Potatoes

**Penellype** · 01-05-2016, 08:51 PM

The different categories of potatoes relate to how many days between planting and harvest rather than planting times. You would be fine planting earlies now if you can find some seed potatoes.

I usually grow Charlotte for Christmas - these are usually available in garden centres in July.

**Containergardener** · 01-05-2016, 09:03 PM

Oh thanks penellype, in past I've bought them early in yr and had them chatting ages before planting . Does that not matter ? If I find some online I could just plant straight away?
I've only done them couple of times and planted in bags before now and covered for frost protection.
Hence the stupid questions

I shall have to check your thread lists again for what you grow, I'm already off to look for the purple runners you like.

**Cadalot** · 01-05-2016, 09:30 PM

Only finished digging the bed for my last lot of spuds today, and they are early Lady Christi that are well and truly chitted.

**Containergardener** · 01-05-2016, 09:51 PM

Mine won't get time to chit though Cadalot, will it make a difference? I havnt tried that variety but have seen them online tonight available, infact most seem available. I've done rocket, Charlotte, international kidney before and tbh liked IK and it's odd shapes

**Potstubsdustbins** · 02-05-2016, 02:20 PM

Lady C are my favourite 1st early. Chitting won't mater to much at this time of year just give them about 14 weeks in stead of 12 and if you leave some in 18 to 20 weeks you will have some lovely chippers.

**SusieG** · 02-05-2016, 02:45 PM

Just bought some lady christl off eBay

**Penellype** · 02-05-2016, 03:20 PM

Originally posted by Containergardener View Post

Oh thanks penellype, in past I've bought them early in yr and had them chatting ages before planting . Does that not matter ? If I find some online I could just plant straight away?
I've only done them couple of times and planted in bags before now and covered for frost protection.
Hence the stupid questions

I shall have to check your thread lists again for what you grow, I'm already off to look for the purple runners you like.

I've grown Rocket, Charlotte, Desiree, Sarpo Axona, Sarpo Mira and this year I'm trying Lady Christl. Chitting shouldn't really matter - the potatoes do actually want to grow. It just helps a bit to chit them in the warmth early in the year as they will grow faster this way than in cold soil.

The purple beans (Purple Teepee) are dwarf french beans, not runners. I've got some on my windowsill, just started flowering so I'm hoping for a few early beans soon

**SusieG** · 02-05-2016, 03:35 PM

Penellype - my dwarf French beans are yet to germinate. They are currently sitting in my GH ... Do you think it's too cold in there? Should I bring them into the house (if I can find room????)

**Penellype** · 02-05-2016, 04:30 PM

Mine are in the house and have been from the start. How long have they been in the greenhouse? Beans are quite good at rotting if they don't germinate reasonably quickly, and they could also have been eaten by mice. If you have room indoors I would start some fresh ones, and if the others germinate its a bonus.

**SusieG** · 02-05-2016, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by Penellype View Post

Mine are in the house and have been from the start. How long have they been in the greenhouse? Beans are quite good at rotting if they don't germinate reasonably quickly, and they could also have been eaten by mice. If you have room indoors I would start some fresh ones, and if the others germinate its a bonus.

Hmmm, they've been in GH now for 10 days ....
I only left them in GH as per pack instructions ..... Looks like I need to sow a fresh batch

I must kick the bottom of my DH and get my heater set up in GH for after the summer .... I have the electric supply but just need to get it into the GH ....

Apologies for my ramblings, all, just very slightly gone off topic

**Containergardener** · 02-05-2016, 06:47 PM

Ramble on susie

Thank Pots''' il try some lady c amongst.

I've never bought off plants ,seeds off eBay.

Thanks Penelype, I like all beans, I was a bean in a previous life I think .

I sowed 28 prizewinniner exactly the same only half came up, others rotted.
15 fire something and 6 ish scarlet so far
Also sown dwarf purple queen , none up yet.

May stagger and do some later even with my short growing season. Optimistic .

Re potatoes, what's the smallest pot I can get away with if I put one in it. A bucket? Morrisonio flower pot? I usually use old compost bags rolled down. Always worked before.
Also what food do you use when planting and afterwards, same re runners?
I've just used liquid feed for veg in past..

Sorry million questions ..again

**Penellype** · 02-05-2016, 07:44 PM

I reckon 10 litres of compost per potato as a minimum, so I sow 3 in a 30 litre pot. I think the flower buckets are about 10 litres, but not absolutely sure.

If I'm using old compost I add blood fish and bone when planting. I feed potatoes with tomorite once they have been growing for a few weeks. I don't tend to feed beans unless they are in pots, when they get a bit of tomorite once flowering.

Others may do things differently!

**Containergardener** · 02-05-2016, 07:55 PM

Thanks . I will work on 10 per potato and see what pots/bags I've got. Determined to have 'something'

**Potstubsdustbins** · 02-05-2016, 08:40 PM

I seed potato per BFB should give you a couple of good boiling's.

As to feeding your runners (they are a large vigorous plant) it really does depend what size pot their in. I grow Firestorm in BFB and household buckets, 1 plant per bucket. After about 4 weeks I give them a high nitrogen feed, usually miracle grow for green growth, changing to high potash tomorite when the beans start to set.

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