I can just about get the lid closed still, and I certainly made sure to do so last night, since the weather forecast was predicting a temperature of 3C round here. You can never rely completely on the weather forecast, so if they say 3, I reckon on zero! Potato foliage is easily damaged by frost, so I wasn't taking any chances.
The Second Early plants had reached the stage where they needed earthing-up. In the USA I think this is called "hilling". The idea is to progressively put more soil / compost round the stems as the plants grow, in order to stimulate more root growth and thus more tubers. You can see how tall the stems of these ones had got:
In this next photo you can see the fleece that I have put in place for reacting quickly to the threat of frost. I just pull it over the pots and weigh it down with a couple of bricks. When it is not required it is stuffed down behind the back row of pots. Last night it was deployed!
Yesterday afternoon I did the earthing-up, and this is what those pots look like now:
I have added a layer of approximately 6 inches of compost. I may do another one in a week or two; it depends if I have enough compost after planting out the tomatoes and chillis.
Since frost was a possibility, I completely covered with compost the just-emerging shoots of the Maincrop plants. This can count as their first earthing-up. (I'm not showing you a photo of that!). I also brought the tomato and chilli plants indoors or into the garage, because I thought 3 degrees would be too cold for them even though they were in the plastic greenhouses. It was a bit of a pfaff doing this (several trips were required), but I feel it was worth it.
If things keep going according to plan I expect to be harvesting the first tubers in about a month's time.
You pack so much into your garden! I like the word 'hilling'.
ReplyDeleteI like the word 'hilling' also. I think you're right about the potatoes liking the weather, mine have really shot up.
ReplyDeleteThe first of our potatoes are just peeking through.
ReplyDeleteIt`s looking good for some lovely new potatoes with mint and butter around early June I reckon
ReplyDeletethe potatoes look good!!! Very interesting also the "hilling" method
ReplyDeleteYes, in America we call it "hilling" and it's one of my favorite garden activities. It makes the whole bed look neat and fresh again as I rake the saved soil between the rows up against the new plants. I live near the Great Lakes and our spring is very late this year, but you've inspired me to go out an plant some potatoes today. They're ready and waiting. I've planted them as early as March 15th (in 2012). The soil in my raised 8'x8' bed is warm, but I will also need to keep a frost cover handy. Although I've found the first sprouts can be frozen back once or twice without permanent harm,
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughter (CUCU) will surely look forward to dig the tubers with her ATUK ;).
ReplyDelete