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No dig potatoes ?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Tomcat, Dec 11, 2021.

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  1. Tomcat

    Tomcat Gardener

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    @Steve R , really enjoyed your video , especially your comments on how many tubers to plant in each bucket.
    I’ve always though it strange that you plant 12” apart in rows 2’ apart in the ground but are advised to pop up a handful in a 2’ diameter bucket ! .
    Looking forward to your experiment next season .
    Can l ask ,what compost do you fill your buckets with & do you liquid feed ?:)
     
    Tomcat, Dec 12, 2021
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  2. Tomcat

    Tomcat Gardener

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    Also , is keeping them moist in high summer a challenge? :)
     
    Tomcat, Dec 12, 2021
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  3. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    JWK, Dec 12, 2021
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  4. Steve R

    Steve R Soil Furtler

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    For compost I use whatever is cheap and reasonable, I use and reuse the same compost for about 4-5 years and every new season each bucket gets a handful of blood fish and bone.
     
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      Steve R, Dec 13, 2021
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    • Steve R

      Steve R Soil Furtler

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      I bury the pots upto about 6 inches deep, and the roots get out of the bottom of the pot to find nutrients and water.
       
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        Steve R, Dec 13, 2021
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      • Steve R

        Steve R Soil Furtler

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        Thanks John, over 330 videos up on he channel now, starting to get the hang of it now...
         
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          Steve R, Dec 13, 2021
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          Great videos @Steve R :blue thumb:. Your allotment has come on wonderfully since I saw it. I guess that must be around 20 years ago now. :rolleyespink:

          About 30 or 40 years ago we grew a form of no dig potatoes. We made a 30ft long raised mound of soil and compost about knee high (so used a form digging as we had to mound it up). Then covered the mound in black porous membrane, made some holes in the membrane and planted seed pots through the holes.

          The plants grew out of the holes to find daylight. We watered them by sprinkler as our plot is too large to water by hand and in really dry weather we could hose extra water into the holes.

          When the potatoes were ready for lifting we rolled the membrane back, rummaged in the mound for large potatoes and removed them. We left the small potatoes, patted the soil back into shape and put the membrane back over it. The small pots continued to grow. It was very successful but we haven't grown root veggies for many years - too much bending for us nowadays :old:

          Since then all our veg is grown through membrane with virtually no digging. Each Autumn/Winter the membrane is rolled back, weeds pulled out (they grow through the planting holes) and garden compost spread on the top. The digging we do is simply forking the compost lightly into the surface, rolling the membrane back and letting our tiny underground friends do the rest.

          Almost no digging, no weeding throughout the growing season (apart from the bindweed that pops up through the holes but is pulled in seconds) and no muddy ground to walk on when harvesting. Our veggie plot is about 28' x 70' and we put the membrane down at least 20 years ago and never needed to replace it.
           
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            shiney, Dec 13, 2021
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          • HarryS

            HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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            A really good You Tube channel Steve :blue thumb: Nearly 14000 subscribers well done.
             
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              HarryS, Dec 13, 2021
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            • Steve R

              Steve R Soil Furtler

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              Good morning Shiney! (and hello to Mrs Shine also!)

              That is a really good method, cutting down on the workload by not having to weed a large veg patch, continually. Allowing more time to care for the plants or other activities. In your case tending the runner bean forest through the season.

              Steve...
               
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                Steve R, Dec 13, 2021
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              • Steve R

                Steve R Soil Furtler

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                Thank you for saying that Harry, it is very much appreciated. Hoping to get to 14,000 by Christmas, simply because it was a target set a while ago. But there is no real rush it will happen when it does.

                Steve...:)
                 
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                  Steve R, Dec 13, 2021
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                • HarryS

                  HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                  I have browsed through a few of you You Tube videos, they are informative and well presented.
                  I am sure Admin would let you put a link to your channel on here. It is a resource that many would find useful. Except the ones who know it all ;):heehee:
                   
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                    HarryS, Dec 13, 2021
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                  • shiney

                    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                    Thanks and best wishes to both of you. :grphg:

                    It's surprising how much time the runner bean forest takes up. fortunately I don't so it on a commercial basis. :heehee:
                     
                    shiney, Dec 13, 2021
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                  • Steve R

                    Steve R Soil Furtler

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                    Thanks Harry again, When I started my youtube two years ago nearly, I sought permission and was granted to put a link in my signature (its still there now), then I all but dissapeared as I got stuck into making videos.

                    It would be a bit cheeky of me to ask for anything right now I think, but I am happy you like what I have done.

                    Steve...
                     
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                      Steve R, Dec 13, 2021
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                    • Logan

                      Logan Total Gardener

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                      You can do it like this or earthing up. Admit he does live in Australia but it's the same way.
                       
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                        Logan, Dec 14, 2021
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