In the UK, potatoes are traditionally planted at Easter, giving 25 weeks for a main-crop cultivar to produce a good yield by October. However, Easter is late this year so we decided it was time to prepare the trenches and bury the seed potatoes we’ve been chitting for the past few weeks.
As per our plan reported earlier in the year, we’re growing potatoes in our front garden this year (due to a lack of space) which is rather unusual in the UK. It was therefore to be predicted that a neighbour would stop to enquire what we were up to.
”What are you doing there - planning on growing a few potatoes?” asked the neighbour, half mockingly, half knowing that it just might be true.
“As a matter of fact we are,” was our prompt reply. “It’s for some research we’re doing about urban permaculture.”
I’m not sure why we thought we had to qualify our initial reply by mentioning permaculture, but it put up a suitable shield against any further comments or questions. There was no point in explaining how we are trying to maximise what we can grow on the doorstep to reduce food miles and have complete knowledge of how our food is grown. There was no point because our neighbour nips out several mornings a week (in the car) to buy a takeaway breakfast from McDonald’s. We live a little differently. But there was no point explaining.
Anyway, now that they’re all earthed up (the potatoes, not the neighbour), we’re rather pleased with the result. We’re thinking about companion planting with either marigolds or sweetcorn. Both are reported to be beneficial for potatoes. The first would make the front garden more “normal” and the second would provide something good to eat. The jury’s out at present. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the sweetcorn wins.
Here’s a photo taken prior to planting. Once again my grandad’s spade proved useful. He’d be proud if he was here to see what we’re up to.
