Old Speckled Hen Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Does anybody know How long after planting outside should I see my spuds? They went in on 29th March and still nothing It hasn't been particularly cold. My greenhouse Maris Peers in a bucket were up in 2 weeks Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I planted mine very deeply a week before you and can only see 1 shoot so far. The 3 potato bags are all doing well and have topped up with compost a couple of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I can't remember when I planted mine, I think it was similar times to you two, but they are now about 6 inches above the ground - well the more advanced ones are at least!! I was waiting to see if the last little one in the middle was going to rear it's head and yesterday it did, so do I now cover them completely with soil/compost & wait again.....I'm a first timer at this does it show ?! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I planted mine all about 6-8 inches, & they are going great guns. I have earthed up twice already. You could always gently dig around one & see if its on the move yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 It may depend on how 'chitted' they were if the shoots were very small they will take longer to come up. We planted ours about the third week in march and they are all just up about 3 inches, they were deep with small shoots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 Thanks everybody. They were well chitted and planted at a spades depth but I notice you are all fairly south of me where the soil is warmer. I'll hold my breath. I love new potatoes. I want to plant a bag inside so I can have home grown new potatoes for Chrissy dinner. Do you think that would work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Thanks everybody. They were well chitted and planted at a spades depth but I notice you are all fairly south of me where the soil is warmer.I'll hold my breath. I love new potatoes. I want to plant a bag inside so I can have home grown new potatoes for Chrissy dinner. Do you think that would work? I planted on March 17th and they came up last week so I wouldnt worry yet, potatoes are like weeds and are very pernicious (sp) As long as they get lots of light inside then xmas new spuds is certainly a possibility ... just plant them 13ish weeks before christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Our early varieties are about 6-8 inches, but the later main crop ones are not so advanced. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 The first one is through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Mine are beginning to show through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 It's not too late to plant spuds now is it ? I was going to buy some seed potatoes but they were all sprouting in the shop and I didn't know if it was a good idea to buy them like that. I know I have to chit them before planting but I'd rather chit them properly myself - or doesn't it matter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 ANH, I don't think it really matters too much if they've sprouted in the shop; maybe not ideal but it's relatively late on for GC to be selling seed potatoes now that you might not have a choice. I don't think you'd be too late though, if you got them in ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Thanks . I suppose I could just put them straight in the ground if they've already sprouted in the shop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Mine are growing like mad! I planted them in bags and now the leaves are brusting out the top - im sure they have bolted just like last year, and the year before that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 It's not too late to plant spuds now is it ? I was going to buy some seed potatoes but they were all sprouting in the shop and I didn't know if it was a good idea to buy them like that. I know I have to chit them before planting but I'd rather chit them properly myself - or doesn't it matter? ANH, your too late for First Early potatoes (harvested May-June), but you could probably get some Second earlies in (harvested July-August) and you will definately be able to get some main crop in (harvested August-September), which will mean you'll be able to eat your own spuds for Christmas dinner . Personally, I don't think it matters if the potatoes chit when still in the shop, it hasn't made a difference to mine, it just means they've been transported well and can go straight into the ground. Although, obviously, if the roots are damaged or look unhealthy, I wouldn't bother with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Erm what does it mean when spuds bolt? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I understand bolting to mean the plants put all their energy into growing tall and reaching for the sky then flower and produce little 'fruit' - just like my spuds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Some of ours are flowering - the earlies. Some say that's a sign that they are ready to harvest. I think it's time to break off the flowers and leave them in for a while longer - it's too early (but then they are under plastic). As for the other spuds, OH earthed them up the other day - and the remaining 2 in buckets have been earthed up too. You can earth them up more if you put the tub inside an empty compost bag and tie it around the top of the tub really well, then roll the top of the bag down. You can then add more compost and gradually unroll the bag as the leaves keep coming through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 I have some in the polygreenhouse which are just about to flower - we need potatoes for American relatives visiting the first week in June - I don't usually grow them under plastic, so I'm hoping my timing is right. I have some earlies out in the garden which are almost as advanced and then the ones in the main plot which are all up now and earthed up really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Poatoes naturally flower as part of their growing cycle, it is a sign that the tubors are forming but it is usually a good idea to leave them for a week or so after the flowers appear to increase in size, if you leave them too long you will get big potatoes and new potatoes are so lovely when they are small. The fruits are very poisonous so it is an idea to remove them if you have small children because they look like green tomatoes. You leave main crop spuds to die back before harvesting which gives the skins time to set properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clash City Rocker Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 1st year with vegetables for me and some of my potatoes leaves are coming through the soil. When should I start adding extra earth around them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Don't let the leaves poke through the surface too far or the frost will get them as we still get frosts in May. We earth ours up once they've all started to break through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I earth mine up as soon a sI plant them. They take longer to show but are thus protected from frost for quite a time. We earth them up a bit more after that until we've used all the available soil. We started doing that after watching the way potatoes were grown by the farmer in the field behind our house. The planting machinery earths up the soil into a ridge as they go into the soil. It saves us time and if we don't get round to doing it for any reason then at least they are mostly earthed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 We do the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
