This year, I'm growing three varieties of potatoes. Here they are just after they were first laid out to chit.
1st Early - Arran Pilot.
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2nd Early - Anya.
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3rd Early - Pink Fir Apple.
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I usually grow all my potatoes in containers as I used to find so much slug damage to them on my old plot, but now I'm on a new allotment site, I'm going to have a go at growing some of them in the ground again. I'll just sow a row of each variety to try it out.
The rest of the potatoes will still be grown in containers. I like this method of growing them as they come out so clean and damage free, but there are downsides in that they take quite a lot of compost, they require lots of watering and, if you've got lots of buckets on the go, they can take up quite some space.
The first three containers, one of each variety, were sown on the 16th of March. Three tubers were placed in each bucket, and here you can see where each tuber has sprouted some foliage. I shall fill the bucket bit by bit with compost as the foliage grows until the whole bucket is full. The containers are residing in the greenhouse at present until the nights warm up a little, and you can see petals in the buckets which are being dropped by my little peach tree which is also living in the greenhouse.
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I've since planted up more containers and I'm hoping to get some tubers in the ground very soon.
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It'll be interesting to see how your ones on the plot do.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that the foliage on some of my first early Vales Emerald is just appearing above ground. Flighty xx
I'm hoping that I don't get as much slug damage on my new plot, it will save me having to plant all my potatoes in containers in the future. Time will tell. Spuds don't take very long to start growing once they've been planted.
DeleteWe have quite a few slugs in our garden but I have never known them damage potatoes that must be very frustrating. What do they do?
ReplyDeleteThey burrow in to the potatoes and eat away at them. It's a species called the Keeled slug which is the potato pest. I had so much bother with them on my last plot that I decided it wasn't worth growing them in the ground, so I've been growing them in containers ever since. I'm just hoping that they're not a problem on my new plot.
DeleteBlimey Jo you are growing loads! I checked my pots last night nothing poking through yet.
ReplyDeleteI've got 2kg of each variety. It's actually more economical to buy them in larger quantities than buying just a few tubers. This lot has cost me £9.59, £3.00 for the Arran Pilot and Pink Fir Apple from the allotment shop and £3.59 for the Anya. I'd like to do a bit of an experiment this year and work out how many kg's I get back from my outlay, but I might fall down on that somewhere down the line. Hope your spuds put on some growth for you very soon.
DeleteIt's strange how some varieties if potatoes seem more susceptible to slug damage than others.
ReplyDeleteI didn't find any variety to be less susceptible to slug damage on my old plot, I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this new site. It would be good to grow some in the ground.
DeleteThat's a lot of potatoes for growing in containers! I usually plant only one tuber per pot, so that they have lots of space. PFA is one of my long-term favourites too.
ReplyDeleteI know, but probably cheaper than buying just a few, plus I'm trying some in the ground this year too. My containers are quite large so I can get away with planting three tubers per container. I haven't tried Pink Fir Apple before, but I loved Anya when I tried it last year, and as it's an offspring from Pink Fir Apple, I thought I'd give them a go this year.
DeleteI'm sure our slad type potatoes planted in the ground on the plot always have less slug damage than non salad varieties.
ReplyDeleteThey probably do. I don't think one person's experiences are similar to another's where potatoes are concerned. I'm really hoping that I get better results on my new plot than I did on my old one.
DeleteWe are so behind, our only went in to the lottie this week. Thats what happens when your ill.
ReplyDeleteThere's loads of time left yet. Don't be doing any bending though, I know what abdominal surgery is like, let others do that and spend your time watching for signs of germination instead.
DeleteThe Pink Fir Apples look as if they are talking to each other Jo. Hope that new plot produces a good and healthy harvest.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, yes they do. I'm really hoping that they do well in the ground this time, it will save having to grow them all in containers in the future.
DeleteI shall be planting mine this weekend. Those PFA are a devil to keep standing upright while they chit!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'm going to have chance to plant mine this weekend, but I'd like to get them in sooner rather than later now. I've never known such nobbly potatoes as Pink Fir Apple.
DeleteI hope that you have lots and lots of lovely chips and all sorts of other potato dishes later in the year from all of those lovely spuds! xx
ReplyDeleteI hope so too. I always look forward to the first potato harvest of the year, yum yum.
DeleteI've not grown potatoes at the allotment yet, so I'll have to wait and see if there's slug damage. To be honest I hadn't even thought about it. Sigh. I've grown a few in containers before, and I've found that in a dark container against the south-facing house wall they grow really quickly. I hope your new allotment doesn't have the dreaded keel slugs.
ReplyDeleteIt seems there's a pest just waiting to attack whatever you plant and potatoes are no different. I'm really hoping that they do well in my new plot, it would make life so much easier if I could plant them in the ground.
DeleteThose first shoots look wonderful Jo, hinting at all that deliciousness to come :}
ReplyDeleteIt's always a relief when you see the first shoots. A while to wait yet, but I'm looking forward to the first harvest.
DeleteYou give me a great lesson on growing potatoes. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found it helpful. Nothing with gardening is an exact science, there are so many things which vary from year to year so a lot of it is keeping your fingers crossed and hoping for the best.
DeleteI have still yet to plant my potatoes. I don't chit mine either...just put them in the ground when they are ready. Do you find you get more potatoes by continuing to cover the new growth?? I may try growing some in containers' for Christmas this year....mind you I have been saying that for quite a few years now!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had chance this weekend to get the ones I'm growing in the ground planted, but I'm hoping to get round to it very soon. I've always used the method of covering new growth so I don't have anything to compare it against, but I've always had great results from growing in containers. I've tried growing potatoes for Christmas on quite a few occasions with mixed results, I'll probably still give it another go again though this year.
DeleteIt's always fantastic when the first potatoes shoot out, you know it's all going on then. Mine haven't come up yet but they are in the ground and it has been a little chilly. Some great varieties there, I'll be interested in seeing how they all come out.xxx
ReplyDeleteArran Pilots are favourites and I grew Anya last year but the yield wasn't so good, I'm hoping they do better this year as they taste fabulous. Pink Fir Apple is a new one this year so I hope we enjoy them.
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