The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: deepinthewoods on February 20, 2012, 07:07:13 pm
-
proposal!
to plant 3 seed potatoes of any variety in a bag (such has been advertised over the last few years by various fibbing companies ;) ), on a set date, to be removed on a set date, contents weighed, and results posted.
any takers? (odin, your barred ;) ;D )
-
Sounds good to me ;D You have to weigh the seed potatoes first and take that away from the final weight, so that it's weight gained that's measured.
-
Nothing to lose..............count me in!
-
I'll play ! :)
-
i'll play are we talking special bags or just grow bags stood on end, which is how i usually do my salad potatos?
-
i cant see why not.
any suggestions for start date? i thought end of march to allow for latitude variation? and july 27th for the weigh in, tas's olympic effort!!
-
Barred....Moi.......Never.
Just wait until I get my Horny Ransomes 2 row Sex machine potato digger into gear . It came all the way from Devon, still some red sandy Devonian soil on it , but not any more. It is all oiled up and ready to rock n' roll, in some right soil.
Tsch....3 spuds in a pot......wouldnt feed my mice. :hohoho:
-
;D ;D ;D
money and mouth spring to mind.
int it :wave:
-
I grow potatoes to fit my mouth, or "gob" ,up here in Yorkshire where everything is big.
An enquirer asked why I have stone walls around the potato field ? One replied that I only plant one potato right in the middle of the field, but it is to watch, because the soil is so good that the potato can grow so large that it needs the stone walls to keep it in. 8) :spud: :spud: :spud:
-
ok.
the end weight,
v
ONE of odins.
or is that unreasonable? :D
-
I'm in
we could have a whole comp of
biggest runner
longest carrot
etc
I've was planting seeds over the weekend and spent the last 2 days digging the allotment
yay spring is in the air
:cucumber: :carrot: :spud: :squash: :corn: :peas: :brocolli:
Mx
-
sounds like a bit of fun, I'm in.
-
as a yorkshireman down south I'll put 3 spuds forward -
-
Hi, I'm from South East Wales, just got my allotment 2 weeks ago :thumbsup: (rather overgrown) I will definitely take part to make you all look good ;D
-
thats the spirit! :D
-
I'm in.
But, can we not have an official start date as we live in different climate conditions, grow different varieties and sprout our spuds at different times?
I'll be planting my Orlas today and will weigh and start three in a bag.
-
Digging???? my ground is still frozen!!!
-
:wave:
I have a stock of potato's that we rescued from the field next door.
I want to use these in the competion - but...I dont know what make they
are - How do you go about identifying a spud ? I am a total beginner when
it comes to growing anything
The ones I have re-homed are round, smooth, no rings when cut, very watery, they make great mash.
some of the ones we rescued were a pound in weight 10" long 6" diameter.
soil here is good but not more than 20" deep with a firm clay base.
field previously used for grazing sheep.
cheers!!
any help in spud identification would be grateful !
-
As said up north a spuds a spud if you can eat it thats all there to it. :thumbsup:
-
im not sure that variety matters really.
so how about setting some rules?
-
I've tried this before - in a barrel - and the results were pathetic.
On the positive side, it turned lumpy compost, seaweed, soil, comfrey and some grass cuttings into good compost.
-
so how about setting some rules?
If I can do anything on the forum or the online show system to support this just ask - once the rules are established I'll have a think about what options we have with the technology (if it would help).
-
I'm also prepared to help out.
There will, of course, be some expenses involved - hotels, air travel, sundries etc, miscellaneous appropriations etc but I reckon I can manage for around £10,000.
-
so how about setting some rules?
If I can do anything on the forum or the online show system to support this just ask - once the rules are established I'll have a think about what options we have with the technology (if it would help).
righto thanks dan.
i reckon start at the end of march. that gives people plenty of time to chit the spuds and sort out the bag and compost!
I've tried this before - in a barrel - and the results were pathetic.
hence the need for a competition to prove once and for all whether it is or is not possible to grow a decent crop of new spuds in a bag!!!!! ::)
dan i dont know what help you are able to offer technology wise feel free to enlighten me!
