickly using an old toilet paper tube. I have all my leeks growing in them and did all my sweet peas in the Autumn. The advantaage is they can go straight in the ground.
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