pOTATOES (forum)

Jimmy starts with ...
Those in WA, www.taspotatoes.com.au
can send heriatge spuds for planting to you.

Unfortunatley, they opened 2 weeks ago and are already sold out.

J

Time: 27th March 2009 12:41pm

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Mark says...
Why don't you just use the 'Eyes' from potatoes you use in the kitchen? It's a Lot Cheaper than Mail Order! & Good enough for many generations before us! .... Just a thought.

Time: 31st March 2009 7:24pm

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Julie says...
Because we have a very limited range of potato varieties available from supermarkets. The Tas company probably has types you can't buy locally.

Time: 31st March 2009 8:10pm

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Jimmy says...
The sell heritage types we can not normally get in WA.

We have a stifling Potato Marketing Board.

Time: 2nd April 2009 10:29am

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Mark says...
Ohhhhhhh. Thanks. I thought that maybe WA people were backward,but then I couldn't really see that as being a possibility,, so I thought that maybe people over ther just haven't learnt the old ways of doing things. In a way, it would be better if I were right. At least then you would have a larger variety available. Sorry everyone! I better go,as I'm starting to rant out of control. Please Disregard what I just said!

Time: 8th April 2009 6:28pm

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Mark says...


Time: 8th April 2009 6:28pm

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Jimmy says...
Nope, they can't send anymore as of today.

Time: 4th August 2009 5:06pm

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amanda says...
Sometimes I am lucky enuf' to get different varieties from the organic market.. so far I have tried Kipfler and King Edward - they have done well. I have also grown supermarket one's (Royal Blue mainly) out of desperation!

Is it really our potatoe marketing board? If so - I think it might be time for a "peoples revolution"!!! grrr!

Time: 4th August 2009 8:56pm

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russ says...
Hi guys, I got my potatoes form taspotatoes yesterday evening. I can't wait to plant them if i get time this weekend. Didn't get anything that exciting. King Edward and Desire. I already have delewara.
Jimmy, what do you mean by "they cant send them anymore"?

Time: 5th August 2009 5:29pm

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amanda says...
Probably a dumb question....but only my second year growing spuds so I'm a P plater.. :)

Do potatoes grow 'up' the stem?
I just thought hilling them was for light protection...? Maybe my imagination but it looks like tubers are budding up the stem?

Also the pics above...the unhealthy looking crop is actually 2 months older than the green one..(and a bit storm damaged)..does this mean the crop is nearly finished?

Does in mean anything when they flower at all?
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 20th August 2009 10:14am

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Jantina says...
Yes Amanda they do grow tubers up the stems if they get a chance, hence people growing them in a tyre stack i.e. start off a couple of potatoes in a tyre and when they get a bit of height whack on another tyre and fill it up with dirt so just the top of the plant sticks out and when it gets more height do it again and so on, then when the plant dies off you pull the whole thing apart and there should be a swag of potatoes. There are however some queries as to whether the potatoes absorb some toxins from the tyres or not. Potatoes are usually ready when they have finished flowering, you can of course dig up potatoes at any stage because they don't have to "ripen" but if you dig them up early you get much less and much smaller. Personally I just lay my potatoes on the ground ,cover them with a thick layer of hay (preferably lucerne) and let them go for it. That way if you want some early potatoes you can just push a bit of hay aside (gently)and pull off any potatoes that you want then cover the lot up again to keep growing, it's called bandicooting. You do need to make sure you have the tubers well covered with hay though or they will go green and be toxic but that's easy to see.

Time: 20th August 2009 10:34am

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Tiggerbow says...
Hi All,
I too am a new spud grower - 1st year!
I am growing potatotes in plastic soakwells. The plants seemed fine and were growing rapidly. I kept adding soil/manure/hay as they grew taller.
Due to slugs, wind, hail and a curious 4 year old, the plants now look quite 'skanky'.
They have been in the ground for a few months.
I decided to dig down a little to check for potatos but so far have found none.
I just wanted to check to see if I will get any spuds even if the plants have not flowered.
Jantina says I will so I am hopeful.
Any other opinions will be helpful too.
Thanks : o )

Time: 20th August 2009 2:30pm

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amanda says...
Hi Jantina n Tiggerbow...the "leggy" crop in my pic hasn't flowered at all - but there are spuds - and we have been bandicooting them - yummy in my tummy! :) I guess this crop hasn't finished yet? It's no more than 4 months old..

Thanks for the tips Jantina!