-
im fine i got loads of chipped spuds the kids are easting them now...
oh hang on thats not what you meant is it!!!
better go buy some seed spuds this weekend then!!!
-
'easting' them eh, ah the trouble one cheeky little letter can case :D
-
I'll have a go. :)
How do we ensure correct weight is measured and reported? Should we weigh and log start weights on the start date, post them, then do the same at the end? Hope no one puts a brick on the scale too ;D
Would photographic evidence be needed?
So many questions and so few answers........................ :D
Ian
-
honour, decency, honesty and trust!!
its a brave new world. :trophy:
maybe a photo at the end would be nice, but id like to hope that the kudos gained for winning an online prizeless spud :spud: growing competition would be sorely outweighed by the burden of guilt forever racking a cheats very soul.
so to make it simple, otherwise this will go on forever. :D
rules are.
1. on 27.3.12.weigh and plant 3 spuds :spud: (of any variety)in a bag (like the ones in the advertised kits)
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/garden-supplies/cropping-storing-and-harvesting/potato-growing-bags/kww2583TM (http://www.thompson-morgan.com/garden-supplies/cropping-storing-and-harvesting/potato-growing-bags/kww2583TM)
2. cultivate to your best ability, hopefully organicly but each to their own.
3. on 27.7.12 empty and weigh your crop and post up your results.
i will personally forward 'the deepinthewoods trophy' to the winner. :trophy:
-
I'm up for it.
Must now get my special giant potatoes from mr X and plant them in Y when their werll chitted and dipped in ingredient ABC ;)
-
im in
-
I'm not joining in. going on my track record for growing spuds in bags, you'll all laugh at me. :(
-
thats hardly the olympic spirit!! nothing ventured...... :D
-
Despite been banned from this major event. I am still digging mine up from last years planting. Was down there today, 26/02/12. Snow drops (plants) in full bloom and daffodil plants are up. My Wiljurs in the ground are starting to sprout so the ground is warming up. I intend to try and get my earlies into the ground mid March.
-
I shall have a go!
-
thats hardly the olympic spirit!! nothing ventured...... :D
Maybe but wsith me and potatoes it's a case of quite a lot ventured, nothing gained.
-
10 days to go, i hope your spuds are chitting! :trophy:
-
I'll play, I generally am very pleased with growing in bags, and get to rip the mick out of my landlord every year as his attempts are rubbish. I have now jinxed my own efforts this year haven't I? :D
-
Count me in. Although I,m looking at gaining the booby prize if last year is anything to go by.
Lots of top growth then when it turned black and started dying , we turned out the sacks to find total of half a dozen mini things from 6 sacks started with 4 spuds in each. ???
Got to do better than that this year surely :trophy:
-
That makes me feel better about my pathetic results.
-
a week to go!! my pink fir apple are chitted nicely, ive dug and mixed a super rich load of compost, and my new mini polytunnel (4.5m x 2m x 2m) goes up this weekend. good luck everyone!!
-
todays the day to start ypour spuds off, weigh them and put results up here. good luck :trophy: :thumbsup:
-
Piglets,I don't have a bag! :o where can I get one today???mmmm??? I did not follow the thread,chitted and was going to use containers!looks like I shall have to go into town!
-
any empty compost bag would do it.
-
any empty compost bag would do it.
Now I have hoards of those,Thank you! ;D :thumbsup:
-
well, if no ones in theres not much point, mine weigh 5 oz and are in. worth a try anyhow.
-
Bags on its way...tatties will be selected tonight ...weight and foto's to follow
let the tournament begin.. :trophy:...Although I have never grown a potato in my
life I feel The Golden Spud will be heading my way.. :thumbsup:
-
Ditw,
For the records mine weigh in at 13.7 oz golly,much heavier but the smallest in my bag! These are from my last years Saxons :) ,I have one hundred weight of them to plant,and the same of Maris Pipers :o where they are going to go is beyond me at the moment. ???
