The Tatties Thread 2020

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Mar 28, 2020.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    The colouring looks like King Edwards @Emily Jones - a good crop :dbgrtmb:
     
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    • Scrungee

      Scrungee Well known for it

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      One week later and they're up to 8 feet tall, right up into the polytunnel apex, but they're branching out everywhere from top to bottom which might slow them down, otherwise they'll get to 11 feet by the end of August.[/QUOTE]

      That branching of the stems has created a forest of growth at high level, but only an increase in overall length of 6", up to 8' 6" max., so doubt if they'll ever acheive more than 9 feet height.

      Hoping that if left until the stems start fading away, some of their energy/goodness will go back down into the tubers.

      As there's so much growth up there, hopefully that'll plump up the already large tubers below ground.

      This year has been a real experience of what happens with potato stem growth, as most of it has been observed from around eye level.

      IMG_20200817_164108973.jpg
       
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        Last edited: Aug 17, 2020
      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

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        My tall polytunel border planted Kondor spuds, now all about 7'6" to 8'6" tall, are now producing quite a few yellow leaves which are being quickly removed before they get infected with botrytis.

        My Kondor stem cuttings, transplanted 10L pots and kept in same tunnel, are deteriorating rapidly, so I'm going to let them dry out so the tubers (had a furtle around one pot and plenty of micro tubers forming) will store better for replanting next year.
         
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        • Scrungee

          Scrungee Well known for it

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          What with all this unseasonal wet weather and getting blight alerts nearly every day, I've decided not to wait for the inevitable blight any longer and have cut all my outdoor spuds stems down to the ground, that's them safe for the year at the expence of a few more pounds of tubers.
           
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          • Jenny namaste

            Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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            The grain harvest looks likely to be 40% less this year. Is the spud crop up to scratch or poor this year?
             
          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            The Setanta have had a great yield, considering that each of my plants grew from a quarter slice of a seed potato, I dug this single root up today. Size 9 boot for scale:
            20201214_110240.jpg
             
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            • Scrungee

              Scrungee Well known for it

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              How much do they each weigh?
               
            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              We had three as Jackets for tea tonight, then I read your question :)

              The biggest remaining is 1lb 10oz (745g).

              I'm feeling pretty stuffed after eating one, in future we will share half each.
               
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              • Scrungee

                Scrungee Well known for it

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                Were they solid all the way through? I've had quite a few 2lbs + spuds with hollows inside.

                Don't suppose you can remember which end of the seed spud produced that plant?
                 
              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                One had a hole (slug maybe) which needed boring out otherwise completely solid.

                Sorry I just planted any old how, so I don't know which part of the sliced up seed tuber produced it. I dug up half a dozen roots to see us through Christmas and they were a bit variable, some had fewer tubers than the one in the photo but all were a good size.
                 
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