Time: 20th August 2009 3:45pm

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Brendan says...
Hi Jantina, amanda, that's the best way to grow spuds, no digging, hilling up or anything. What I do, put heaps of moo poo / organic fertilizer ON the ground where the spuds are to grow. Place the spuds ON the ground ~ 300mm apart in rows 300mm apart too. Cover this with cane mulch etc to ~ 150mm thick and water. When the spud shoots appear, add more mulch and fertilizer.
Keep doing this until they stop growing and wilt. No digging at all to harvest the crop. I find they grow bigger because there's nothing restricting their growth. And yes, bandicooting is a breeze with this method :-)

Time: 21st August 2009 8:21am

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amanda says...
Thanks Brendan - I actually grow a thick lupin crop - whipper snipper it - put spuds on top.. a handful of dirt..generous potash...straw about metre thick when watered down, sawdust and then manure. The sawdust is great as it realy gets into the spaces to block out light. It's a wonderful soil conditioner too. Pete Cundall showed me how! :)))
They are so easy to clean this way too aren't they?!
My first crop 4 months old - but is growing new shoots....i don't know if it's finished or re-growing!?

Time: 21st August 2009 9:12am

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Jantina says...
OK Amanda now I feel like a dill, you're doing a better job than me already!

Time: 21st August 2009 5:36pm

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amanda says...
Hey Jantina - it's not me - it's Pete!! he's my guru on Veg! I forgot to add blood n bone to above.
Sawdust can sometimes be had for free..I used to get about 5 cubic meters (= alot) every f/night from a woodworker for $0 - as long as I picked up the box trailer, emptied it and returned in time for Monday. I also got stabled horse poo like this for free (race horses) - about a ton a week or so!

My neighbour gave me truckloads of olive n carob tree prunings annually too (I had to collect..bloody hard work)

Now I am doing seaweed..just don't have enuf' time for everything.. :(

Maybe it's my location - but there is much to be had for free as long as u have the time n energy I guess.

I still reckon I have to do a tour of the many dog groomers/clippers in town for the hair! Pure nitrogen...free! ;)

Time: 21st August 2009 7:19pm

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Jantina says...
You're right about Pete Amanda, he's a treasure. Approx. 18 months ago we went to Adelaide for my husbands karate and I thought I'd amuse myself at the garden show that was on.Waiting for it to open, I was minding my own business when Pete popped out from nowhere shook my hand and made me welcome. I was so gobsmacked I didn't utter a word and on he went to the next person and I missed my chance to talk to him. How's that for lack of social aplomb? I too have been cleaning out stables, under shearing sheds and the last layer of rotted haybales from haysheds (particularly lucerne) for many years, one mans trash is another mans (or womans) treasure !Keep your eye out for the blokes who tidy up and chip the tree branches for the electricity companies, you can get truckloads of the stuff here for next to nothing.

Time: 21st August 2009 10:50pm

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Mark says...
Hi Amanda. What Brendan says does work well,& can also be used to grow ANY Vegetable,Herbs & Flowers too. You can also use bales of hay as the growing medium. Remember though:: While it may be less restrictive for the plants to grow through,it also contains next to 0 nutrients,so YOU have to make up for this as well. Soil,has some nutrients.(some soils more than others.) If Brendan's Spuds have been growing larger than in soil,it must also be what he is feeding them as well. True, it is a "No Dig" method of growing. You might want to read 'Esther Dean's' Gerdening Book,growing without digging. It explains the whole thing better than I can!

Time: 23rd August 2009 3:10pm

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Brendan says...
Hi Mark & amanda,
Have a look at this no-dig site from abc.
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s867068.htm

I used to have Esther Deans book around here somewhere, but I loaned it to someone, and the rest is history :-(
Was a very good book, she even made a successful vegie garden on a concrete slab!

Time: 25th August 2009 5:58am

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Brendan says...
Bunnings used to sell an inorganic potato fertilizer with an N-P-K of 4:7:7, but they don't anymore? Tino Carnevale, (the chap who's replaced Peter Cundall on ABC's Gardening Aust.), says to use a fertilizer with the N-P-K of 5:10:10 to grow good garlic. I've never seen a fert with that NPK, and I find it hard to obtain organic 'P', phophorus. Can anyone help?

Time: 28th August 2009 6:30am

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Jimmy says...
Bunnings Still Sell Potato Manure E over here in PErth.

Organic P is blood n bone or guano or rock phosphate available pretty easy from organic shops.

Time: 28th August 2009 10:53am

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Jimmy says...
Russ

Quarantine came round and dug them out of my backyard.

Time: 28th August 2009 10:55am

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Jimmy says...
NOPE, we are back on board. Rang them again and the potato board complaints that people are actually getting variety was dismissed.

Not sure if getting my spuds back.