-
Where is everyone else whom were going to join in?!! ??? come on folks,it is only 3 spuds in a bag lol!
-
If there's only 3 entries - the worst I can do is third! I'd make it into our local newspaper!
:)
-
If there's only 3 entries - the worst I can do is third! I'd make it into our local newspaper!
:)
;D ;D
-
OK I know my post is late...but I'm in Scotland
and the Post is always late !
weighing in at a massive 5.5oz are 3 energetic super spuds
I poked them into there bag at 7.45pm....just added water
be affried...be..very..affried.....
the movie rights to 'Spuds in Space' is mine. :thumbsup:
-
arse I forgot!
shall get them in tomorrow!
-
Anyone else joining in? :thumbsup:
-
If you dont enter you can't win the Golden Spud!
Get involved POSTERS!!!!
If you've got time to read...you got time to seed...
-
damn right bangbang ;D ;D ;D
-
:o ooops missed the start date. Will photo and weigh tomorrow before bagging them up ;D
-
3 spuds Maris Bard.
W 11.5oz
-
Don't know what planet I've been on ??? I've missed all this. Is it to late for me to play? I can weigh and plant this morning (in the rain ;D).
-
O.K. I'LL HAVE A GO , i'll get them weighed tomorrow and planted , so let the fun begin .
-
the more the merrier!!
-
Mine are the very posh 'old supermarket tatties' that I forgot about in the cupboard :-[ they weigh 10 oz and were ceremoniously dumped in their bags yesterday ;D
I'm going to win as I have the poshest potatoes ;D ;D ;D
-
dagnamit, that was going to be my ploy, instead i'll have to trust my luck to the super secret extraspecial high octane mega food, that i have never even hinted at in any of my posts.... :D :trophy:
-
im in
sorry couldnt wait so mine have been buried for about 4 weeks, one spud per bucket, variety rocket.
-
I thought it was 3 spuds 1 bag? ;D
-
Planted my 3 spuds this morning. 316g of Vanessa. :thumbsup:
-
did you mean 11 1/4 oz? ;D
-
Yes,it was 3 spuds one bag,I have 8 bags and 8 oversized plant pots ;D ...Still,I have my others to plant yet and am no where near ! :-\
-
did you mean 11 1/4 oz? ;D
I've just run to the kitchen to check the scales and yes I did ;D
-
Sorry to reply so late!
I planted (albeit on the 31/03) 11oz Desiree spudtaties.
Bring on the wooden spoon!
:thumbsup:
-
Am I too late to join in?
If not will post my weight (spuds that is, not mine personally) this evening.
-
dagnamit, that was going to be my ploy, instead i'll have to trust my luck to the super secret extraspecial high octane mega food, that i have never even hinted at in any of my posts.... :D :trophy:
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAA you will never beat the magical properties of Geoffrey Rabbit's poo!
It's more magical than unicorn poo, and you can grow magic beans with that so ner ;D :trophy: :trophy: :trophy:
-
bl..dy hippies :-*
-
;D ;D
-
When we stayed in our static caravan
my old man referred to us as trailer trash...
Now we're trailer trash that lives in a cottage. :thumbsup:
-
Oh no, we are posh pikeys, we have a telephone AND indoor plants that aren't plastic. No trailer trash here :D :D ;D
-
My 3 little spuds are growing in the luxury of my old caravan
as I dont have a greenhouse....
There going to be good trailer mash one day. ;D
-
bobby 'boris' pickett & the cryptkickers - monster mash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0thH3qnHTbI#)
-
Got delayed in the spudrace too busy and knackered making real manure composts, making up the new lawns ready for seeding ( done this afternoon 0 ansd sowing seeds in trays and pots .
my spuds should get done tomorrow easter monday if the weather allows me
I'll be using "Anya " seed which is full of eyes and is I think a fingerling early spud
The other is Rooster seed which is a smooth skinned red early variety
I also have four supemarket Maris Piper's.
I tried to find some good old fashioned King Edwards but they are scarce round here.
