I have been vegetable gardening for a few years, but this year my experience
with my first earlies (foremost) is most peculiar.
Each top has now finsihed flowering and I lifted the first couple of tops
about a fortnight ago, there was only 3 tubers per top, one of which was
huge (2lb) and two 'normal' size new potato.At first I thought it was just
odd, but now having lifeted a total of 8 tops, with exactly the same
pattern, I am mystified.

Have I done something wrong? Is it the odd spring we just had? or is it
something else, any help appreciated
many thanks
John

"jb" wrote in message
...
I have been vegetable gardening for a few years, but this year my
experience
with my first earlies (foremost) is most peculiar.
Each top has now finsihed flowering and I lifted the first couple of tops
about a fortnight ago, there was only 3 tubers per top, one of which was
huge (2lb) and two 'normal' size new potato.At first I thought it was just
odd, but now having lifeted a total of 8 tops, with exactly the same
pattern, I am mystified.

Have I done something wrong? Is it the odd spring we just had? or is it
something else, any help appreciated
many thanks
John


I read somewhere that this depends upon the number of shoots on the potatoes
when planted. Lots of shoots means lots of small potatoes, but fewer (or
one) shoot means fewer but larger potatoes.

David.

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...

"jb" wrote in message
...
I have been vegetable gardening for a few years, but this year my
experience
with my first earlies (foremost) is most peculiar.
Each top has now finsihed flowering and I lifted the first couple of
tops
about a fortnight ago, there was only 3 tubers per top, one of which was
huge (2lb) and two 'normal' size new potato.At first I thought it was
just
odd, but now having lifeted a total of 8 tops, with exactly the same
pattern, I am mystified.

Have I done something wrong? Is it the odd spring we just had? or is it
something else, any help appreciated
many thanks
John


I read somewhere that this depends upon the number of shoots on the
potatoes
when planted. Lots of shoots means lots of small potatoes, but fewer (or
one) shoot means fewer but larger potatoes.

David.

Thanks David
when they were chitted there was certainly a profusion of shoots. I did
everything that I normally did, but this is the first time that this has
happened....Ah well
John

In article ,
(David \(Normandy\)) wrote:

Lots of shoots means lots of small potatoes, but fewer (or
one) shoot means fewer but larger potatoes.

I left all the shoots on my Foremosts but have the same results as John
- a few very big spuds which are more like maincrop in the kitchen. I
also have a lot of scab.

If this is standard for Foremost, I'm growing something else next year.

Steve Harris - Cheltenham - Real address steve AT netservs DOT com
A useful bit of gardening software at http://www.netservs.com/garden/

"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(David \(Normandy\)) wrote:

Lots of shoots means lots of small potatoes, but fewer (or
one) shoot means fewer but larger potatoes.

I left all the shoots on my Foremosts but have the same results as John
- a few very big spuds which are more like maincrop in the kitchen. I
also have a lot of scab.

If this is standard for Foremost, I'm growing something else next year.

You're lucky, this damp weather has sent blight thru my crop of - Accent,
Harmony and King Edwards, all 12 rows. Adjoining allotments, different
varieties, but still blighted. It dose'nt seem to effect the quality of the
spud - although yield is down.
We had blight in 2005, but much later in the season. Within 2 weeks of the
outbreak, we remove all foliage and burn when dry. Just thought I'd share
the good news!!

Bertie

[quote=Bertie Doe;724345]"Steve Harris" wrote in message
...[color=blue][i]
In article ,
(David \(Normandy\)) wrote:

Lots of shoots means lots of small potatoes, but fewer (or
one) shoot means fewer but larger potatoes.


Hi

Is it apical dominance in the chits?
http://topveg.com/2007/03/19/how-man...s-on-potatoes/

I hope they tasted good!

TopVeg