Time: 28th August 2009 11:23am

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Julie says...
Brendan, Green Harvest sells soft rock phosphate.

www.greenharvest.com.au

Time: 28th August 2009 2:41pm

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amanda says...
Hey Jimmy...what's the story about your spuds??? Did they dig them up cos' of WA potatoe marketing board?

This sounds like it might be a great story for the media - perhaps we can raise the awareness of the plight of WA home spud growers!?

Time: 28th August 2009 6:24pm

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Brendan says...
Thanks Jimmy for the phosphorus info, but bunnings here in Mackay have never heard of it?

Thanks also for the link Julie, looks good.

Being in cane growing country, the only phosphorus available here is superphosphate or triple-super. Not good.

Time: 31st August 2009 6:43am

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amanda says...
Hi Brendan - try a rural supplier..I haven't seen soft rock phosphate in Bunnings here either. They are a bit slow on the uptake with anything "outside the square" ..!?

Do u have anyone else except Bunnings there? My rural guys do 40kg of organic dynamic lifter + blood n bone pellets for $35, for example...so much cheaper than Bunnings Brendan!

Time: 31st August 2009 9:12pm

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Brendan says...
Thanks amanda,
Yeah there are lots of rural suppliers here, but they mostly concentrate on cane growing fertilizers, but I'll check again. Nearly all cane growers (here) use inorganic fertilizers, but there is one farmer growing organic sugar cane, so it must be here.

That's a good price you quoted for the dynamic lifter :-), bet it costs more here.
I've been meaning to tell you, bunnings sell 25kg of Gypsum here for $13.75, which is the best price in town, and guess what, it's mined in WA !! Go figure ? (I think it's Richgro brand)

Time: 1st September 2009 8:12am

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amanda says...
Hey all, my second crop of spuds (bout 4 months old) is growing away happily - no flowers and no dying off of stems yet....I already have enuf' in the pantry from 1st crop - should I just leave the 2nd crop in the ground and keep growing these guys? Will they keep better in the soil? thanks for any advice :)

Time: 4th October 2009 5:32pm

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Wayne says...
Sounds good Amanda as long as they don't get wet, the growers on the Atherton tablelands QLD do this at times to store them while waiting for the market price. But I have no idea how long they last

Time: 4th October 2009 5:43pm

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Jason says...
Amanda I am extremely envious at the amount of land you have. I'd love to have a potato patch like that.

Time: 4th October 2009 5:43pm

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amanda says...
Ta Wayne! Jason - u could do spud towers? or something up against a blank fence...or like Pete Cundall says.."rip up the lawn!" he he... :)

Time: 5th October 2009 9:31am

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Jimmy says...
you can store spuds by turning off the water and they will keep quite well.

IF you water they will sprout.

Time: 5th October 2009 10:47am

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amanda says...
makes sense Jimmy - thanks :)

Time: 5th October 2009 4:08pm

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amanda says...
Hey Jimmy - forgot to ask - do I wait until they start dying down and then turn off the water?
They are not showing any signs of flowering or the tops withering yet...do spuds grow all year round?


Time: 9th October 2009 11:01am

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Mark says...
Well, we've go a few spuds in storage(ie a dark dry place),but they have still sprouted. I don't think there is any real way of preventing spuds from sprouting to store them.? ... In soil & watered,they will grow. In a dry dark place,they can be stored but some will sprout & some will not & some may even rot. .... I'm only talking about 'backyard growing' & in Melbourne's S.E. ... Other areas may be different?

Time: 10th October 2009 7:05pm

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amanda says...
Oops. Got my seed spuds already - going in today! But I accidentally limed the bed though....oops - I don't think spuds like this do they?

Last year the seed spuds came out too late I reckon? - as my crop didn't have enough time to develop before the heat came and rains stopped.
A very experienced grower up here tells me they should be in by the end of this month?


Time: 24th March 2010 5:30pm

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Julie says...
My ancient 'Vegetable Growing' book (for WA conditions) says 'crops planted between Mid-March and mid-June mature with minimum watering and little trouble from pests and diseases'.

The newer version says 'potatoes only yield well in northern areas of the state when planted from May to July'. That would be you amanda.

Spuds will grow at any time of year, as long as there is no frost - January and July are the traditional months for planting in Perth.

The AgWest book 'Vegetable Growing: a guide for home gardeners in Western Australia'is pretty useful.

Time: 24th March 2010 7:21pm

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amanda says...
Ta Julie. I forgot I downloaded a beauty from the Ag dept ages ago:

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/hort/veg/cp/bull4629_part1.pdf

Not sure where part 2 is - it's a big site!
I am going to go with my friends dates -as the crop needs to be finished by Oct - I can't afford the water after that :-(
I think the "northern" parts might be Carnarvon and north - their weather quite different to Gero and south. We are more similar to Perth - just not as cold n wet in winter.

