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otamot
head gardener
1013 Posts |
 Posted - 08/03/2009 : 16:04:54
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guess what? I have my first potato from this topic way back when
http://gardendelights.forumco.com/topic~TOPIC_ID~2817.asp
The plants were looking pretty yellow so I thought I'd have a dig and this was right under the top of the soil.
But it's a red potato - ruby lou and this one looks regular. Will it colour up do you think or should I leave the rest of them longer in the ground to go red?
how does this work 
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 16:09:19
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I have never grown spuds here, might try a few in garb. bins next season  Will be looking for lots of advised of when how and what
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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otamot
head gardener
1013 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 16:30:31
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thee it was so easy, give them a go! tessa is the spudly expert she'll set you straight on what's what and who's who in the potato biz 
I can't wait to see how many are down there 
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 16:31:20
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You'll have to let us all know
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 20:08:53
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Oh, well done Ota
I have no idea about different varieties of spuds, I just grow whatever I have, so I will leave that one to Tessa.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
A ounce of common sense is worth more than a ton of intelligence.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 22:50:36
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We are the same as Gail just chuck anything in we got handy they always taste better than the supermarket ones
When you say regular are they a medium size spud about the size of a apple only flatter or smaller I cannot judge the size as there is nothing there next to it, a bottle cap, matchbox, teaspoon.
The best time to harvest for the most yield is when the vines have died down I feel you have a little longer to go yet for the best yield they take four - five months to grow I reckon your spud is a little green as in not ripe enough or its been exposed to the sun maybe that is why it is not the red colour you were expecting.
I had a look on line they are very similar colour to Desiree that we grow http://www.pmc.wa.gov.au/varieties/variety.cfm?varID=12 I would keep them in longer as they dont look a good colour for a pink potato I am not saying they will go a darker colour though they may stay that colour and still be ripe enough just as long as they dont have that green tinge in them.
Perhaps bandicoot for another spud further down in the spoil the colour should be better and judge by it rather that one above..
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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otamot
head gardener
1013 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 23:17:10
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does it look green? I think it must be the light on it when I took the photo. It's a darkish yellow colour with a little bit of pink tinge but nothing like the colour of ruby lou you get in the shops. The skin seems a lot thinner too.
I think you must be right that they're not quite ready yet. should I stop all water? will that help finish them off? The size looks pretty good to me but it's the colour Im confused about. Do you ever dig up your desiree and they're not red MA? |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 23:45:17
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I would stop the water as you said the tops were yellow but how yellow.
Maybe Tessa can advice you at I dont know what your weather is like
No the Desiree were the right colour just the odd small one was lighter
Here is a pic from the first lot from last year they were washed.
Those white one were from a white spud
If you look at the smaller ones they are lighter in colour
The bigger ones are darker
This was the next lot of spuds a few months later not washed.
The colours are about the same..
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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otamot
head gardener
1013 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 01:09:00
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hmmm well that's interesting MA seeing your desiree. They've just started to die off I guess that's the best way I can describe it because they always had some yellow or burnt leaves here and there but it's different now, most of the top is yellowing off with just a bit of green growth.
The weather is still warm (will be for a while), in the 30s and dry as ever so if I stop watering they won't get a drop from the sky. I'm going to hill up the soil tomorrow just in case because this one was almost at the top. I'll stop the watering then and give them a bit longer |
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 06:25:43
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Great lookin spuds there MA
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 07:15:07
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ota!
congrats!
um...they have their colour from the start. so that one is never going to turn pink. you can harvest them at any age or stage to eat. no waiting. just give it a wee scrub with the green dishes srubby thingo....and bob's your uncle.
eat her.
i suggest just boiled with a bit of butter...so you can see how nice a freshie is.
pick a few of her sisters to have with her...cuz one is likely to not be enough.
you should have some biggies down there....cuz this is quite late in the year.
in fact...this week is ideal for *planting* spuds!
so rip them out...and find some oldies in the pantry that are sprouting (or in the health food shop, cuz they're always sprouting too) and whack them back in with a bit of manure...and bob's your other uncle too.
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever! perth, wa |
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 07:22:15
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... shredded cheese, sour cream and P & S 
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 08:06:22
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Thanks Cheryl .. Organic natural Yogurt and Pepper for me..
Friends are the flowers in the garden of life
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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Val
assistant gardener
Australia
92 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 16:28:37
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I grew Ruby Lou this year, Ota. They were red though, perhaps yours was miss labelled? I found they were the best looking spud out of all mine. Garbage bins and large containers work well, and I'm re-using the mulch and soil etc on my second round of spuds.
Val |
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 16:30:16
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and Val they made the best tatty salad
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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medburygardens
gardener
New Zealand
639 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 17:54:58
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Val & tessa are right they have been miss
labelled and that they should be red form early on.
Taste alright? |
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I have a potato!