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Unfortunately, I don't think my Christmas potato experiment is going to work this year. I planted some tubers in containers hoping that they'd get a good start while the weather was still warm. I had intended to move them in to the greenhouse at a later date to give them some protection, and then harvest them in time for Christmas dinner. They got to the point where the foliage was just starting to poke through the compost but nothing's happened since. I think they may have started rotting, and if nothing else happens by the weekend, I think I'd better have a little feel around and see what I find. It's a shame, but I've had mixed results in the past trying to grow potatoes for Christmas.
I'm pleased to see my little Robin Redbreast back in the garden. Robins are here all year round but its quite rare that I see him in the garden during the summer months. In winter, he's here all the time. Not today though, all the birds are taking cover from the rain and I don't blame them one bit, it's pouring down.
Great potato harvest Jo, I like the sound of chips.... Hope that your Christmas spuds are still going alright!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised how big some of the potatoes had grown, great for chips or jackets. I'm not holding out much hope for my Christmas spuds, but at least I gave it a try.
DeleteYou have just reminded me that I have some potato containers that need emptying. Seeing your bonus harvest has got my hopes up xxx
ReplyDeleteI've done well with both potatoes and tomatoes this year, I think they've been my star crops. I've managed to keep my mum and dad supplied with both as well as us.
DeleteThis is the first year that I have not grown Arran Pilot, they are one of my favourites, along with rocket. I always grow in containers, there are a lot of slugs in my garden and they love the new potatoes just as much as I do. I think that next year I will grow all my potatoes in containers, we throw away some really big ones at work.
ReplyDeleteI grew Arran Pilot for the first time last year and was really impressed with them, I haven't changed my opinion this year. I don't grow potatoes in the allotment because they come out so damaged by slugs, it's just not worth it.
DeleteThey look good. I hope that your Christmas ones are still okay.
ReplyDeleteIt's always good to see, and hear, the robins again at this time of year. It's been dull and wet here all day as well. Flighty xx
I'm hoping the Christmas ones are just slow, but I doubt it somehow. I'll have to revise my plans and grow them differently somehow next year. I love to see the little robin about, he sits underneath the feeders waiting for crumbs to drop.
DeleteThat is a bumper crop. What compost or soil do you grow them in, it takes a lot to fill a large container.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
Well, I meant to mention the compost in the post but forgot all about it. Hubby picked up some cheap compost, just £2 per bag for 70 litres, and I used this for my potatoes this year. It won't be wasted after the potatoes either as I use it to grow carrots in and then it goes on the beds at the allotment to improve the soil. A great bargain.
DeleteYou have me convinced Jo, that's a great advert for containers. I've wondered how viable the Christmas spuds are, seems an unnatural time of year to be growing them. And my greenhouse tends to be full anyway, with overwintering tender plants.
ReplyDeleteI'm usually happy with the yield from the containers, there's only the odd one which doesn't do quite so well. I've managed to grow potatoes for Christmas in the past, but it is a gamble.
DeleteWe seem to have kept our robins throughout this summer and have had young ones too.
ReplyDeleteI've been watching out for young robins but haven't seen any. I think my robin must go to his wife's territory over summer to raise the young and come back when breeding season is finished.
DeleteWhat a fantastic return on three tubers! We are still harvesting second earlies - I can't work out if it is because we had such a hot summer, we didn't eat enough spuds; or if the weather this summer increased their yields. Either way, I am very pleased to be enjoying homegrown potatoes this late in the season.
ReplyDeleteI know I buy in the compost to grow the potatoes in, but I still think I'm in profit after all the potatoes I've harvested this year. It's probably a combination of all three reasons why you're still harvesting second earlies. It's a treat to still be eating home grown this late in the season.
DeleteI rarely have any success with things I try and grow late in the season. I hope your potatoes do work out though. I had two little robin babies at the allotment this year, they were wonderful. So brave and curious, every time any digging was done. They were small and lightly fluffy - adorable. Hope you have a good week Jo.