My seeds & the supermarket stuff were set chitting on 27 Jan and they only just look ready for planting .
I'll weigh them before planting them .
-
The spuds in the two bags in the greenhouse are three inches tall , the spuds in the two bags outside have yet to make an appearance.
-
Plantoid I'm so pleased to hear your spud in the outside bags still haven't made an appearance ;) :thumbsup: . That means it's not just my spuds, that have done nothing ??? . Then there is still hope for the competition ;D
-
my spuds are flying!!! get on!!
-
??? No sign of my little spudsies yet either :'(
Hope they're ok under all that cold wet, wet soil :(
-
warm them up, bring them in from the cold!! ;)
-
Mine are over three feet high, well clear of the top of the sack, but I did start before the official starting date.
You can warm them up with some fresh grass cuttings, used as a mulch or surrounding the plastic sack.
I wonder if that's cheating; hope there's not going to be dope test.
-
3 spud shoots now upto 8" high, green and leafy, think I may have over watered them though
Ooops!
This growing things could catch on.
-
2of 3 spuds up at last at the weekend (all be it 2-3cm above soil). :thumbsup:
-
My spuds have started to do something :thumbsup: all is not lost, happy happy happy.
-
Mine are over three feet high, well clear of the top of the sack, but I did start before the official starting date.
You can warm them up with some fresh grass cuttings, used as a mulch or surrounding the plastic sack.
I wonder if that's cheating; hope there's not going to be dope test.
no thats fine.
starting before every one else isnt tho!!
-
Shown mine to OH yesterday and she was impressed with
the size of em. Not quite 3 foot though ! ;D
-
Three shooting away now ;D
-
Outside spuds have now put in an appearance and are three inche tall .
The glasshouse spuds had their first earthing up in their bags a week ago , had a look again this afternoon and the sooding things have taken on the attributes of bamboo . They are now a good 18 inches above the fill line. I am adding 20 inch side boards tomorrow and will fill to leave 5 inches proud .
When I looked on Thursday I estimated that they would be OK till Monday . I didn't think that shading the glasshouse with spray on UV transmitting shade would have such an effect . It hit 105 oF early last week and slightly wilted things so that's why i did the shadin g exercise.
It looks like ( hopefully ) I've hit the optimum temps and the right humidity for fantastic growth. Time will tell .
-
No flowers. Still banking up. They must be 6 ft below ( deeeeep bags) and full of spuds to the surface of course :innocent:
Think I've got the trophy well in the bag ;D ;D
-
anyone got any flowers yet??? :fc:
-
Oh meant to post yesterday....ihave buds.....yes buds!....
Must be the winning bag :fc:
In fact I'm sure it is. I saw it in a dream ;D. You might as well give up now :bouquet:
-
dont forget to STOP watering them now the flowers are showing ok!! :innocent:
-
If you really want to win, a solution of Round-up will really bring them on. :fc:
-
Eh! That last post was a joke. Me and my big mouth. There's sure to be somebody in ether-land that will take it seriously.
-
If you really want to win, a solution of Round-up will really bring them on. :fc:
OH is working away this week. On your advice I have just used a bottle of Roundup on his potatoes ;D Have I done the right thing :innocent: :innocent:
-
:D :thumbsup:
-
Oh yes most definitely, Bramblecot :thumbsup:
Another dowsing tomorrow, just to give them an extra boost :innocent:
-
I expect he will blame the weather :eyelashes: they must be frosted :innocent:
-
My spuds have been grown in tubs of almost three feet of depth the tops have grown to over six feet high and still there are no signs of flower . I'm a bit concerned about blight seting in if it goes warm and still for a week or so .
(http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g24/Misterdavid/gardenJune056.jpg)
-
Plantoid they definately look like weeds to me,
Best pull them now :innocent:
-
They're very 'leggy'. The light must be poor in that corner. Two big mirrors (polished metal or similar) would help to get them to thicken up.
What's all that electrical cable for? Are you carrying out Frankenstein-style experiments, transplanting the brain of a tomato into a potato?