Time: 24th March 2010 8:11pm

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Jimmy says...
you can't search for it but type "2" in the title bar, instead of "1" and away you go ! there are 4 parts.

Time: 25th March 2010 2:39pm

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amanda says...
Are u supposed to wait until your seed potatoes have sprouted b4 you plant them or something? I planted all my seed potatoes a few weeks ago (with no sprouting bits) and now they are all dead!?
This happened to me last yr as well - those went all rotten n slimy. This year they are all dry n powdery inside. Please help?!

Time: 18th April 2010 12:19pm

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Charles cant spell says...
Mine will always be sprouting before I get around to it. I suggest you let them sprout yes, basically potatoes start rotting when they go back in the ground, if they rot before the plant is established enough they will die. That said I generally have no issue if they are not sprouted but I may loose 1/10 etc, to rot/bugs/dodgy stuff.

Cant say I have ever had dry n powdery before. Maybe the spuds where treated with some dodgy anti sprout.

So I suggest sprout the potatoes, put em in shade with eyes pointing up. They will green and sprout, you can then either use then whole (my preference) or cut the so you have spouted eyes in each 1/3 of a spud and dust with sulfur (the organic garden alternative to the fungicide the farmers would use), then plant them just below the surface, even leave a tip of spud out (to deep and they rot before the growth gets going), soon as the shoot is 10cm or so you can start your mounding.

Time: 18th April 2010 2:10pm

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Charles cant spell says...
I don't buy "seed spuds" (my choice I guess I dont like being told what to do and made to buy seed spuds, I would feel like a farmer in bed with monasanto with GM crap seeds), I now have my own stock of dutch cream, pinkeyes and royal blue. At the end of the day Royal blue is all I buy and plant really other than keeping seed stock. It seem the winner in all round spud and easy growing. best one in the shops two as it tends to be less full of water. Given our family of 4 eats 20kg per month, I haven't tried to grow that amount as that would take half my garden. $2/kg for decent Royal blue seconds is something I can live with for the moment. There is the pesticides etc but I am hoping root crops are the better item to buy when it comes to minimizing pesticide/dodgy crap intake.

I will try Kifler or what ever its called when I eventually get some.

Time: 18th April 2010 2:20pm

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John Mc says...
So should I believe all that hype about desiese resistance in seed potatoes? What are the real problems with keeping spuds for your next crop? I believe in crop rotation I know that's good practice, but seed potatoes? it makes your crop tht much more expensive.
I did hear on a radio garden show from a spud farmer. He gets two succesful crops between buying more seed spuds.

Time: 18th April 2010 8:37pm

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Charles cant spell says...
Seed potatoes come from a place that grows millions of seed potatoes every year in the same ground. They spray for everything under the sun to give you "disease free" seed potatoes.....no thanks.

My gardens practices crop rotation I haven't had any issues other than the recent invasion of Eggplant Caterpillar so at the end of the day I would trust my own stock a hell of a lot more than some mass produced seed spuds.

Just my thoughts as usual but I recon we would only see the remnants and crap let over from commercial orders being filled anyway once it hits the retail outlets.

My thoughts get your specific variety any way you can, keep it isolated for the first season, make sure you have good results and keep disease free stock. Then rotate beds, but not just spuds it needs to be the full Solanacene family non repeating.

Convincing farmer they cant use there own seed potatoes is a con, what is a farmer if he is not self reliant. It also breeds "farmers" that are ignorant.

I know, its unlike me to express my opinions :) but I know you love it.

Time: 18th April 2010 10:54pm

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amanda says...
Thanks for the comprehensive info! I often buy my "seeds" from the organic section of F&V shop - they work well. You can usually get Kipflers from a good F&V shop - they are very easy n fast to grow.
I agree about royal blues - they are great - also scored some organic kestrels.
I have sprouted these b4 planting - but didn't know about the depth thing - I did put mine very deep..oops.

Time: 19th April 2010 11:06am

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Brad says...
I recall reading (cannot remember where, so this could be wrong) that WA is potato virus free. yet as I understand it, obtaining 'seed' potatoes is about avoiding this virus.

('they' say the same about strawberries, but mine seem virus free too)


Time: 19th April 2010 11:58am

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Jimmy says...
The seed potatoes are generally not sprayed a lot. They are grown on peat bogs down south of WA, thus during winter they fill up with water and the missed unharvested potatoes rot.

This means a "green bridge" is broken, stopping the viruses being spread by things like aphids.

For this reason I never overlap spuds and tomatoes in my garden, as the viruses can swap over eaily.

