Potatoes

Himzo · **Posted:** Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:29 pm

earthbound wrote:

I think AQIS and the Dept of Agriculture would be pretty quick to stomp on things Himzo. It's all about risking spreading certain pests and diseases, and I reckon there have been a fair few people within the industry trying to get stuff in here.

It's a bit like getting Jade Perch into W.A., from a commercial standpoint, fisheries just will not approve it. I know at least 2 commercial growers that have petitioned the fisheries department for approvals, they were told that unless they can get 8-10 commercial growers wanting to grow JP here, it just wasn't going to happen.

It was just a thought... then again you could wait until your in a marginal seat at election time (is there a cynical smilie).

veggie boy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:13 pm

I wasn't going to bother with potatoes this year, but on the weekend changed my mind and ordered 3kg of Nicola from Greenharvest. This was my favourite last year.

Barely any of them have any sign of shoots. Does anybody have any tips as to:
- how best to encourage the shooting (I think last time I just spread them out on some carboard under cover but in an area that gets light albeit not direct sunlight.
- how much shooting there needs to be before I can bung them in the ground.

dufflight · **Posted:** Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:17 pm

I got 1kg from green harvest and just planted them. Had a little dig and they are shooting now. Do you cut the spuds up or just drop them in whole.

veggie boy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:19 pm

I use them whole - the size suits whole use. Did yours have decent shoots before you planted, or do you rely on shooting once in the ground?

dufflight · **Posted:** Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:21 pm

No shoots when they arrived. But they took off once they were in the ground.

veggie boy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:25 pm

okay - I thought I was meant to get shoots to come first. Might even ring Greenharvest and ask.

dufflight · **Posted:** Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:27 pm

Leave them for a week underground and they will shoot. Was late planting so I just got them into the ground asap.

Jaymie · **Posted:** Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:32 pm

I've just put ours in a cupboard for a couple of weeks. Greenharvest say to allow a centimetre or two of eyes before planting

earthbound · **Posted:** Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:11 pm

I generally allow a centimetre or so of growth before planting. You have to be a bit careful then though that you don't break them off while handling and planting.

curnow · **Posted:** Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:11 pm

Was cruising around the B store yesturday. Came across $10 soakwells and thought they would be good for spuds.

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The other compost bins are also being used for spuds, so it will be interesting to see how they perform.

:dunno:

Cheers
Dennis

oldute · **Posted:** Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:21 pm

Good idea Dennis. :thumb:

veggie boy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:24 pm

Never heard of them or seen them. Are they for the grease trap or something?

curnow · **Posted:** Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:41 pm

They are called soak wells. They are dug into the ground and used for taking water from the house gutters and letting it soak into the soil without running across yards causing erosion (I guess) :dunno:

Could never fathom that out. Why not save rain :crazy:

They are named as Modular Soakwell

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Cheers
Dennis

chillidude · **Posted:** Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:09 am

Curnow

Are you going to fill them up gradually as the plant grows, like stacking tyres as the plant grows ? or just fill 'em and plant 'em out ?

We put in a bag of royal blues two weeks ago and the first sprouts were emerging within a week !

curnow · **Posted:** Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:58 am

Yep.I have only put a small amount of compost in the bottom (about 150mm) and will just keep topping up as the plants grow. :thumb:

Cheers
Dennis

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Potatoes

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Potatoes

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