-
i think ive killed my spud bag. i put the bag in a broccoli sized poly box and forgot to knock the holes into the bottom. theyve been sitting in a watery grave for the last month at least. the leaves are yellow and curled up.
i just hope they'll pick back up but i seriously doubt it. bugger :dunce: :dunce: :dunce:
-
As instructed by a neighbour I am inspecting my spuds daily for Collarado beetle. I found 6 on the line of spuds that a different neighbour gave me from her crop she gathered last year. The seed potatoes I bought and planted last year had no beetle - nor do the ones I bought and planted this year. Makes me think I should not take gifts of seed potatoes next year.
We ate some of "my" potatoes the other night ( mint too) lovely.
-
Them spuds in the ground are just loving all this rain, puddles of water up to my waste between the furrows, slugs and snails drowning ,eh, bet your 'indoor' spuds aint got the same favourable conditions..... Nows where's the number for the RNLI ? :&>
-
My pampered spuds have the glory of outdoor weather daytimes and wrapped up snugly in a fleecy quilt at night :innocent:They are loving it. Definately winners :trophy:
-
mine are officially dead :'(
-
mine are officially dead :'(
:bouquet: there's always next year.... Or how about a Christmas tatty competition ??
-
Imagine if we had to rely on a good harvest to feed a large family and stock animals. Life must have been tuff when an harvest failed. We have good spuds but no fruit at all and worry what we will feed the pigs when they have exhausted their paddock area.
No spuds must have been a disaster a few years back.
-
ive only killed my 'competition' spuds, the rest are all fine. typical.
-
one week to go!! i hope nobodys forgotten!
-
My leaves are dying off now, all yellowing. :fc: :fc: for a good crop under that soil ( for me anyway :innocent: )
-
Anyone else getting there scales out for tomorrow?
-
well mine is easy, zilch, nuttin, nil, null points!!
a trophy awaits!
-
DITW's we all know of your traggic loss but as the designer of this great competition I feel
we should all donate 1no. potato from our bag (we'll weight it and send you the result) so you can have your own vertual bag to enter.
Or we could all just send you a potato!
-
Anyone else getting there scales out for tomorrow?
Bugger I thought it was to day :dunce: . So I've emptied my bag of spuds and and the weight is 920g. As I started with 316g I'm fairly shore I will not be taking the :trophy: . Good luck to every body else.
-
hey bert thats not bad, definitely better than mine ;)
any posted potatoes will be gratefully eaten!
i think today is the day too, olympic opening ceremony. and its my birthday :D
-
Happy Birthday :popcorn: (no cake pic so you get popcorn instead)
Would that be a very special birthday DITW? one with a '0' on the end? :)
-
Page 1 definitely reads as fri 27th TAS Olympic so I'm off now to empty my bag and weigh. Will try to post piccies now I've got a funny watsit for ipad, but it may take a day or two to suss.
And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY DITW :trophy: ( glass of wine )
-
Sorry for any mistake! The post 'a week to go' led me to believe it was tomorrow, Happy Birthday too!
Anyway the results from Aberdeenshire are...
start weight 156g
finish weight 1314g
total 1158g
-
Well I think my spuds could have done with a few more weeks as quite a few are the size of a boiled sweet.
So 2lb 12.75 oz or 1260g today and started at 11.5 oz or 320g so not too bad.
-
bangbang, its lookin like you bud, but bert has yet to weigh in.
mammyshaz, my money was on you!
-
Diplomate in the woods!
I think theres still another 36 entries to come in ;D
who's counting!
-
I forgot :-[ :-[
I shall weigh em when I get home, but It's not going to be spectacular ::)
Happy belated birthday DITW :-*
-
bangbang, its lookin like you bud, but bert has yet to weigh in.
mammyshaz, my money was on you!
I have done my weigh in. I can under stand why you missed it as the increase was so pitiful :innocent:
Started with 316g
Ended with 920g
total of 604g (just stunning :-J )
-
so that just leaves colliewoman........
-
Come on collie woman, the suspense is kiiiiiling me :D :innocent: