A while ago we opened up the lazy beds. It was a quick enough job to peel back the layer of sods and manure to reveal the potatoes underneath ... aha, so thats where the 'lazy' comes in, its certainly not in the planting phase! The plants had been hit with blight and we removed the foliage a few weeks ago. The recommended three weeks had passed and the sun began to shine. So far, these spuds have been keeping well in ventilated cardboard boxes, with single layers of potato in each box.
Previously harvested potatoes which we washed and stored in sacks succumbed to the blight spores ... heartbreaking! So this is the option that worked ... ie removal of foliage and leaving the spuds in the ground for three weeks.
On a lighter note, there was even time left over for a bit of spud juggling!
those should keep you going for the winter!?
on another note, does your woodworking husband make strickliesel/knitting nancy/knitting doll? They are used for making i-cords?
http://www.thewoodenwagon.com/p-ACNI3002.html
http://www.bloss-auktionen.de/seiten/galerie/A30/spielz/Bilder/liesel.jpg
http://www.tdh.de/tdhshop/images/shop/spielwaren/932.4943.00.jpg
Posted by: Péitseoga | September 25, 2007 at 02:48 PM
you look very happy in your veg plot, nothing nicer than growing, picking and then eating your own. I came across your blog whilst reading one of my other favourites and I shall definitley pay you a visit again to read about your adventures.
jules
Posted by: jules | September 25, 2007 at 05:17 PM
Glad to hear you saved some - keep an eye on them though!
Posted by: hedgewizard | September 25, 2007 at 09:20 PM
LOL I love the shorts and gumboots/wellington boots, very stylish. Have you considered a job at the Circus, with skills like that you could make a few euro on the side!!
Posted by: Maddy | September 25, 2007 at 11:16 PM
Looks good. I removed the foliage from my blight-stricken plants before I went on holidays - really need to get out now and see if there was actually time for anything to grow before I did that.
Posted by: Moonwaves | September 26, 2007 at 06:14 PM
What a blog - I love it - thanks for the brilliant read. I'll have to keep coming back now to see how you are going. I'm also on the self-sufficiency trail, and being kinder to the earth, and am grateful I (or rather, the spuds) have yet to be struck with blight. Should I be unlucky enough to do so, I'll keep your experience in mind.
Posted by: Sara | September 28, 2007 at 12:08 AM
I'm pleased to see that you are still smiling despite your blight problems.
Marie x
Posted by: Wild Rose | September 28, 2007 at 01:35 PM
I love the juggling! Something we as mothers are quite skilled at! I've never actually planted potatoes, but there are some growing in my compost!
Posted by: debra | September 30, 2007 at 02:14 AM
It's okay to play with your food when you're a grown-up :)
Posted by: Tinuviel | January 05, 2008 at 03:00 AM