Thursday, June 17, 2010

food!!


picture hasn't come out in the centre...wonder why? it'll be one of those 'did what you told it to do not what you want it to do' computer things.......that's also a horsey thing....leads to much confusion....
photograph of my first bucket of potatoes last week, I have scoffed them all and am now onto my second bucket. the second bucket has a few bigger ones in it which shows what an extra week of growing can do. They were planted in buckets in the greenhouse in February - four buckets in all, two left in the greenhouse, two put outside after most of the frosts(they take up a lot of 'air space' with their massive amount of leaves) next to be eaten will be the two put outside. The rest of the potatoes were put into buckets as those two were put outside, so they will be ready to eat later on. I still have a few very, very wrinkley seed potatoes that would probably still grow some crop if I put them in now. Growing potatoes in buckets does not give the biggest crop but it is good for where there is not space enough for a big patch and it makes them very easy to harvest, just tip out another bucket and your done!
I have made the decision to leave Quantum Savvy .....to progress means following the 'programme' to the letter involving riding bareback at the canter.....not brave enough.....putting a bridle and bit on Abbey..... don't want to..... and riding at the gallop......really don't want to!! I will be joining the worldwide Parelli programme, it gives more scope for progressing in the areas you are capable of/comfortable with. For instance I could get up to level three in ground-work while staying at level two for riding. It also makes great ....how to describe it?....."forgivness" of your horses character, Abbey gets very scared sometimes, Parelli encourages relationship with your horse before anything. I hope we can afford it thought as its really a pricey thing to join. My buddy Annie has already defected over and has kindly bought and said she will share with me all the DVD educational stuff. We will have to buy new t-shirts to go with it as well.......

9 comments:

susan said...

Potatoes in a bucket sounds (and looks) like a wonderful idea. I bet they were delicious too. One of these days I hope to settle down with some pots again and perhaps a little garden too.

I read about Abby's injury and I'm glad to know she's recovering.

Alice (in BC Canada) said...

Hi Claire! Those potatoes look wonderful. Have you ever tried growing them in tires? You keep adding more tires and dirt as the plant gets bigger, then you have a vertical potato garden. Google it, I know you'll find it interesting. I was told about it years ago and am going to do some here this year.

WILDSIDE said...

Foodstuffs, yay! (I was having problems with blog posting too...)

Like Alice, above, I am experimenting with growing some potatoes vertically this year -- in my garbage can with holes drilled in (normally used as my wormery)... Dirt added in on top of the plants every so often. So far so good, but can is full to overflowing and don't think it is time to harvest anything here yet.

Helen C said...

Lovely spuds you have! Broken tubs have never been so useful. Just a question, do you use horse manure?

clairesgarden said...

Susan, thankyou, abbey is good now.
Alice, I have used tires they are very good, also used them for courgettes and strawberrys.
Wildside, these potatoes were started off early in the greenhouse for a treat. maincrop is months away.
Helen, your blue tubs are still in use, as one bucket is emptied another use is found for the blue tub...they're great!! and my garden is probably 99% horse poo from our very own muckheaps!!
an example here...from a few years ago. http://clairesgarden.blogspot.com/2006/01/first-snowdrop.html

Jim said...

Claire-

I hadn't thought of growing potatoes in buckets or half-barrels (in the greenhouse no less) but it seems like great idea for people like us with limited space and a short growing season.

Your garden is looking great by the way.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

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clairesgarden said...

Jim, thanks! potatoes take a lot of space, its not the biggest crop from buckets but I am always pleased to eat them!
Becky, lovely blog, will be looking more through your plant library later!