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The Bottom Line
So when Bernie came along to our craft group yesterday, [and I know he is a great gardener] I said "Bernie, I have potatoes chitting on my windowsill - when can I plant them out?" he immediately replied "How's your bum?"
"Um, fine, but why are you asking?" Bernie explained that when you can put your bare bum on the earth and it doesn't feel cold, then it's ok to plant out your spuds.
After lunch I went into the back garden and tried The Bare Bum Test - very discreetly! So now my potatoes are all planted. I've also put in some radish and lettuce seeds, as advised by Huw Richards. This year, I am moving everything along 3 sections, so I get proper crop rotation, and I'm not growing things in the same row, year on year.
The Egyptian walking onions are looking healthy [no sign of bulbils on the top yet] I have daffs, narcissus and tulips in flower too.
Looking forward to more veg from the raised bed this year, and perhaps more flowers in the front border too.
I might not go for 'the bottom line' test although it would be easier for me than many as I grow my veg in large pots! Maybe an elbow like testing baby's bath water would do? I've heard of your test in Hampshire too. I've also heard that one should plant potatoes on Good Friday.
ReplyDeleteGood Friday can apparently occur anywhere between March 20 & April 23, so I'm a couple of days early!
DeleteTesting by hand would have been OK!! I've never heard of anyone actually using the bare bum method - it's a well known saying in Suffolk too.
ReplyDeleteNext year, I shall do it by hand!
DeleteI look forward to seeing photos! I'm laughing at you doing the bum test! I often don't understand garden advice which can be annoying! Kxx
ReplyDeleteI hope you mean photos of the plants, not the testing process Kezzie!
DeleteI find the same with crafting-I joined our local embroiderers’ group when I retired. Hardly learned a thing because the replies were similar to your gardening ones or they kind of sneered at how I would do something eg it was the LAW that you mitred corners and I sometimes don’t. I left after a couple of years and then they realised they had nobody to organise the social events “ because I was very good at that”. They were confused when I said I knew that, but had actually come to learn about embroidery! Catriona
ReplyDeleteIt is always a shame when people come to join a group (crafting, book club, church, whatever) and the existing members look to see what the newbie can contribute, rather than how the oldies can help them to feel welcomed. But it so often happens that way, sadly.
DeleteI have never heard that one! I always used potato bags so maybe it wouldnt apply!
ReplyDeleteApart from two rows in the raised bed, the majority of my spuds (following your helpful suggestion last year) are in potato trugs in the garden too!
DeleteThat is so funny my sister lives in Norfolk in a small village and she used to have an allotment, when she first started gardening there a few of her allotment neighbours were real old Norfolk men and they were full of helpful advice a lot of which my sister did not understand. One such example was How's your bum? To my knowledge she didn't try the rest but planted her potatoes when all the other allotment holders planted their potatoes. Such marks regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI do not have time to have an allotment!(There is a waiting list in the village. And some of the locals are very sniffly about the other plot holders. We won't even mention the Great Gooseberry Theft)
DeleteI laughed right out loud at the bare bum test. Never heard that before!
ReplyDelete🤣
DeleteYou forgot to include the photo from the 'bare bum test'!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI plant everything out a bit later than I should, I have always found that things romp away at the speed of knots when they think they have to catch up to the weather. It will still be a couple of weeks before I sow any seeds.
I think I'm further south than you, so hope my spuds will be ok.
DeleteStill laughing here. Did Bob act as look-out?!
ReplyDeleteAm glad to know Alan Titchmarsh is still about. I miss their show with Charlie and whats-his-name.
Hugs!
He was out!
DeleteI wouldn't dare to try that test here right now. We have a thin layer of snow back on the ground again! ❄️😳
ReplyDeleteOuch!
DeleteCan't believe you did that!!! Alan Titchmarsh has a new gardening prog on Mondays in the afternoon, ITV. I can't watch it then but it'll be on catch-up. I find these so-called clubs or groups turn into closed shops and certainly promote elitism in one way or another. Leave them to it, it's entirely their loss! Sounds like you're doing ok by yourself anyway.
ReplyDeleteMy subs are paid up till Christmas, but I may not renew
DeleteI thought I commented on this post late last night, but, I guess I only imagined it! I hope you have a bountiful potato harvest! :D You've reminded me that I planted two sweet potatoes in the garden, last year, and then, forgot all about it! I must have M dig around where I planted them to see if there's anything to harvest!
ReplyDelete👍😊
DeleteI've been wanting to grow potatoes, but not sure about this bum test!! Thanks for the laugh!
ReplyDelete🤣🤣🤣
DeleteWe always plant potatoes on St Patrick's Day! And I've never heard of your test 🤣
ReplyDelete☘️Not heard of that tradition☘️
Delete