Tuesday was time for the second earlies and the Main crops.
I am planting in two different ways the first the tried and tested dig a trench
6 inches deep and place the potatoes in sprinkle with fertiliser and cover back
up, the second is a far simpler way using a bulb planter taking out a small
whole them plopping the spud in (with a little fertiliser) them covering it
back up. I tried this last year with my Christmas spuds and I got a good crop.
All the potatoes have been chitting since February some
of the potatoes really responded well to chitting, the Santé and the Majestic
both had really good chits but the Doon Pearl and the Ryecroft purple had chits
but were very small and look like they had only just started.All the main crops went into the potato bed at the plot but the first and second earlies were both planted up in containers and dotted about around the plot.
For me the first and second earlies aren’t really about
yield but more about the taste and texture. I can’t wait to try the Dr
Macintosh just because I love the name! the
main crops are a little more about the yield because this is what is going to
supply us with our potatoes for the coming year but I still will have an eye on
taste and texture because a potato may be a heavy cropper but it may taste like
dish water!
I will also compare the different planting styles as the
santé had 2 rows planted 1 with the trench method and 1 with the Bulb planter
we will see what grows best and if there is even a difference.
The soil although it has been dug over was very hard
going and due to the lack of rain over the winter when you get 4inches down its
very dry and full of boulders I am hoping the potatoes will help break down the
soil further.
All that’s left to do now is water them and wait….
My spuds are being planted in containers, a few containers at a time, a few weeks apart, to stagger the harvests. I've already started earthing up the first containers, they seem to be growing well. It will be interesting to hear which varieties are your favourites.
ReplyDeleteLooks good, be interested in what variety is the best flavourwise. I've just got mine in, a different method of planting but they all work well I think.
ReplyDeleteFor us it's dig a hole with a trowel and pop the potato in method which seems to work well!
ReplyDeletei liked that way, but we do have a few old school allotment keepers up here and i was getting some rather funny looks! some just are a stickler for tradition and the old way.
DeleteThat's what I'm hoping for too - the growing potato tubers to break my soil up a bit more. The varieties you're growing sound very exciting, looking forward to hearing how they do for you.
ReplyDeleteI thought our soil might be a bit on the dry side but having seen yours ours is positively wet. I'm hoping to start planting our potatoes next week.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW the soil in this bed isnt great thats why i am putting the potatoes in it this year hopfully it will help break up the soil and hopefully it wont be as dry this year!
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