Christmas Potatoes...

[Zigs]

...Are up



They won't get huge as the frost is coming but by keeping them undercover we should have some new potatoes for Christmas Lunch.

 

[Anniekay]

What are you growing your Christmas potatoes in @Zigs ? I haven't had much luck with potatoes here. I have trouble with the plants not thriving and not getting a good harvest. Any tricks you can share ?

 

[Zigs]

A Girt flower pot and a dustbin with holes in

They should have been chitted last month to get a crop for Christmas, first or second early varieties work but maincrop take too long to mature. I use Charlotte - https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/potato-charlotte/classid.2000002445/sku.bu30000049/

This only works at this time of year if we get a mild Autumn, although I keep them in the polytunnel a hard frost will kill the tops off

 

[Anniekay]

("Scratches head")....girl flower pot?
Pink?
Is that it?
It stays frost free here til late December, usually.
I'm still confused.

 

[Meadowlark]

...Are up

Mine are a bit taller. I target Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving is about the time my spring crop has been used up (as in consumed) and we generally have a hard frost by then also. Hence, I try to get mine chitted out to grow about Sept. 1.

These are Sarpo Mira, Red Pontiac, and Yukon Gold all chitted from the spring harvest. The 75 ft row (which has sweet peas companion planted with the spuds) in first photo should yield around 200 pounds and each container (second photo) about another 10-12 pounds.

We really look forward to these especially when the spring crop runs out.

Just keeping up with @Zigs ...

 

[Tetters]

("Scratches head")....girl flower pot?
Pink?
Is that it?
It stays frost free here til late December, usually.
I'm still confused.

Yea Annie, he seems to enjoy confusing people - weird or what The word he uses is not correct English. In the west country in England, people speak in a weird accent, and this word GIRT is one he picked up there. It is supposed to be ''GREAT BIG'' .......drives me mad!!

 

[Tetters]

Mine are a bit taller. I target Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving is about the time my spring crop has been used up (as in consumed) and we generally have a hard frost by then also. Hence, I try to get mine chitted out to grow about Sept. 1.

These are Sarpo Mira, Red Pontiac, and Yukon Gold all chitted from the spring harvest. The 75 ft row (which has sweet peas companion planted with the spuds) in first photo should yield around 200 pounds and each container (second photo) about another 10-12 pounds.

We really look forward to these especially when the spring crop runs out.

Just keeping up with @Zigs ...

View attachment 1296


View attachment 1297

So which is best - tubs or ground?

 

[Anniekay]

Yea Annie, he seems to enjoy confusing people - weird or what The word he uses is not correct English. In the west country in England, people speak in a weird accent, and this word GIRT is one he picked up there. It is supposed to be ''GREAT BIG'' .......drives me mad!!

Oh now I get it. I thought it was a typo for "girl".
Then I thought he meant a hole in the bottom of the pot which would make it female. My brain was whizzing about trying to figure it out !!

 

[Meadowlark]

So which is best - tubs or ground?

Definitely ground outproduces tubs...but tubs are much more manageable for protection from frosts thus I plant both to extend my season.

 

[Zigs]

("Scratches head")....girl flower pot?
Pink?
Is that it?

Despite what Tetters says I've lived in the West Country longer than I've lived in the East so still have the odd phrase stuck in me 'ead

Gert (or Gurt) - literally: large, but has a subtle dual meaning. It also means great, or very as in 'gurt lush'. That's the badger - that is exactly what I was looking for/ what I meant.

 

[Zigs]

Mine are a bit taller. I target Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving is about the time my spring crop has been used up (as in consumed) and we generally have a hard frost by then also. Hence, I try to get mine chitted out to grow about Sept. 1.

These are Sarpo Mira, Red Pontiac, and Yukon Gold all chitted from the spring harvest. The 75 ft row (which has sweet peas companion planted with the spuds) in first photo should yield around 200 pounds and each container (second photo) about another 10-12 pounds.

We really look forward to these especially when the spring crop runs out.

Just keeping up with @Zigs ...

Isn't Sarpo Mira the variety the Russians developed to avoid famine that grows huge but has no flavour and the texture of a yard brush?

We don't Thank over here but the Christmas ones are already double the yield of last year

 

[Meadowlark]

It originates from Hungary and has a light red skin and light yellow flesh. Has become my absolute favorite potato. The description:

"These remarkable potatoes are known for their exceptional yield, disease resistance, and outstanding taste. While many potato varieties are determinate, Sarpo Mira are indeterminate, meaning they continue to grow and produce tubers even when the tops have been destroyed. This unique feature makes them a favorite among gardeners and farmers alike, as they can withstand harsh weather conditions and still provide an abundant harvest. In addition to their resilience, Sarpo Mira potatoes also boast a delicious flavor that will leave you longing for more. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply a potato enthusiast, these potatoes are sure to impress with their superior qualities."

 

[Tetters]

We don't Thank over here but the Christmas ones are already double the yield of last year

I thought people who go to church said thanks for the harvest at the harvest festival every year. It must just be the heathens that don't bother.

 

[Zigs]

It stays frost free here til late December, usually.
I'm still confused.

If you'm having trouble growing potatoes, make sure you chit them first, that is put them in a tray in the sunlight (usually on the window sill) till they grow shoots and leaves.

Plant them in shallow trenches so that when they start growing you can draw soil up around the stems (haulms). This stops the light getting to the tubers, if the light does get to them they turn green. That bit is only Chlorophyll but once it's happened the potato (tuber) produces Solanine. This is a poisonous alkaloid that you can't see or taste. It's produced right througout the the tuber, no good cutting the green bit off.