My kestrels I bought from Harmony West via the garden centre in Darlington? GE Hy anyway are really great.

The kiplfers in shops come from Tasmania, so should be free fom disease as Tassie is a clean state like us.

Time: 19th April 2010 6:11pm

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About the Author Jimmy
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Julie says...
Jimmy, it is doubtful that your Kestrel potatoes are 'GE Hybrid'. I had a discussion with someone from the Potato Board some time ago, and they said they had no intention of introducing GE potatoes at any time. They are probably just a hybrid, which is not the same.

Charles, do the Royal blues keep well? Maybe the wrong question to ask if you go through a lot of spuds! Thinking of growing some soon in a 45 litre garden bag, with horse manure and straw.



Time: 19th April 2010 6:40pm

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Roleystone WA
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Brad says...
I think Jimmy meant GE for Great Eastern Hwy...

hehe

Time: 19th April 2010 7:48pm

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About the Author Brad2
Como, Perth
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amanda says...
Hi Julie - my royal blues keep well - how bout u Charles? Kestrels remind me a lot of King Edwards? Kipflers don't keep - they sprout like mad! Wish we could get Tassie Pink Firs..mmm
I reckon u could grow Kipflers year round - they are very precocious (just got some 2day to plant actually)


Time: 19th April 2010 9:22pm

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M Nash says...
Not so worried about what keeps,
What is the best baking spud?
Particularly when not useing olden day cooking fats?
Im after taste, Fluffy and creamy inside, Crisp and roughed up flaky outside
Im over waxy spuds and disapointed in the crap in the shops.

Time: 19th April 2010 9:53pm

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About the Author MNash1
Terranora Northern NSW
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amanda says...
mmm...kipflers are my fave baking spud...what do others like for baking?

Time: 20th April 2010 1:50pm

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Charles cant spell says...
Sorry missed your question before Amanda, spuds dont last that long but I do save them as I keep my own seeds. I find that I can just get 3 months or so in a hessian sack in the dark somewhere ventilated. I have a fridge that is off with the door adjar that I am going to try store all me seed material in. I have a very large seed bank and its only getting bigger so seed life extension and viability is getting to be a big issue for me. Will let you know how its goes in a few months.

Oh yeah, dont wash them and keep them unbrushed you will only expose and damage the skin unless you leave it a week or so before you give them a brush.

Time: 20th April 2010 5:36pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
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Julie says...
Sorry Jimmy. Don't know how I got that wrong! I took 'GE Hy' to mean genetically engineered hybrids. I usually abbreviate Highway as 'H'way'.

Think I'll get me some Royal Blues and let them sprout. How long does this usually take? Haven't grown spuds for a few years, so I've forgotten.

Time: 20th April 2010 7:38pm

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Roleystone WA
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Charles cant spell says...
Well the cheap spuds I get from the Asian Greengrocer near me are pretty old so maybe a week or two for some. I like my spuds old as the older they get the more moisture they loose and the better chips they make (yes wrinkly soft potatoes make better chips, but that is for bought spuds not home grown.)
However buy em and put them in dappled shade outside maybe covered in coco peat or something so the slaters and slugs dont chew them up, just watch the rot. My slaters are dynamite if I leave spuds out. On a side note that Iron Chelate (red) snail pellets knock the slatters for six also so I no longer bother with beer traps etc.

So to end this helpful post they will take as long as a piece of string :) as it depends on to many factors.

Time: 20th April 2010 9:26pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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amanda says...
Ah Charles ... aged spuds are sweeter cos' they convert the starches to sugars...I like them like this 2. Hubby a diabetic - so brand new spuds best for him = less sugar.

As for keeping - I think the best place is in bone dry sand - some leftovers of my last season are sprouting away quite happily since I rejuvenated the bed 2 weeks ago!? and yet my seed spuds failed! work that out....?

Time: 20th April 2010 10:52pm

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amanda says...
With all this rain - it has to be the best spud season I have ever had here!?

I have never seen it so green around these parts...it is manna from heaven for sure :)

I managed to find Purple Congo and Saphire in the gourmet shops in Perth, at last...(from Tassie) so I am giving them a go too....
I have royal blue, red rascal, kipfler and mondial on the go also.
These guys are two months in and have been re-strawed and pig manured 3 times already! I also throw heaps of weeds that have not seeded.

I also put down (first) potash, phosphate, gypsum and pig poo...so I will be interested to see if the crop better this year?

