Potato growing contest - 2nd update

As we enter the 3rd week of our potato growing contest, this prolonged cold snap is preventing many of us from getting out in the garden and planting our potatoes.

Those of us who planted their seed potatoes a few weeks ago when it looked like Spring had arrived now have their fingers crossed that they've not got frosted - the temperature has certainly been low enough most nights. There's no sign of growth or green shoots!

 

Jo's potatoes chitting in an egg box on the kitchen windowsill

On the other hand, some of us were late taking our planters, compost and seeds home and so haven't had a snow free day to plant ours yet, which means that we have taken the opportunity to chit them. So despite being a few weeks after the others planting them, we might produce a better crop in the long run.....we'll see.


As well as seed potatoes, we also all had a packet of sunflower seeds to see who can grow the tallest sunflower in a Haxnicks Potato Patio Planter (there were 3 in a pack and we only needed 1 for the potatoes!). Hannah planted hers in a Haxnicks Rootrainer propagator and is very pleased to report one small shoot already! 

Hannah planted her sunflower seeds in a Haxnicks Rootrainer

Potato growing contest - 1st update

One by one, we're all planting our seed potatoes in our Haxnicks Potato Planters for the Smart Solar challenge to see who can produce the most potatoes. We all started with identical bags of compost and seed potatoes and a pack of Haxnicks Potato Planters.

First job was to plant them up, some of us with a little help from our pets! MD Jonathan Stobart planted his watched by his two labradors and Sarah's dog was also an interested observer as she was getting her hands dirty planting her seed potatoes.

MD Jonathan has an audience!

Bruno poses with Sarah's Haxnicks Potato Planter

Emma is disappointed that there's no sign of growth yet in her planter, but it's been a bit chilly this week with the recent arctic weather and her seed potatoes have only been in the soil a few days - more patience is required!

Hannah, Charlotte and Jo are lagging behind and still have to take their kits home to plant up - a job for the weekend (after the rugby!).

More news next week!

Spring is in the air

Spring is in the air, throw open the windows! We should be out in the garden getting some fresh air and exercise. There is plenty to do from clearing winter debris - twigs on the ground and hedge cutting - as it is time to smarten up your gardens and get ready for planting very soon.

Jobs to do:

Sow seeds inside: such as aubergines, brussels sprouts, celery, cucumber, fennel, kale, lettuces, melons, nasturtiums, marigolds, peas, rocket and tomatoes – if you haven’t  already.

You can begin to sow seeds outside too but to be on the safe side I would cover them with cloches to give them a better chance. You can sow, onion sets, parsnips, potatoes (if they are chitted), spinach, rhubarb(crowns) and strawberry plants.

Chit your seed potatoes: this means place each seed potato separately onto a tray or in egg boxes and leave them somewhere cool and light. They must be kept away from any chance of a frost. You will notice that in a couple of weeks they will start to sprout shoots, when this happens you can plant them out into the ground.

Get your beds ready: Remember in order not to ‘do your back in’ only do the tiring jobs for twenty minutes at a time, such as digging. I have dug mine and added loads of manure and compost to raise the height of the bed, as last year it was so water logged and everything drowned. I am determined to give everything a better chance this year. Positive thinking. So digging an adding compost/manure are things that need to be done over the next couple of weeks.

Which member of staff can grow the most potatoes in a Haxnicks Patio Potato Planter?

We're having a little competition here in the Smart Solar office to see which of us can grow the most potatoes in one of our Haxnicks Patio Potato Planters. It's the brainchild of Charlotte, our product development manager, who has made sure that everything is fair by giving us all a bag of compost, some seed potatoes and a Potato Patio Planter.

As you can see, Adrian Seber our sales manager has already made a start - with some help from his son. We'll be posting regularly with progress reports.

Me, I'm off to plant mine this weekend - already a whole week behind!

No more pot bound plants

Fed up with re-potting patio plants? Haxnicks new Vigoroot^TM planters have a technically advanced growing fabric liner that encourages stronger roots and more productive plants, removing the need to re-pot as frequently.

