Not good this year
Grow these every year in allotment but disappointing this year. Small crop of small sizes and worm damage. Think I'll stick to Casablanca now.
Jot
Alnwick, Northumberland
Grow these every year in allotment but disappointing this year. Small crop of small sizes and worm damage. Think I'll stick to Casablanca now.
Jot
Alnwick, Northumberland
100.0
Judith
Hello There, I'm afraid you will have trouble getting a bumper yield of any of the edible crops if the bed receives little sun, as most of them need full sun. Ones that tolerate some shade include radish, potato, borage, horseradish, blueberry, blackberry and tayberry - all the others will flourish in the sun. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
Joanne Parkes
Thanks, that's very helpful
Crocus Helpdesk
Hello again Joanne, I would plant them at their normal depth and leave the tips of the shoots above ground. Best regards, Helen Plant Doctor
Joanne Parkes
Thanks for your advice. The shoots are much longer than the depth they should normally be planted, shall I just bury them horizontally? Joanne
Joanne Parkes
Hello Joanne, It sounds as if your potatoes are raring to go! It is hard to go wrong with potatoes, so the best thing to do now will be to try to untangle them and plant them with the shoots attached. I suspect some of the shoots will get snapped or damaged in the process, but I would not be too concerned as they will develop more shoots in no time. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
Ian Milne
Hello Ian, I am not really sure why you had such a dismal crop last year, but I would try to dig in as much composted organic matter as possible before you plant the potatoes to try to enrich the soil, and it may also be worthwhile doing a simple pH test. As for the fertiliser, they will all vary in strength and application rates, however if you bought ours:- http://www.crocus.co.uk/product/_/organic-potato-fertiliser/classid.2000008337/ then the application instructions are as follows. Use before planting between February and April. Apply 135 g/sq. m ( 4oz per sq. yd ) over the vacant plot and fork into soil. This is equivalent for typical pot sizes to: 30cm. ( 12 in.) diameter pot - 10g. 38cm. ( 15 in.) diameter pot - 15g. 50cm. ( 20 in.) diameter pot - 30g. I'm afraid though that you need to dig it in around the whole bed rather than just along the row - hence the instructions for sq.m. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor
Crocus Helpdesk
Many thanks for your advice. The quantities are just what I need., and I'll certainly try to enrich the soil in the hope of a decent crop of tatties!!!!!! Regards, Ian
Ian Milne
Darren Sainsbury
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Bets Ingram
You can start chitting your early and maincrop seed potatoes in February, but the best time to plant is in early to mid spring. As for growing vegetables in your polytunnels, you have lots of options. Spinach, kale, and some varieties of lettuce will live through the winter in a polytunnel. Certain kinds of onion work well from an autumn sowing, and you'll get a much earlier crop than if you'd waited until spring. Other possibilities are cabbage, Pak Choy, Chinese cabbage, and most root crops. Leeks, beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips and radishes, can be sown for winter harvest
Crocus
Debora Everard
Now is the perfect time to start thinking about growing potatoes, as they need to be chitted before planting. Chitting just encourages shoots to grow before you pop them in the soil in early spring. The onion sets can be planted in March or April, while carrot seeds can be sown from late February as long as they are protected.
Crocus
If you just want to grow a few vegetables or have suffered losses with early sowings, buying plants is a great way to play catch-up. Buying plants also allows you to grow vegetables if you do not have the facilities to raise them from seed yourself or whe
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