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Potatoes - a beginner's guide?

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  • Potatoes - a beginner's guide?

    Hi all,
    I don't know anything about growing potatoes but I know that I want to try it because i've seen that it can be done in a bucket. Can anyone please offer advice for a new shoot like myself (I couldn't find a link on GYO website, but aplologies if one already exists).
    I'd really like to know:

    When do i sow?
    What on earth is 'chitting'?
    How long do they take to grow?
    When do i know to top up with compost?
    How many could i put in a tyre/bucket for a good crop? - i only have a small garden/patio area
    Do I cut them in half?
    How do they grow more potatoes from one half of a potato? - seems a bit like a magic trick!

    Thank you in advance

    Lisa B
    Gone veg crazy!

  • #2
    I've moved your post out of Growing Techniques section Lisa, because nobody can answer your questions there You might find a few of your answers in the video posted by tattieman; http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...deo_29386.html

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    • #3
      Hi Lisa

      I would second the advice to check out Tattieman's tutorials - very useful! (He's a potato-growing pro, so he should know!). Here's the non-video version (handy for quick reference):

      http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ers_28513.html

      Originally posted by lisab View Post
      Do I cut them in half?
      How do they grow more potatoes from one half of a potato? - seems a bit like a magic trick!
      You can cut them in half if you don't have many seed potatoes, but it's not necessary.

      Seed potatoes aren't literally seeds - they are swollen underground stems with several points (eyes) where new shoots can grow from. Think of it like taking cuttings - all you need is a bit of stem with leaf buds, and roots will automatically be produced from the base.

      Apparently, during the war, potato peelings were used instead of seed potatoes - you just have to be careful to cut out the eyes cleanly!
      Last edited by Eyren; 26-03-2009, 08:03 AM.

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      • #4
        Lisa, spuds are the easiest thing in the world.

        If the jargon does your head in, just stick a spud in a bucket of compost, water it and watch it grow.
        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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        • #5
          Thanks everyone,
          I feel a bit more confident now, I can't belive its that easy and I've never grown them before! Its fascinating about the war - they really did know what they were doing! I think its a shame that times have changed, we should all be growing spuds like that!
          Thanks again ,
          Lisa B
          Gone veg crazy!

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          • #6
            I agree with you Lisab - I'd love to know more about how they grew things in the war when they needed to be so frugal.
            I must try and find out more as it would really come in handy and I love the 'waste not want not' philosophy.

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            • #7
              Somewhere online there's a whole collection of veg-growing leaflets from the war period that you can download - maybe someone here has it bookmarked?

              EDIT - that would be me

              http://www.earthlypursuits.com/Allot...AllotGuide.htm

              Enjoy!
              Last edited by Eyren; 26-03-2009, 05:09 PM.

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              • #8
                great link....thanks for sharing

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                  Lisa, spuds are the easiest thing in the world.

                  If the jargon does your head in, just stick a spud in a bucket of compost, water it and watch it grow.

                  Yay my type of advice
                  Susiewoosie

                  A novice but keen to learn

                  My Blog - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...s/susiewoosie/

                  My photo Albums - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ie-albums.html

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                  • #10
                    I have done exactly that and I hope done it right will just have to wait and see.

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