[clare]

I have a whole bed of lovely healthy early potato plants. (about 80 odd tubers)They've grown to about 18"-2ft high and just stopped growing. They're healthy - no blight, beautifully green, they're not being eaten or attacked in any way. They have no visible disease. One plant has flowers but the rest are just sitting there healthy as anything but not growing any taller. Is it simply the want of some sun? Or am I doing something wrong?

[inishindie]

Hi Clare

Your spuds will be the envy of the veggie growers world!

I grew some spuds a while ago using mushroom compost. The tops were a picture, lush green and very prolific. When it comes to harvesting them I was greeted with pea sized tubers! Too much nitrogen in the soil.

I would say that although the spuds are giving the impression they are resting, the activity beneath the soil will be hectic. You will be giving out boxes of the spuds to your friends (unless the wet weather gives us all blight!!)

PS, we all want some sun!!

Cheers
_________________
www.gardening.ie

[clare]

Thanks inishindie. I hope you're right!

[clare]

My fears were illfounded. The potato plants never did grow any bigger, but we had a bumper crop in the end - in fact, too many - I've been giving them away by the pound. Next year I won't grow as many earlies and look forward to having a go at some main crops. My growing area will be twice the size by then (yet to be cultivated and bunny-proofed) so there'll be plenty of room for crop rotation. Thanks for the reassurance and I'll have more confidence next time!

[GPI]

Good to hear about your success with the potatoes, clare.
Hope you didn't have any blight.
_________________
If you benefited from irishgardeners.com, please link to us or tell others, so that the site can grow and benefit more gardeners.

Remember, a weed is just a plant in the wrong place.
Garden Consultation & Design in Ireland!

[crosseyedsheep]

[cooler]

[quote="crosseyedsheep"]