ReplyDeleteI've managed to grow potatoes in time for Christmas in the past, but it's always touch and go. How lovely to have the two little robin babies to keep you company at the allotment, I wonder if they'll stick around.
DeleteOooooh....those spuds do look like they'll be super chips.....mmmmm
ReplyDeleteAww, sorry to hear your recently plated ones aren't doing much.....but you never know!
I just love it when the robin's keep me comapny, such cheeky wee birdies.xxxx
I think I'll do some as jackets, they're certainly big enough. I'm still hoping that my Christmas spuds will come good, but it doesn't look good. I have a robin at the allotment which perches on the tools while I'm working. It's always nice to have a bit of company.
DeleteThat's a great return from three tubers Jo. Will keep my fingers crossed that your Christmas spuds are just having a stutter and that you see signs of activity soon.
ReplyDeleteGlad to read that your gardening companion is visible again :)
I haven't used containers quite so large in the past, but it certainly paid off, seven pounds is quite a haul. I think I may have to buy my potatoes for Christmas dinner, though I haven't given up hope quite yet. I love to see my little robin making an appearance again, though it usually means that winter is nearly here which I aren't so happy about.
DeleteI'm curious as to when you planted your Christmas spuds Jo? I planted some seed potatoes (just 2) about 3 weeks ago in small pots, which I kept in the greenhouse. (going to transfer them to grow bags very soon) They have about 20 shoots in each pot over a foot tall. I put them on the floor of the greenhouse so they had a lot of stretching for light to do anyway, which might have helped a lot! I've never grown potatoes before, and there were some left in the cupboard and forgotten about which had begun to chit to extremes. So that may have speeded development too. Do you usually have much success with Christmas spuds?
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and leaving a comment. I don't have an exact date of when I planted the tubers but it was about three or four weeks ago. I would be expecting them to be growing away by now and needing earthing up but they've come to a standstill just as foliage was starting to poke through the compost. It sounds as though yours are going to be more successful than mine. I've been successful with them in the past, but have mixed results, some years I manage it, though I have to say that most, I don't. Good luck with yours.
DeleteThanks Jo, I'm happy to have found your blog!
DeleteThat gives me confidence that I'd doing okay with them thus far. I wasn't expecting much this late in the season but thought since they were about to get up and walk away I might as well stick a few in pots. Will be interesting to see how they get on! Thanks for the info :)
It's always worth experimenting with things, some things work and others don't, you'll never know if you don't give it a go. Hope they do well for you.
DeleteI can't plant potatoes in my garden, too hot! How many time I tried to plant it, but always unsuccessful. That was my lucky. Potatoes grow well on highland tropic, but I live on middle land. Only expect a miracle.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a shame as home grown potatoes are delicious. Perhaps it's to do with lack of water as potatoes seem to be very thirsty plants and require lots of moisture.
DeleteThat is a wonderful harvest, certainly at this time of year,
ReplyDeleteI think I shall try this variety next year, it did so well for you.
This is the second year I've grown Arran Pilot. I will probably grow the same again next year, though I'm definitely going to grow some Pink Fir Apple and Anya too.
DeleteI hope your potatoes do come for christmas. I always means to give this a go but so far have never got around to putting any tubers in.
ReplyDeleteHope the rain soon lets up for us to get finished before the weather gets really cold!!
Having potatoes for Christmas is a bit hit and miss, definitely worth the gamble though as it's lovely having home grown on the Christmas dinner plate. We had a reasonable morning here today but the rain's back again now.
DeleteShame about the Chistmas spuds, but you win some, lose some, and the crop of Arran Pilot looks pretty good. What with your spuds and my sprouts, Christmas dinner is looking a bit "thin" this year!
ReplyDeleteIt would have been nice to have home grown potatoes on the Christmas dinner plate, but I don't think it's to be. No sprouts here either, I'll be buying in.
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