I created a series of furrows, curving through the soil of what was once our chicken run, and Robyn set out the sprouted spuds along them, then raked the soil over the pop-eyed little things to encourage them to grow.
She planted:
Le Ratte
Catriona
Jersey Benne
King Edward
Pink Passion
Pink Fir
13 comments:
It wont be long before you could plant Cliff's Kidney and Ilam Hardy as heritage varieties. CK is a long time favourite.
Great stuff Robert. My DW wishes to know how you can be planting spuds at this time. Is it not too cold ( ground temp) and ? ambient.
We live in Kaimais @ 237m = 1k ft and grnd temp a bit cool yet.eg I wont plant Scarlet Runner beans till Oct.
What's your secret? We have Red Rascals sprouting away but nor quite there yet
You Southlanders! Up here in Auckland my potatoes - all six plants, bless them - are a good 30cm proud of the ground and straining for the sky with teenage enthusiasm!
King Edward.
Two words that never fail to produce a twinge of homesickness. I need a bigger garden.
There's such a range to choose from nowadays and it all depends on what you like to eat. I'm a 'waxy' man but hear that the Irish prefer the floury varieties!
pdogge - our climate is maritime and frost-free-ish and we sit on the gentle north-facing slope on a belt of lovely loamy soil and above average-for-Southland temperatures. On top of that we have shelter from the sou'westers and dozens of 'sunny spots' throughout our garden where we've cultivated-up the soil to make sun-trap gardens where we can start things off early in the season. The soil there is already warm and has just the right amount of moisture in it for planting.
I wouldn't put my scarlet runners in yet either - outside anyway. Some of our potato varieties sprout very early - the 'Rattes' are an example of that!
1000ft is going to keep you cool for a while yet. We are near sea level.
But how will they taste, Sanctuary? Will all that eagerness to make leaves translate into tuber and won't they be watery? Down here we bide our time and don't rush at things - have you ever tasted a Northland swede :-)
In truth, I'm envious of your super-early start, though that's tempered with the knowledge that you've had 'frost events' over the winter, at least there have been several reported from Hunua!
So far, we've tucked about 200 spuds into our deep south soil and I've instructions to prepare furrows for the same number again. This afternoon though, it's peas.
Good luck with your crop Sanctuary!
You could grow 'em in a bucket James. I've seen surprisingly good crops hauled from a pail!
There is a real art in growing spuds in a bucket, Rg.
The Rotary Club I am a member of has a "Spud-in-the-Bucket competition - a legacy from the days when we sold about 20,000 2nd hand 20 litre pails each year.
The results are startlingly varied, and a source of much amusement at 'judging'. The best can feed a small family for a week - the worst, well it is better left unsaid!
The skills required to be successful are many, so perhaps you could help James with some ideas, Rg.
Better still, Fred, you could advise James :-)
Seems you know you onions!
I do know that spuds don't like an overly freshly manured soil. I'd be looking toi fill my bucket with a matured compost and then feed the spud, mostly through a foliar feed at regular intervals, throughout the season. I'd watch out too, for the recently spreading psyllid, nasty little fellow, that's causing problems throughout the industry and home garden sector equally. Not to mention the awful potato wart virus but I don't mean to be off-putting!
Agria is a variety showing some resistance to pshllid, and is a versatile spud, especially roasted in a wee oil at a back country hut with a southern ale in hand.
The bucket should have drainage holes. Fill about one third with a rich, well matured compost. Place the seed potato on top of this and cover with more compost - preferably stuff that is nearly soil again. Keep adding this last 'brew' once the plant appears, and as the plant grows. Regular, light waterings seem good, increasing the water as time goes by.
One of my philosophies is to remember most plants feed in two ways - one through the roots, and one through the leaves with each supporting the other.
Oh! James, don't forget to talk to your spud. The spud will appreciate it, and you will feel good - unless you are swearing at it for hosting grooblies like psyllid!!? Good luck.And remember to keep the bucket away from the cold early on.
I have heard spuds can grow amazingly well in "horse litter" - NOT horse pooh, or chicken litter as both are too rich. (See Rg's comment)
Make compost for next year's potato bucket out of this year's comfrey leaves. Potates love to grow in anything to do with comfrey and throw in some kelp and you'll grow great spuds.
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