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Training potatoes

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Thursday, 16th September 2010

  One or two of you may remember that I proposed to grow potatoes up supports, as you would their close cousins tomatoes, or peas.
  
  The reason being to save space and to cram as much as possible into the smallest posssible space. So I took some wire fence netting about 1m50 high and created a wigwam along the row which would support the haulm as it grew. A couple of comments suggested that I had lost my marbles!
  
  The potatoes seemed to thrive and although I did treat a couple of times with Dithane they remained remarkably healthy and in the end I decided to cut them down because they just didn't want to die back. A parallel row in a neighbouring bed were grown conventionally for comparison and another row some distance away were grown up a shorter wire wigwam.
  
  The conventional row yielded 3.4 kg per m row while the upwardly mobile row yielded 5.3kgs. The 3rd row produced 4.7kgs per m row.
  
  There are plenty of reasons why the latter should have performed better than the latter but I'm satisfied that it is worth another go next year; probably with an earlier maturing variety which will have less effect on its neighbours in this case sweet peppers, aubergines and tomatoes which have not done badly but not as well as they might have.
  
  Apologies for being long winded but I hope I have explained the whys and wherefores for those interested.
  
  Here is the evidence:
  
  
  
  Many thanks for the reminder Margaret, you're a star!

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Thursday, 16th September 2010

  Thanks for the report Logissimo, I think some people were wondering if it was a wind up, so good to see you were serious.
  
  Your whole veg garden looks great and your potatoes grown both ways a fine crop.
  
  It would seem that the trained potatoes out-compete the other plants for nutrients. I'm just wondering - given their better cropping - would it be better just to have a whole bed of 'trained' potatoes to themselves for a substantial crop and the other bed left to the tomatoes and aubergines? Just a thought you don't have to answer as such.
  
  Another thought does arise however and that is training up and hilling up together - that could lead to a massive harvest?

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Thursday, 16th September 2010

  You're right and I will try a whole bed like this. The thing is I've installed beds a bit too wide (1m50) to reach comfortably into the middle so I thought a row of spuds which do not need constant picking might be a good idea.
  
  Any comments will be gratefully considered.
  
  Thanks Margatet!

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Thursday, 16th September 2010

  just before I toddle off for dinner: well between the aubergines and tomatoes you could train some borlotti or haricot beans?
  
  Not for picking constantly unless you want the occasional fresh meal, but to harvest at the end as a crop of dried beans for winter soups etc. Plants either side will love the extra nitrogen.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by margaretstar (U14415248) on Thursday, 16th September 2010

  Oh maybe not.....funny that in lists for companion planting it says aubergines are helpful to beans but beans are bad for tomatoes.
  
  But aubergines and tomatoes are very closely related. Oh well just a
  thought.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by netherfield (U3897706) on Friday, 17th September 2010

  I may just try that idea next year,I assume the haulm gets more light and air around it,and therefore helps with photosythesis.
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by BigDave (U3975543) on Friday, 17th September 2010

  Hi Logisismo...
  
  I just wanted to give you a pat on the back and say well done for going your own way...having a go at what you think is a good idea...it now looks like it was, but there will always be people that say your mad in the head for not doing it the "right way"
  
  It's good to see people that will try new things not all the old ways are the best...I'm always being told on my allotment "its to early to plant them" and "not to plant them to deep"....I like to know how others do things,I will listen to what is said sometimes I use what I'm told but sometimes I go my own way and learn by getting it wrong,so good on you for ahving a go.
  
  I will be looking out for your posts on this and may have a go myself next year.
  
  
  Whatsthemarrow...

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Tuesday, 21st September 2010

  Thanks for the positive comments. I definitely think it's worth another try.
  Personally I enjoy trying to get the maximum out of the minimum area. This might be one way????

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