SG - the sweet potatoe is growing beautifully! I am going to re-pig poo it too (such a great manure - I am a convert now)
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Time: 20th July 2011 11:38am

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snottiegobble says...
Yes Amanda, the spuds are are really growing well with very green tops. No wonder with another 60 mls of rain again today. I feed mine lots of coffee grounds (as well as manures because potatoes like an acid soil. Too alkaline & they get scabs on their skins. Growing under hay & ' bandicooting' is very convenient, but once that compact seal is broken slugs, snails & slaters find it easier to reach the tubers & do damage. Spuds will flower & produce tomato like fruit but they are very poisonous. Diggers sent their latest catalogue today & as usual " Not for WA, Qld & Tas. as a result we do not get to enjoy growing many folks favourites, Desiree, Toolangi delight, Pink Fir, Pontiac, kifler, Taillights etc.

Time: 20th July 2011 7:54pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
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amanda says...
That's a good tip about the coffee grounds, thanks SG, I make lots of them. I have been growing the more 'exotic' spuds that I find at the F&V shops....a bit risky but after 3yrs - so far so good..

(I don't have slugs or snails here...pretty lucky hey..) I cheated and used that Potatoe E fert today...my back killing me shoveling pig poo all day.. :) I also gave it to my sweet potatoe - I hope it likes it?

I have never seen a spud-fruit b4.
Sawdust is really nice to use too - it re-seals when wet - but is also really great for keeping the light out. It's very cheap to buy and should be acidic also...?

60ml - nice rain! For the first time ever I am able to use the rain water to flush my fruit trees (for salt build up) and the tanks just re-fill...and there are all sorts of fungi popping up..(a good sign) Isn't it BLISS!!?? :D


Time: 20th July 2011 8:23pm

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ringelstrumpf says...
Jimmy you still didn't answer the question, why quaratine digs YOUR garden?? isn't that too strange?
I always wondered about the seed potatoe story. They are so expensive that it does not make much sense. Only if you are after a variety.
I think potatoes like altitude, they grow well here and taste better.

Time: 20th July 2011 9:16pm

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Mountains
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Jimmy says...
The certficates were wrong and they wanted them back.

Time: 22nd July 2011 2:33pm

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ringelstrumpf says...
You needed to show them certificates? And did they replace the spuds? Dumb questions, but I never heard of such a thing and I might getting very angry if someone digs my garden.
Apparently you can grow disease free seed potatoes yourself by sprouting them out and gtrow the sprout only like a cutting.

Time: 22nd July 2011 4:32pm

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amanda says...
Hey guys - I was just ferreting around for some spuds and noticed that quite a few of the stems are going rotten inside the straw...is this because of too much rain - or because they have been blown around in the wind and the stem has got damaged..? (or both)

Does it spell the end of the spud plant? I hope not as I have been taking such good care of them... :(

(ps - the spuds that are growing are perfect...so it doesn't seem to be a disease of the spud)

Time: 8th August 2011 2:16pm

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snottiegobble says...
Sounds like wind damage Amanda! The straw would be a lot rougher to rub against than soil. You would know if youve ever romped in the hay :)
Potatoes in soil are normally hilled up as they grow which would lessen stem damage so maybe bulk up the straw round them so they cant move.

Time: 8th August 2011 6:53pm

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amanda says...
Thanks SG...the patch is pretty sodden! (a rare event here) Have had a lot of northerly origin winds this winter - which the veg patch not as well protected from....

It's frustrating sometimes!
I think u are on the money as the damage seems to be mostly around the stem part that is near, and at, the top of the straw...the stem above n below is fine...I guess the storm damage to the stem has allowed the greeblies to get in and do their work...poop :-(

(lol - the bed is about to burst it's sides it's damn full of straw and stuff (to keep up with the shoots)...maybe I should just pinch out the growing tips?)

Time: 8th August 2011 9:21pm

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amanda says...
It could have been the granular potatoe E fertiliser too, SG...just thinking how I casually chucked it all over them and then gave them a wash off with the hose...I bet the granules slipped down where the stems are and likely burnt/rotted them...?

U live and learn... ;-)

Time: 9th August 2011 8:00pm

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amanda says...
Hey guys - do u think it's true that spuds don't form many tubers once the temps get above around 26 oC...?

Peter Cundall mentioned this in an article I read - but then I see in gardening mags that they are still recommending planting tubers (now) in my zone..??

My crop didn't go so well this winter - and now I am wondering if it was because it was such a warm winter..?

Time: 16th October 2011 5:35pm

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MaryT says...
Amanda, this site looks good for the info you want: http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/vegetables/potatoes/potatoes-seedbed-preparation

Time: 17th October 2011 7:32am

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Sydney
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amanda says...
Thanks MaryT...that explains a bit :)

Time: 17th October 2011 6:12pm

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amanda says...
How strange - I planted 4 different varieties of spud in the same bed - and only the Royal Blues got potatoe scab..?
Pretty poor crop this year - but did plant some Red Delights (from Woolies) and they went really well! Really big perfect spuds!