If you eat it, at best you will be on the toilet clutching your guts in pain while the world falls out of your bottom. At worst, you won't eat anything ever again.

Right, with that warning out of the way, if you plant them out too early and there are still spring frosts about be prepared to cover them well. If the frost catches the haulms they will die back to the tuber and start again with new haulms which will weaken the plants and delay the crop. Once frost has passed and they are growing well, keep earthing them up and make sure they get plenty of water at the roots.

You will find conflicting info on wether or not earthing up potatoes produces more tubers. In fact, I was accused of photoshopping a picture of potatoes that had filled a drainage pipe that I put over them (like I had the time or inclination to photoshop a potato ) I've found that First and Second early varieties don't seem to make more tubers if earthed up but maincrop varieties will fill up a pipe or a tyre if you fill it with earth as they grow.

If you want new potatoes harvest them as soon as the tubers are big enough to eat, for keeping, leave them in the soil for 2 weeks after the haulms have died back and then dry them out somewhere dark. Keep somewhere cool but frost free

 

[Zigs]

I thought people who go to church said thanks for the harvest at the harvest festival every year. It must just be the heathens that don't bother.

I didn't think of thanking like that, thanks for reminding me, we can go to the harvest festival and have a good thank this year

 

[Zigs]

It originates from Hungary and has a light red skin and light yellow flesh. Has become my absolute favorite potato. The description:

"These remarkable potatoes are known for their exceptional yield, disease resistance, and outstanding taste. While many potato varieties are determinate, Sarpo Mira are indeterminate, meaning they continue to grow and produce tubers even when the tops have been destroyed. This unique feature makes them a favorite among gardeners and farmers alike, as they can withstand harsh weather conditions and still provide an abundant harvest. In addition to their resilience, Sarpo Mira potatoes also boast a delicious flavor that will leave you longing for more. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply a potato enthusiast, these potatoes are sure to impress with their superior qualities."

I grew a great big one and threw it away as it tasted of car wax

 

[Meadowlark]

Isn't Sarpo Mira the variety the Russians developed to avoid famine that grows huge but has no flavour and the texture of a yard brush?

Over the years, I've often been asked which potato is the best tasting, which one produces more, which one is the best for containers, etc.

About three years ago, I conducted my own "scientific" study comparing the yields, quality, and taste of 13 different varieties of potatoes in hopes I could more intelligently answer those questions. Oddly enough, the potato variety I have grown for decades came out on top in that study, but the Sarpo Mira was not far behind and was in fact the best tasting potato of the entire bunch tested.

The results are summarized below:

Rank	Type	Rating	HK PRO	GAR PRO	QUAL	Taste
1​	Red Pontiacs	40.3​	8.0​	13.0​	10​	9.3​
2​	Sarpo Mira	38.8​	6.2​	12.6​	10​	10​
3​	Dark Red Norland	38.5​	8.9​	10.2​	10​	9.3​
4​	Elba	33​	7.2​	7.8​	9​	9​
5​	Yukon Gold	33​	6.9​	7.1​	10​	9​
6​	Caribe	31.5​	5.8​	6.4​	10​	9.3​
7​	German BB	30.6​	5.3​	7​	10​	8.3​
8​	Rose Gold	29.9​	4.3​	6.6​	10​	9​
9​	Russet	28.4​	5.4​	6​	9​	8​
10​	Kennebec	27.2​	5.5​	6​	8​	7.7​
11​	Huckelberry Gold	23.6​	4.6​	3​	8​	8​
12​	Prarie Bush	22.6​	3.9​	4.3​	7​	7.3​
13​	Charlotte	21​	5.2​	3.8​	5​	7​

Table explained:
· Rank is determined by summing the HK PRO, GAR PRO, QUAL, and Taste
· HK PRO = the total production in pounds from one pound of type seed potato planted in Hügelkultur containers
· GAR PRO = the total production in pounds from one pound of type seed potato planted in proximity in garden soil
· Qual = a subjective measure of the overall quality of the new potatoes produced (from 1-10 points)
· TASTE = a subjective measure of taste raw, fried, and baked each assigned 1-10 points and averaged

 

[Anniekay]

I grew a great big one and threw it away as it tasted of car wax

OMG @Zigs, I'm so sorry to hear that you have had to eat car wax to sustain yourself !!

Thanks for all the info, Zigs on growing spuds.
I think I have trouble with my potato crop because my soil, although I add lots of compost, it isn't as rich as it could be and, due to the high drainage and the off and on high temps and days of strong sun, my climate is not compatible with growing potatoes. We can get days in the high 80's in fall and even early winter, then my plants sulk.

 

[Zigs]

OMG @Zigs, I'm so sorry to hear that you have had to eat car wax to sustain yourself !!

Thanks for all the info, Zigs on growing spuds.
I think I have trouble with my potato crop because my soil, although I add lots of compost, it isn't as rich as it could be and, due to the high drainage and the off and on high temps and days of strong sun, my climate is not compatible with growing potatoes. We can get days in the high 80's in fall and even early winter, then my plants sulk.

Could have been worse, at least I didn't have to resort to eating Cucumber

Tetters reminded me of your soil in the middle of the night I'd suggest mulching with grass cuttings to keep the moisture in. I've earthed up potatoes with grass as a quick fix when I hadn't had the time to earth them up properly