Sad Spuds (whats gone wrong)

[poshiesplot]

Hi I have already posted this thread but it seems I put it in the wrong place So thanks to a very kind Gela I am now trying - hopefully in the right place -. My spuds this year have been awful, I chitted 4 types, Kestrel, jersey type, anya, lady christy. I prepared 4 beds added fish blood and bone and also garden compost because my soil is light and sandy. There were very few flowers, some didn't flower at all and I waited at least 12 weeks before lifting any but they were very small with black marks which even after peeling away returned whilst cooking A truly pathetic crop. I have grown spuds before but never had such a poor result. It didn't look like blight and I don't want to invest my time and money again next year if this is going to be the result. Any help and advice will be gratefully received.

[PAULW]

The weather has been very cold so the 12 week is a guideline not an absolute, my spuds started off slow but I think this is the best crop I have ever had quite a lot of them gave 5lb a root and the best individual spud weighed 2lb 5oz, plenty of muck in the ground and potato fertilizer that has more potash to feed the roots than nitrogen for the leaves.

[Snadger]

It's been a strange year for spuds. I've grown one of your listed varieties, kestrel, and got a good crop of good sized clean tatties. The next row to it was Rooster and with this I got a pathetic crop of small spuds. Must admit, your description sounds a bit like blight symptoms but I know kestrel is supposed to be slug and blight resistant?

I think it's a case of experimenting with different tatty varieties and seeing what does well in your particular soil!

[Hilary B]

12 weeks for earlies, fair enough (weather permitting), but even second earlies need a bit longer than that. Flowers don't matter do they? Why 'fish blood and bone' rather than manure? Doesn't that have a lime content, and surely spuds don't like lime?
I've always done what gardening I do a bit 'seat of the pants' style (although I also read a lot of the books) but I have a feeling I read somewhere that black marks can be due to lime.....

[rustylady]

My spuds this year have been awful, I chitted 4 types, Kestrel, jersey type, anya, lady christy. I prepared 4 beds added fish blood and bone and also garden compost because my soil is light and sandy. There were very few flowers, some didn't flower at all and I waited at least 12 weeks before lifting any but they were very small with black marks which even after peeling away returned whilst cooking A truly pathetic crop. I have grown spuds before but never had such a poor result. It didn't look like blight and I don't want to invest my time and money again next year if this is going to be the result. Any help and advice will be gratefully received.

Sounds like your problem could be lack of consistent moisture. You say your soil is light & sandy. Where in the country are you? You can add this to your profile and it will save us having to ask you every time you post. I would suggest adding as much organic matter as you can, line the bottom of the planting trenches with compost or manure.

[Snadger]

Sounds like your problem could be lack of consistent moisture. You say your soil is light & sandy. Where in the country are you? You can add this to your profile and it will save us having to ask you every time you post. I would suggest adding as much organic matter as you can, line the bottom of the planting trenches with compost or manure.

Consistent moisture.????????...........we've certainly had that!

[poshiesplot]

Thank you to everyone who took the trouble to reply - I will certainly take on board all of your advice. I live in North Norfolk, and I will add this to my profile. Poshiesplot

[moggssue]

I planted Pentland Javelin, Maris Peer and Carlingford and had a great crop. They had a very slow start, didnt seem to want to get going, but once they did they went great guns. I reckon it was more like 16-18 weeks so maybe next year you just need to leave them a little longer? Not that I have much experience, only started last year myself!

[poshiesplot]

Thanks moggssue, the second earlies were left in 20 weeks! still rubbish ! I'm not one for giving up easily so no doubt I will have another go next year - this year for the first time I am using green manure on my vacant beds in the hope it will enrich the soil and stop the goodness from leaching out, it will be rotavated in before it sets seed. I like to be as organic as I can so thought I would give this a try and hopefully it will improve the soil.

[tattieman]

Try growing some in a barrel for a comparison with what you plant in your patch.
If your soil had too much lime then your potatoes would be scabby.
Sounds like blight if its all the way through the potato.