The kipflers don't seem to mind the hot weather at all - I left them in and they are going for another cycle.

Has anyone else had some other types that they have found really reliable?

Time: 29th November 2011 7:24pm

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Jimmy says...
My potatoes from Taspotatoes went in late and a very small right now, thus i reckon the heat stuffs them in WA. Also, the bugs go haywire in the heat.

Time: 30th November 2011 1:19pm

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amanda says...
Thanks Jimmy. Our o/night temps have been quite warm, up here, this season. Kipflers grow so well - the trouble is they seem to sprout so much quicker in the cupboard too...

They don't bring out the seed spuds early enuf for us here I think? I like to have them in as soon as the rains break.
Might be my imagination but the growing season seems to be getting shorter every year..!?

Time: 30th November 2011 5:18pm

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MJ says...
Hi everyone

This thread is a few months old, but I wondered if people might not mind my resurrecting it.

I'm fascinated by the concept of potato towers (like tyres, but wooden frames). I have read conflicting results with them, though on US blogs, and it seemed that the type of potato is important as some will set tubers up the stem, and others will not.

Anyone had success with certain types of potato in a tower? I'm in WA so limited options, and I don't want to invest a lot of time making a tower if it isn't going to work!

Thanks
MJ

Time: 18th April 2012 9:28pm

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Perth
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Gus says...
i thought all potatos set tubers up their stem?
Sweet potatos are from a different family and are different.
Potatos have to be the easiet thing to grow in the world though. I take a regular potato, cut it in half and put it in one of those big green pot bags with a bit of dirt. As it grows I just chuck in more dirt until the bag is full.
With sweet potato I just fill a bag with acidic soil and put a bit of sweet potato in there. They grow well here

Time: 18th April 2012 9:43pm

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innaloo
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Scott says...
I have grown sebagos in fencing wire rolled into a cylinder and covered in shade mesh...had more success though in a raised 2m X 4m bed.

Time: 18th April 2012 9:46pm

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Townsville
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MJ says...
I've got pots of sweet potato plants, but I imagine they won't set tubers in those little pots. Mainly I want planting material for about August/September when I'll be planting my new garden.

Did you find the potatoes set all the way up the stem? I found this link, which seemed useful, but English: http://www.henleypotatotower.co.uk/content/howtouseahenleypotatotower

Time: 18th April 2012 11:52pm

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Perth
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MJ says...
Oops, not sure if I'm allowed to post links to products? Hopefully it is okay.

Time: 18th April 2012 11:53pm

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Linton says...
Gourmet Potatoes in season now!

The Tassie growers seem to be out of stock, but there are a few varieties of Gourmet Potatoes in the fruit shops now.

These ones got from Knox City are Red Foo and Purple Congo. Yet to try!
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Time: 17th May 2015 5:27pm

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Springvale, Vic
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Fay says...
Linton! They look amazing! I've only seen those in pictures! I would really really like some of those!

Time: 17th May 2015 5:31pm

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Toowoomba
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Markmelb says...
cool Linton - purple chippies - still waiting for Tassie Pink Eyes but Kestrels are pretty good

Time: 17th May 2015 5:37pm

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Yoda on DMT says...
I'm trying purple congo this season but I'd love to give red foo a try too.

Time: 17th May 2015 5:55pm

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Linton says...
Hello. Just came back from having the potatoes. Had them with my dinner baked in the oven. Very enjoyable.

The red foo was the best for flavour and the bright magenta colour of the flesh remains even after cooking. Yes can send a few up to you Yoda. The purple congo is more dry but there is an improved purple one down here and in Tassie called Sapphire.

The shop also had Peruvian Yellow but I didn't get any of those. Wish I had now.

Time: 17th May 2015 8:16pm

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Fay says...
Mark, I've just looked up Tassie pink eye and got a photo of a Tassie devil with a bunged up eye.....poor baby.
There's plenty of ads on the tv with Woolworths saying they sell Kestrels but for some reason, Toowoomba is off their list for the weird and wonderful.
Thanks Linton. Did you have to go far to get them? Are the Peruvian yellow spuds from Peru or is it just a name they've given them? I know spuds originated over there, but what I mean is, are the Peruvian Yellows a true Peruvian like Ullucos?

