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sharonl Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree

Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Dublin
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 4:39 pm Post subject: chitting protocol for this years spuds! |
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Hi all,
I've just bought all our seed potatoes for this year. Just wondering do you chit earlies, second earlies and maincrops at different times or do I just whack em all on the windowsill at the same time and just plant at different times. Was going to start chitting the first earlies this week and just need to know do I need to chit the second earlies and maincrops now aswell? _________________ Sharon
www.plot103.blogspot.com |
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paul5000 Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 94 Location: Westmeath/Longford Border
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Monty Don recons early's do benefit from chitin but second and main do not. It Can even have a poor affect on yield for the seconds and main crops. That is his opinion. _________________ Paul. |
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Gardening Daddy Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 19
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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To chit or not to chit....
I bought Orla's last week which I originally thought were first earlies but have since been informed (or misinformed) by the shop I bought them in that they are second earlies, I was planning on chitting them either way but now I'm not so sure. Can we get a general consensus on this matter?
Last edited by Gardening Daddy on Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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James Kilkelly Rank: Site Admin

Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2173 Location: West of Ireland
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sharonl Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree

Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Dublin
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:32 am Post subject: |
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I thought Orla were first early aswell they are listed as first earlies in all my books and anywhere I've looked on the internet. I'm growing orla and pentland javelin as first earlies, kestrel as seconds and maris piper as maincrop. I'll get chitting with the first and second earlies so, is it any harm to chit the maincrops? _________________ Sharon
www.plot103.blogspot.com |
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paul5000 Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 94 Location: Westmeath/Longford Border
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:51 am Post subject: |
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Sharon have you growing Maris piper before?? _________________ Paul. |
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cooler Rank attained: Sessile Oak Tree


Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 292
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:23 am Post subject: |
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sharonl wrote: | is it any harm to chit the maincrops? |
No harm at all. It may not improve their growrth rate much, but it will not harm them. Unless you drop them from the window sill that is.  _________________ 'Unemployment is capitalisms way of getting you to plant a garden'.
Orson Scott Card |
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MacFistycuffs Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Kerry
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:29 am Post subject: |
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Orla is a first early but can also be used as a maincrop. _________________ My Blog: http://blackvillage.wordpress.com
Twitter: @blackvillagemg |
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sharonl Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree

Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Dublin
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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I'll get chitting so!! No I haven't grown maris piper before, I believe they have relatively ok blight resistance but very poor resistance to scab, and make great chips!! We didn't intend on growing any spuds last year on the allotment but were given some aran pilots and roosters to try by an allotment neighbour so chucked em in and they were absolutely gorgeous, so we said we'll do it properly this year and plant out some earlies, seconds and maincrops. Spent our first year on the plot pretty much learning and trying everything to see what worked and what didn't, so practice year over its down to business this year. thanks all. _________________ Sharon
www.plot103.blogspot.com |
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sainttoff Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 04 Feb 2010 Posts: 40 Location: Dublin
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Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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Hi All;
I tried the potatoe bags last year as a method but didnt have much sucess.
Thinking of just second earlies and main crop this year for the bags, any one recommend when to plant them in the bags and when best to harvest?
Last year i got alot small ones from second earlies even though i left them there till august/september and the main crop were way too small of size to use.
Thanks |
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davidh Rank attained: Hazel Tree


Joined: 31 Aug 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Downpatrick
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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sharonl wrote: | I'll get chitting so!! No I haven't grown maris piper before, I believe they have relatively ok blight resistance but very poor resistance to scab, and make great chips!! We didn't intend on growing any spuds last year on the allotment but were given some aran pilots and roosters to try by an allotment neighbour so chucked em in and they were absolutely gorgeous, so we said we'll do it properly this year and plant out some earlies, seconds and maincrops. Spent our first year on the plot pretty much learning and trying everything to see what worked and what didn't, so practice year over its down to business this year. thanks all. |
I grew Maris Piper last year for the first time and they were wiped out with scab I think ! The stalks shrivelled up to nothing ! The tubers were medium sized and scabby/bumpy but looked fine when peeled !
I usually grow Valor and I am returning to that old faithful this year ! They're chitting away at the minute in the shed ! I have to recommend Valor as they have never let me down and according to most reviews are resistant to most things.
Anyway good luck with whatever spuds you grow this year !
David  |
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paul5000 Rank attained: Hawthorn Tree


Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 94 Location: Westmeath/Longford Border
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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How is the valor flavor. _________________ Paul. |
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davidh Rank attained: Hazel Tree


Joined: 31 Aug 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Downpatrick
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:24 am Post subject: |
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paul5000 wrote: | How is the valor flavor. |
Valor is delicious. Its one of them spuds you could eat on its own ! I got my seed potatoes from Suttons and they say its a good all rounder... chipping, boiling, roasting, mashing etc.... I would have to agree ! Its a Scottish potato.
David  |
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monkeynic Rank attained: Rowan Tree


Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 102 Location: Athlone
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Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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Im attempting chitting for the first time, when i too my second earlys out of the bag a lot of them already have buds but my first earlys dont, should I plants second before first? Or just give my earlys more time as only started on thursday. _________________ Please excuse my ignorance I'm new to this. |
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Redfox Rank attained: Hazel Tree


Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 34 Location: Dublin
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Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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When are you guys putting out your first earlies? I met an allotment gardener with 20+ years experience yesterday and he told me he put his out last weekend. He said to just cover the soil with black plastic and as soon as the plants start to appear swap it out for garden fleece. Anybody any comments on this? |
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