He can only count to twelve - hey, he's only a
potato - so press your refresh button to reanimate him. |
We all know potatoes
have eyes but I didn't appreciate they have a 'top' and 'bottom'
end. The 'top' is the rose end from which most of the new sprouts
grow.
When you're putting them in a tray to chit them (encourage them
to start sprouting) you should put the rose end upwards (Mr Potato-Head
was keeping a close check on me as I did it).
This is the first time we've tried this Kestrel
variety of second earlies. These should be planted out from mid-March,
assuming the soil isn't as cold and wet by then as it is now. |
|
Chitting gets them off to a good start but don't worry
if you don't get chance to do this: they'll still catch up. You should
put the tray in a light, cool but frost free place. That will have to
be the spare bedroom windowsill for us as the greenhouse and shed are
still likely to be frosty on some nights.
 Kestrel
potatoes have violet eyes. They have creamy flesh and are said to be good
all rounder, for boiling, chipping etc and they're good in salads. They're
slug resistant.
Potatoheads aren't what they used to be . . .
I first met Mr Potatohead in the mid-1950s, while on holiday
in Llandudno. A friend had a set. That was in the good old days when you
used a real potato for the body. 
Related Links
The
Legend of Mr Potatohead
Growing
Potatoes
Richard Bell, richard@willowisland.co.uk |