Vigroroot Planters come in a range of sizes for different fruit trees and shrubs

Vigoroot^TM fabric liners work by ‘air-pruning’ the roots of plants, encouraging more vigorous rooting which in turn enables the plant to absorb more nutrients. When the root tips reach the side of the Vigoroot fabric an air pruning process takes place, enabling the roots to continue to develop without root-balling and thereby removing the need to re-pot. This enables plants to grow to a much larger size in a relatively small planter and fruit bushes may not outgrow the planter for several years.

Haxnicks Vigoroot Table Garden is ideal for growing fresh produce right outside your kitchen window

Haxnicks has used the fabric in a collection of Vigoroot^TM planters with decorative flat packed steel frames, ideal for growing small trees, herbs and vegetables on patios. The standard, large and long containers are great for patio orchards, ornamental and exotic plants whist the Vigoroot^TM Table Garden lends itself to a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers. 

Vigoroot^TM planters are available from garden centres across the UK or www.haxnicks.co.uk

Easy to open propagator

This year, more gardeners than ever are propagating their plants using Haxnicks Rootrainers^TM, a unique propagating tray for seeds, plugs and cuttings. The deep grooved modules encourage the faster formation of straight roots and the trays open out like a book to avoid damaging the baby plants when planting out. 

The Rootrainers propagator can be popped on a window sill

Haxnicks Rootrainers^TM have specially designed cells with grooved sides that encourage the main root to grow towards the drainage opening at the bottom where the tip makes contact with the air and dies off, encouraging vigorous root growth. This air-pruning produces a faster formation of straight roots without root balls which is particularly good for growing sweet peas where a long, vigorous root system is the key to strong plants.

Opens like a book making it easy  to remove the plants

When the plant is ready to be re-potted, the cells simply open like a book which makes it easy to remove the plug without damaging the root system. Each Rootrainers^TM pack contains a holding tray, propagating lid and set of cells and can be reused year after year for bedding plants, salads and herbs as well as for runner beans, fruit and vegetables. 

As your local garden centre for Haxnicks Rootrainers. 

Get chitting ready for planting your seed potatoes

If you have a small or urban garden potatoes are the perfect veg to grow in a Haxnicks Patio Planter - we even have a special Patio Potato Planter!

Seed potatoes are on sale from December and throughout the spring. Each Patio Planter is suitable for planting 3 seed tubers or 4 tubers if very small 'baby potatoes' are required. By planting each potato planter at 4 week intervals you will be able to harvest over a longer period.

First you need to 'chit' your seed potatoes by placing them in a cool but frost-free place in egg boxes or shallow trays in full light, so that they can form sturdy shoots (chits) about 2.5cm (1 inch) long. This takes approximately 5 weeks.

When they are ready to plant, you will need approximately 40 litres of good general purpose compost for each planter.

Pour approximately 10cm (4 inches) into the bottom of the planter. Plant your seed potatoes, with the shoots or eyes facing upwards, and cover with 5cm (2 inches) of compost. Keep the compost slightly damp, but do not over-water.

When the shoots have grown 7cm (3 inches) high, add another layer of compost to leave the tips of the shoots just showing, keeping the compost damp each time. Repeat this process until the compost and shoots are 3 cm (1 inch) from the top.

When the Potato Planter is full and the leaves of the plants are showing, feed weekly with a high potash/ low nitrogen soluble plant food. If there is danger of frost, cover with fleece and remove when the frost has passed.

When the plant produces small white or pink flowers your potatoes are ready to harvest. Simply dig down into the planter to see if your potatoes are ready, and look out for the planter bulging, another sign of good potato growth. Remove a few potatoes at a time, or tip the planter out to reveal a bumper harvest.

If you want larger tubers then continue feeding and watering for another few weeks. When the potatoes are ready to harvest, you can always store them in a Haxnicks Jute Vegetable Sack!