Time: 18th May 2015 2:46pm

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Markmelb says...
Yes Funny Fay - the Kestrels are a bit like Pink Eyes from Tassie - had a few when i used to Rep in Hobart - but think Kestrels are better - they have a purple eye - google that one -
Only a couple Gyurnas surviving - planted the seed too so will let you know in a few weeks how theyre doing.
repotted Etrog in a smaller postable pot as roots had not progressed much from summer pot up so will let it settle a bit before sending - theres no rush - sorted out how to send anyway :)

Time: 18th May 2015 7:15pm

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Linton says...
Potatoes have been sent out!

Please remember if cooking them to leave the skins on and only peel after they are cooked. Most important!

Time: 18th May 2015 8:20pm

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Fay says...
Thanks Linton; I won't be wasting any by cooking them. That website you sent me has really opened my eyes to the huge variety of potatoes there are! 27 varieties and they don't have Mark's Kestrel! I found them at another place, but it makes me wonder just how many varieties are out there?

Mark, if the Gynuras don't grow, I'll start some more for you in Spring when they really take off. They don't do much in winter so it might be hard to keep them going with such spindly roots. I'm always worried that I haven't packaged them well enough because I'm always getting squished stuff in the mail.
I looked up your Kestrel potato and noticed it has Vit b6 in them. That's the feel-good vitamin.

Just as a point of interest....I heard once on the radio, a naturopath was saying that if a very small amount of boron was added to the soil where potatoes were growing, they would take it up and become a food that helps to stop osteoporosis.

Another point of interest..... If you get potato wilt (tomato wilt) then growing mustard in the soil first will stop it.

Time: 19th May 2015 9:16am

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Toowoomba
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Fay says...
Hey Mark, when I packaged your Gynuras, I had to trim some of the plants because they were too big. I just shoved the cuttings in a big cup of rain water and take a look at this!!! That didn't take long. I'll be able to get some more to you easily now if yours cark it.
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Time: 19th May 2015 11:38am

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Markmelb says...
Fay - still have 2 good long bits still going ok - one inside and one outside. A group i had in one pot damped off so cut a good end off last of those nd put in some water as you did - lets see if roots grow too :) Can you see any of Yodas recent posts as hes put the invisibility cloak on - lol

Time: 19th May 2015 5:23pm

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Fay says...
No I can't see any. Daley's very kindly made it so we can't see each other's posts. If we log in under a different name we can still read each other's posts. I won't bother.
I'm glad some Gynuras have taken. The Ashitaba seeds won't be too much longer because the seeds have already taken form. They are difficult to get past the sprout stage but there are ways. I've worked out a sure fire technique though and I'll send the instructions with the seeds when I post them.

Thank you so much for the potatoes Linton. They arrived in perfect condition, although I'm a little upset that you sent so many. It would have cost you a fortune!! It must be my turn to find something for you!

Time: 19th May 2015 6:24pm

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Julie says...
This new system sounds very confusing and unnecessarily complicated. Why couldn't Daleys have just removed the 'delete' option?

Like you Fay, I don't think I'll be getting involved.

Time: 19th May 2015 10:00pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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Fay says...
Hi Julie, I'm finding the new system a relief. There's really nothing extra anyone has to do, because we can just keep posting just like we used to. The difference is, we know that our contributions (some that take a good deal of time) can't just be deleted because someone has taken a disliking to you. I was actually getting ready to leave the forum before the changes.

All we need now is a private message function so we can contact each other without having to put our emails up for everyone to see.

Time: 20th May 2015 7:11am

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Toowoomba
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Julie W says...
Fay: "All we need now is a private message function so we can contact each other without having to put our emails up for everyone to see."

I was going to say exactly this yesterday, but thought it might be asking a lot from the webmaster. He must have been pretty busy lately with all those changes. Maybe at some later date?

Mark: are you saying that Yoda has posted messages but I can't see them?

Time: 20th May 2015 7:51pm

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Roleystone WA
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Linton says...
Purple Bliss in Coles today!

Got some Purple Bliss Potatoes from Coles today, yet to try. They are a variety developed in Tassie. You can read more about them in this newspaper report, have good picture too:

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/horticulture/purple-bliss-potatoes-grown-by-anchor-organics-for-sale-at-coles/story-fnker6g8-1227436925970

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 14th July 2015 6:44pm

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About the Author Linton
Springvale, Vic
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MIke T1 says...
Here as well with a few other unusual varieties for around 5 bux a kilo.

Time: 14th July 2015 6:58pm

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cairns
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ivepeters says...
Chips & mash made interesting.


Time: 14th July 2015 7:15pm

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CARINDALE,4152,QLD
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MIke T1 says...
The Solomon sweet potatoes that are deep purple and the paler okinawa sweet potato also jazz up a mash.

Time: 14th July 2015 8:25pm

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cairns
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