Planting Potatoes

Well this morning was lovely, sun shining and a real spring day. I thought I’d best cut the lawn before heading down to the plot before tribes of homeless pygmies and hordes of wildebeest moved in. The moment I stepped outside it went black and started to rain. Not a lot or for long, so I did manage to cut it.

The cuttings went into a large garden bag, along with various trimmings and cuttings and the kitchen waste for the compost bin. You can never have too much compost.

I took the car around to plot, although it’s only round the corner, I’d loaded the seed potatoes in and the plan was to get them into the ground and then prepare a bed on plot 29. That was the plan,

Of course, it decided to give another little shower as I arrived. Sometimes I feel I’m being watched by the big fellow in the sky who has a wicked sense of humour. Luckily that was it for the afternoon and it kept off for the rest of the day.

First in was the Swift, a first early. I’ve got 3 tubers coming on in the raised bed with a coldframe, so these will be a little later. In an ideal world I’d have had the potatoes in a couple of weeks ago, but with the weather and being so far behind on preparation this is it. It doesn’t matter, things will catch up. I keep repeating that mantra!

Planting potatoes is one area where the Mantis really comes in useful. First of all I run down the row with the normal tines, which breaks the soil into a fine tilth getting any large lumps into fine soil.

Next I swap the tines for the furrowing tines which throw soil to the sides and go down a little further. Having done this, some fish, blood and bone goes on at about a handful per 6 foot of row,

I’d like to have laid some wilted comfrey under the potatoes but the comfrey isn’t really ready for a cut yet. The trees at the back of the allotments have suddenly come into leaf, so I suppose they’re behind but catching up as well. That mantra again!

The first and second earlies go in at the same spacing, 2 feet between the rows and one foot apart. These spacings have been tried and tested to maximise crop yield from an area of land for the farmers, which is why we use them. Of course, you can grow at closer spacings in raised beds – but for normal soil growing, it works.

I started from the top of plot 5 and worked down,
  • 2 rows Swift (1st Early)
  • 4 rows Anya (2nd Early)
  • 2 rows Kestrel (2nd Early)
  • 2 rows Valor (Maincrop)

The Anya is a knobbly salad potato, lovely taste and it stores exceptionally well. I’ve not grown Kestrel before but it’s supposed to be a good chipper and have a good flavour when boiled as well. Fingers crossed it does OK. I’d a few too little for 2 full rows with the Kestrel so spaced them at 16″ apart. It means I may get a little more crop for the seed and it keeps things organised.

The Valor is a maincrop and stores well, a good all rounder and makes good chips (yes I like chips). The rows are spaced at 30″ and the tubers at 16″ for maincrop.

Last year I grew King Edward but the blight got them and they didn’t perform too well in our soil anyway, so back to the tried and tested Valor. They seem somewhat blight resistant and crop well on my plot.

I’ve got about 4 rows of Sarpo Mira to go in, but by half past six it was going quite chilly and I’d had enough, despite being fortified with a flask of coffee so they’ll have to go in another day.

And preparing the bed on plot 29? Well, when does anything go according to plan? Finished putting everything away in the shed, had a last cup of coffee whilst watching the pigeons discussing what there was to eat on the electric wires and the robin feasting on the worms and bugs where I’d disturbed the soil. They are really tame birds, he even landed on the table and gave me a look as if to say, “there’s daylight left” before flying off. I flew off for tea.

The Potato Bed On Plot 5 – Looking Neat

Potato Bed

Potato Bed

Posted in Allotment Garden Diary

Leave a Comment Here on Planting Potatoes

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

What to do now on your plot!

Monthly Free Newsletter

Allotment Photo History

Our Books – A Growing Offer!

Our bestselling books for growing success!
More Information
SPECIAL OFFERS!

Archives

Allotment & Garden Online Planning

Free Trial - Allotment Planner
Personal Planting Updates & Tips
by email twice a month
Allotment Garden Planning Software