potato help!

[mimififi]

i there, all, long time, no questioning!

I wonder if any of you grow-your-own-potato experts out there can help. I have only just been given an allotment to rent and have started to clear and have done very well in a short time. I have planted up my beans, corgettes and outdoor cucumbers in a poly tunnel, but would love to do potatos too. However, all my books say to plant out in April, however, I was just wondering if it would be ok for me to still plant them out if I did it this coming week, pronto. I know I won't have time for chitting, but I have read conflicting accounts from different gardeners who say it is necessary and some say it isn't.

Anways, as usual, any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers
mimiX

[Clanad]

Welcome back, mimififi... you were missed...

Here in the U.S. we try to plant potatoes in early April, but there's no reason you can't still plant. Be sure the soil is well worked to a depth of at least 10 inches, 12 inches is even better. If it's heavy soil, work in some rotted manure or even sand. Plant about 8 to 10 inches apart about 3 or 4 inches deep. Water well, but not so as to have standing water. Water only about once per week.

Here's something I've tried and had good luck with. Obtain a plastic garbage can... at least 25 to 30 gallons in size. Drill or cut some holes in the bottom. Place about 8 inches of dirt and plant maybe 6 potato eyes around the circumference. Water a little. They'll sprout fairly quickly. When they're up about 5 or 6 inches, put in some more dirt almost but not quite covering them. Continue to do this as they grow. You'll wind up with it about full of dirt. Leave it alone when the potato growth is within a few inches of the top and let the tops die back as usual. Last year we harvested nearly 50 pounds of potatos out of one barrel. Any barrel can be used, but if you don't have one readily available the garbage can works very well...
By the way, use a superphosphate (0-20-0) or bonemeal (2-11-0) when you first plant them for quick root development (but don't let it come in contact with the seed potatoes at planting) then use a light hand and apply a good balanced commercial fertilizer, such as 5-10-10 later in the season... Good luck!

[Clanad]

Forgot to ask... what's "chitting"?

[Thunderbird+]

Hi mimififi, Long time no sea, said the costomer to the fish monger ;�)

I think time being of the esence here, it would be ok to skip the chitting and go straight to the planting and selecting some good shoots and rub off the others. Spuds are a good first crop but it's important the clear the ground well, I've seen couch grass grow right the way through potatos!
Good Luck with the crops Tbird+

[mimififi]

cool bananas! Thanks for the help guys. I shall certainly give a maincrop a go. Thanks for the garbage can idea clanad, too, sounds great.

Chitting is the process where you leave the spuds in an egg box in the shed ad the eyes begin to sprout and so give you a head start when you place them in the earth. Some think it's a must, some skip it, so I don't really know whether its important or not.

I'm sorry I took ages to reply but AB seems to have been down over the weekend!

Anyways, thanks ever so much. That is brilliant news. I can't wait to be harvesting of my plot.

mimi
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