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Potato help

Me again......sorry!

I'm hoping I haven't made mistake number 3!!! My potatoes weren't growing well and after a few days of rain have shot up, I have a feeling I should have done something with compost before they got this big??

I have looked on the big web and there isn't really much info after the initial planting, and can't find much on the forum either about putting more soil on.  Should I have done it already and if so, have I ruined them? If not then when should I do it? Also how much, do I completely cover them, half cover them or what??

Both varieties are earlys, first and second.

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 Thanks.

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Posts

  • Busy Bee2Busy Bee2 Posts: 1,005

    Yeah, just chuck it on!  They'll cope, and within days will be peeping out at the top again, but you'll get more potatoes for it.  Potatoes can cope with most things. 

  • Busy Bee2Busy Bee2 Posts: 1,005

    Except frost....!

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    Yes, cover them over with some more soil - they'll peep through again soon image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    You're doing good OL! Just keep covering them in soil and we'll be round for Sunday roast soon enoughimage

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Thanks everyone, the tubs are actually deeper than they look and aren't even half way up yet so still of plenty of room, they are basically a compost bin chopped in half (it wasn't mine and I didn't chop it in half - actually it was the neighbour's who woke me up last Saturday!!! image)

    I will get some compost out at lunchtime and 'chuck it on' image

    Thanks again for your patience image

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    I'm still not sure I'm doing this right!  The shoots seem to be coming back through everyday and quite big, is that right, it just seems too quick image

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,139

    Sounds perfect - exactly what they should do image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Orchid Lady wrote (see)

    I'm still not sure I'm doing this right!  The shoots seem to be coming back through everyday and quite big, is that right, it just seems too quick image

     

    As Dove says, as it should be.

    Perhaps you're being a bit delicate,.....a couple of inches, rather than a sprinkle.

  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    OL that's just what mine are doing and I keep chucking heaps on! My first bag of potatoes is now too full of soil to add any more in and the plants are so HUGE! Perhaps you like me under estimated just how big these plants seem to get and how quickly they grow! image

  • http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c186/DavidKnapper/6885483c-9812-41b6-a9aa-0ccee335a30b_zps4ecb774e.jpg

     

    http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c186/DavidKnapper/003_zpsdeda539d.jpg

     

    These have been planted for about 10 weeks now and should be ready for harvesting by the bank holiday weekend.

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