Just arriving back from a visit to Melbourne visiting family I was amazed at the many many different type of heirloom potatoes that one could buy down there in their equally impressive markets.One paticular type that took my eye was the purple congo and I would like to know if anyone has grown it amongst the many others available.Has anyone tried growing something different with good yields.taste etc .Being the great white hunter/grower that I am, I would like to know of anyone elses experience with any of them that is a bit different.
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Hi roger looking at them photos it looks as though the purple congo,s were the stand out performer in terms of area.The soil mix is the trick ,I may even experiment with some sebagos just seeded and plant some spuds 12 inches and let it grow without hilling as they always do seem to grow in the bottom reaches as you mentioned..Those sacks really are a neat idea my chook pellet bags always are handy this time of the year .I went to rocklea markets today and did get some purple congos and will checkout northey st tomorrow for any other different type not normally seen.A company from tassie does sell a good variety but they are terribly expensive even though they are certified seed potatoes.
Oops I missed sending the 3 sacks picture. I've also included a picture of an experiment I did growing King Edward spuds. I grew these in a bath, then when the plants were getting tallish I made and positioned an extension box on top of the bath and filled up the box as the plants grew taller with horse manure. I hoped that the plants would grow more spuds up the plants as they pushed skyward. The only spuds I got were the ones formed under the soil as I had planted them. A very disappointing result.
Thanks for that Dave, what were the types they had at caboolture as I think I might just try my luck at the rocklea or northey st organic markets and just hope they will seed and dont have a virus attached as I know they wont be certified seed
GH has some purple congo seed spuds available in July.They're on the Sunshine Coast and write of the PC:
Heirloom potato bred before 1895, easily the hardiest potato we have ever grown. It is a small cylindrical waxy potato with unusual purple-black, shiny skin and purple flesh.
If you are into that colour underground -- aside from Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes (definitely my favorite) -- today I harvested some Purple Yams -Dioscorea alata - outback. This is a species native to tropical Asia.
Not a bumper crop at all but it's exciting to realize I had actually planted that type of yam. I thought all I'd planted was the standard African Yam (Dioscorea rotundata and D. cayenensis) which I can get in massive supply from the African food shop in Caboolture. I'm not so keen on its texture.
I have about 5 types of standard potatoes in at the moment but I'm just new at the game: my second season-- after a great crop last year. My most giving produce these last 12 months.
I must say that it is really annoying how the seed spud suppliers usually only offer single types per kgm when we'd really like a mix and match option sometimes. I got seed spuds at the Caboolture Markets last Sunday at $8/kgm. But only 4 or 5 types on offer in separate purchases. Talking to my peeps there, they had so much trouble securing a supply line.
I'd like to purchase a dedicated heirloom mix per kgm just so I could experiment.I recall that Diggers used to offer one to members but not this year it seems. But then TasPotatoes have a wide range of spuds on offer.
Also at the Cab Mkts -- an organic produce supplier -- Shane Gisford, from Gatton -- likes to talk about growing spuds.He will get some seed spuds in for you if you promise to turn up next time, but now the Woodford nursery folk have supplies it isn't necessary. But if you wanted advice have a chat with him...As for Lyle -- you could pose a question on the Green P facebook group. Green P just harvested Lyle's first crop of Sebago for the year...
I grew a few in 2009. See pix here. The short growing season we have doesn't give us a great crop relative to what is achieved down south. The guy from Green P is the exception. See Lissa's report.
This year I'm trying again, just planted a purple spud plant. Don't know its name, Joseph gave some to Lissa who gave some to me. This one is the survivor from 6 small spuds which started to shoot around December. I planted them in a small pot and this one continued on. It had a tiny spud when I planted it out a week ago. About to plant some King Edwards which are shooting.
Any spuds I get will be a bonus.
Always add photos using the "From my computer" option, even if you are on a mobile phone or other device.
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Added by Doug Hanning
Added by Doug Hanning
Vetiver grass helps to stabilise soil and protects it against erosion. It can protect against pests and weeds. Vetiver is also used as animal feed. (Wiki.)
GrowVetiver is a plant nursery run by Dave & Keir Riley that harvests and grows Vetiver grass for local community applications and use. It is based in Beachmere, just north of Brisbane, Australia.
Talk to Andy on 0422 022 961. You can Pay on this link
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