Trying for very early potatoes, re-sowing some seeds that didn’t germinate well, surprise with leek seeds and horticultural lighting
Last year I shared a potato growing tip in my newsletter and had a few people come back saying how well it had worked for them. So this year I’m going to give it a go myself. Here’s the tip, which came from Dr David Shaw of the Savari Research Trust that develops the blight-resistant Sarpo Potatoes.
Re early spuds: I recommend dropping some seed into 9 cm pots of compost in the living room. They will root up quickly and begin to sprout, so they can be moved out to protected areas when conditions improve.
I mentioned this idea to Val last year who didn’t seem keen on it for some inexplicable reason. However, it struck me I could try it out using one of my large propagators. It’s set at 14ºC, but hits higher in the daytime. Bit like in the house.
I’ve got 9cm pots but they’re a bit of a tight fit for the Casablanca seed potato tubers, which I want to use. For some reason the Casablanca seed potatoes were all a bit larger than I’d like. Anyway, I’m using 12cm pots. Available from Elixir here.
Starting Potatoes Casablanca in 12cm Pots
Nothing fancy; just a handful of standard multipurpose compost in the pot, pop the tuber in and cover with compost. Quick watering and job done.
Once the potatoes are producing foliage, thy can be planted out. It’s a bit of faff compared with the usual growing method, but should give the potato crop a head start at a time when the stored crop from the previous year is running out or at least getting old.
Leeks – Germination Good News
Leek seedlings in Bustaseed Modules
I was disappointed with the low germination percentage of my Bulgarian Giant leeks. The good news is that it looks like I was just being impatient. There are some gaps, but quite a few modules have both seeds sown germinated. These extras are pricked out and transplanted into the vacant modules. In fact, there are probably enough extras to need another tray.
Re-Sowing
Sowed the remaining cabbage Caraflex seeds, more Cabbage Earliest of All and Lettuce Lollo Rosso. All into 9cm pots to prick out should they deign to appear, this time.
New Sowing
Sowed a ‘new to me’ cauliflower, Candid Charm F1, into two 9cm pots. These will prick out into rootrainers for later planting. Hopefully a crop by late July. Candid Charm is said to be fast and suitable for close spacing. Some say it gives small heads, others large. So I’ll see what it does for me!
Lighting
Cucumbers Peppers in Propagator with Lights. The radio on top is optional!
The potting shed faces west, so I supplement the natural light with artificial. The lights come on around 6am and go off at midday, popping back on for a couple of hours around 5pm. This compensates for the lack of direct sunlight in the mornings and the lack of energy in the evening light.
I have used this method of starting potatoes for some time with great success. This year I have used biodegradable bags I got from Amazon instead of pots. Roots are coming through the fabric and shoots are emerging after 2 weeks so they are ready to plant this weekend after the frosts. I use a bulb planter and drop them in the hole. No pots to collect and wash. I will keep a few in a growbag in the greenhouse for a few weeks for the first earlies, Variety Maris Bard, sieved garden compost with BFB and Remin. Broad beans and onion sets have been similarly treated but I’m waiting for milder weather.
Has anyone tried the biodegradable fabric bags and how successful were they particularly with parsnips?
I use those grow bags from Amazon in my garden. I’ve found that I’m much better off to remove them before planting out. Though they say they are biodegradable, it should be measured in decades, not weeks! in my experience. I do like them, but only for starting. Good luck
I plant my first and second early potatoes into 12” pots using recycled green waste compost, augmented with potato fertiliser. These I place in my greenhouses (I have 2x 30’ houses). I have set up an automated irrigation system so the growing spuds are regularly watered. The combination of greenhouse warmth and regular watering gives an excellent yield. Meanwhile I bring on my young tomato plant in smaller pots. When all risk of frost has passed, usually mid May here in Hampshire, the potatoes go outside, still in pots, which I half bury in the open beds: this allows further root growth below the pots. Meanwhile I pot up the tomatoes into 12” pots, same compost type plus growmore, to go in the place of the removed potatoes again half buried and again I hook up the irrigation. This way I avoid having to replace the soil in the beds as the nutrient comes from the pots and the deep roots draw water from below. I never need to feed the tomatoes and still get good yields. I have used this method with success for several years. As well as salad toms I grow a lot of plum toms for drying and passata making. I seldom buy shop toms!
Great ideas I’m going to try bills method as I have automatic watering available and it seems a great system