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Post by tuesdaymine on Jun 2, 2009 14:10:31 GMT
I've planted some seed potatoes in large pot's and they are doing very well.
All plants are very tall, but no sign of the flowers.
My question is do i have to wait till they flower.?
I've done the same with lattices and beetroot's and had a great return for my effort.
Thanks Tuesday
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Post by ken on Jun 4, 2009 21:06:56 GMT
You should have new potatoes Tuesday, they only need to flower to produce the fruit which is poisonous. The potatoes are only nodules on the roots and have nothing to do with the flowers. After they have flowered you get your big old potatoes for roasting.
KC
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Post by tuesdaymine on Jun 14, 2009 18:58:29 GMT
Thanks KC for your reply.. I've been waiting for today to see if there was any thing in my pots.
Only dug one container and i was totally gob smacked that i could fill a whole bucket of lovely white potatoes, ( must get out more ) I'm going to take some to a very old friend of mine, she's been very kind to me last few years.
Now i know its worth doing, i will defiantly be collecting suitable boxes for next year.
Tuesday
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Post by ken on Jun 14, 2009 20:16:04 GMT
The other trick is to put some dirt in a box, with seed potatoes on the top Tuesday. Cover the box with black plastic and cut small crosses above the potatoes. You can water them through the crosses and the sprouts will find the holes and grow through. You should cut some of the eyes out, so you don't get too many shoots. Once they start producing, you just lift the plastic up and pick off as many potatoes as you want and put the plastic back. Once you start picking off the biggest ones they will keep producing more. Its just like having a potato factory. You only need a thin layer of dirt to retain the moisture. The black plastic will also stop a lot of moisture from evaporating. Feed them plenty of nitrogen, that will speed them up.
KC
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Post by tuesdaymine on Jun 30, 2009 13:44:18 GMT
Still picking out potatoes from my plastic pots, now have two galvanised buckets full.
I've just planted 8 pointed cabbage plants and pkt carrots seeds into empty boxes .
They wont need watering as very soon we are going to get a heavy down pour.
I love gardening especial when theres such a good result.
Tuesday x
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Post by mikkh on Jun 30, 2009 14:47:42 GMT
...and any potatoes will do - don't go buying expensive garden centre seed potatoes. Just buy a pound or so of ordinary potatoes and leave them to start sprutting on their own. Shouldn't be much more than a week this time of year.
I had a pound of Tesco's 'finest' new potatoes and forgot to use them (having already opened them) I dug a bit of my nature reserve up, planted them two weeks ago and now I have plants (up to 6 inch tall) all over the place.
And KC is right, the tempting looking tomato like fruits are poisonous, so you need to keep an eye on curiosity filled toddlers or adults who have had a few beers!
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Post by ken on Jun 30, 2009 20:59:08 GMT
Solanaceae.
Is a family of flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants.
The family is also informally known as the nightshade family or potato family. The family includes Datura (Jimson weed), mandrake, deadly nightshade (belladonna), capsicum (paprika, chili pepper), potato, tobacco, tomato, eggplant and petunia.
The Solanaceae family is characteristically ethnobotanical, that is, extensively utilized by humans. It is an important source of food, spice and medicine. However, Solanaceae species are often rich in alkaloids whose toxicity to humans and animals ranges from mildly irritating to fatal in small quantities.
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Post by Lynnrose on Jul 1, 2009 17:28:10 GMT
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