Potato growing 2021

There is a new Nursery opening at the weekend about a mile from the house. It was a nursery before, but closed down. I was under the impression that the land had been sold for development, but just before Christmas there was sign up with Hampton Nursery's and the gate was open. I was out looking for a garden pot for mom for Christmas at the time , so popped in to see what they had. I ended up in there for about and hour with the new owner walking me around and telling me about his plans. He said that they are not opening until March, but today on FB they have announced that they are opening this weekend . I have messaged them to ask about seed potatoes and he has replied saying he is collection them tomorrow. I will pop in on Saturday and see what they have they have got.

Rusty

 

I have just received a message from the owner of the nursery mentioned in my last post to tell me that all the seed spuds are in. Nice touch.
Rusty

 

New potato buckets arrived today.



Rusty

 

@rustyroots that was nice of him to message you That's the sort of thing that keeps me going back to a business. Hopefully he will do well.

I've just dug up the last of my spuds. Got around 11kg of Royal Blue and 8kg of Pink Fir Apple.
Pretty happy with that!

Ate a few of the tiddlers steamed with some lamb, homegrown tomatoes, onions and lots of olive oil. Delicious.

I'm going to have a try at saving my own seed potatoes from this lot to save some money next year.

The husband has also requested a red potato next season, one that is good for roasting. Any favorites you would recommend?

 

Planted most of my Charlottes in pots to give them a head start when planted in buckets next month when they will be established plants.



The bigguns I cut in half still haven't healed yet and will be potted in a few days.



Some of my worst saved Kondors have been planted in mushroom punnets and will go under lights when they sprout to produce healthy shoots for taking cuttings.

 

That’s really interesting! As a novice I’d like to know what to do know? I live in Hampshire. Ive received these potatoes, Aran Pilot and some red onions. Looking at them they may be ready to plant ? Or not yet? A few are pretty big shall I half them?
Should I plant the onions now? Thanks

 

I would wait, chit them for the time being, they need good light and cool (not frosty) temperatures so they develop strong stubby sprouts. Aim to plant at Easter.

Onion sets can be planted now.

 

Hello magazine are telling readers to get planting out their seed spuds now 5 simple spring gardening tips to get your garden ready for summer

""If you've been chitting potatoes, they should now be ready for planting out."


Think I'll leave planting mine for at least another month.

Seems to be a load of non-gardeners jumping on the bandwagon and providing advice based upon googling/reading seed packet instructions this year. I've seen James Wong and Charles Dowding warning against taking advice from social media 'influencers'.

Makes a change from Donald suggesting bleach as a Covid remedy I suppose, but that is still having an adverse effect on us gardeners who use a 10% bleach solution for sanitising (1 part thin bleach:9 parts water) as there's still a shortage of it.

 

Can anyone recommend an early variety that is waxy, I'm looking for one that will remain solid when boiled and not break up like the ones I have tried in the past do.

 

I grow Winston as a first early @pete - excellent yield, doesn't break up and lovely flavour. Trouble is this year there is no seed around. I ordered from Kings Seeds back in November and they had already run out by then. I have a few Winston left in the ground at the allotment (grew too many last year) so I intend to use them for this year's seed, I know it's not advisable but needs must.

 

Thanks John, I'll look around, I was going to go for a few "international kidney" because the old ones I've tried have not been good.

 

Still chitting my potatoes right now.
Jazzy is one of my favs as a new potato

 

When starting spuds off in pots, etc. before planting in containers or open ground, to save space I stack them in mushroom trays made deeper by using alternate trays with the bottoms jigsawed out.



These can also be used upside down over plants before throwing heavy frost protection, such as sheets, blankets, old gazebo curtains, etc. over them to prevent them being squashed.

 

Bought some international kidney and a variety called Nicola today.
Both seem to be pretty big seed, and none of the usual tiny ones added to make up the weight.

 

I attempted maris piper's last year and found the greens grow like absolute mad, started tipping over, and the crop was pathetic.

Anyway... attempting again. I let OH choose a bag in the garden centre and he went for "Blue Danube". We mainly roast and apparently these are good.

They're chitting at the moment on the windowsill in an egg box and have some nice shoots popping up already. I'm using 3 felt bags 30l each. I'll see how they grow and decide whether to buy cheap supports or tie canes in to keep them upright this year. I didn't chit last year and they seemed to just take absolutely ages to get going so hoping chitting will make the difference.