Potatoes under cloches?

[moggssue]

Thanks to this lovely wet weather, I havent got any tatties in yet and am starting to think its getting a bit late for my earlies never mind my maincrops ...

Anybody started theirs off under a plastic cloche to keep off the rain? Any thoughts on the practicality/need or otherwise of doing this?

Cheers folks - and hope this isnt another one of those annoying questions ...

[Two_Sheds]

Why would you want to keep off the rain? Oh, off yourself you mean?
No, it's not too late. Just put a mack on and get out there!

[moggssue]

I was thinking that all the rain (and hence wet soil) would just rot the seed potato before it had a chance to grow? I have loads indoors all raring to get out there but not knowing what I'm doing I was waiting for 'better' weather, but it hasnt arrived and now I'm thinking a bit of shelter might be good for them to start with? Maybe not tho Two-Sheds?

Me - I'm well used to getting rained on, still doesnt help me grow any taller though

[rustylady]

Mine aren't in yet either. The soil is so wet and heavy I can't dig the holes. Dry day yesterday and managed to get the onions and shallots out from the greenhouse onto the plot, but it's rained heavily (yet agaiin) today.

[dinah gale]

Moggssue, I planted my first earlies under plastic cloches last year and they were a success. Nice and early. They won't be this year as I didn't get my act together and have ended up shoving the seed spuds with a trowel. I'll be doing the same with my maincrop too since I've hurt my shoulder and can't really dig. Not too worried though. I'm sure there'll be a crop - the ground is good.

Back to growing under cloches though. I should open the ends once they're growing well in order to keep a bit of airflow. Mine were bashing their heads on the cloches for a while before I removed them (I'd been away) but soon straightened themselves up again once they got the chance to grow away.

Good luck! I'm sure they'll be fine.

[Topaz]

did my earlies in flower buckets in the greenhouse and they growing great guns so would think cloches would work too

[NOG]

I put my mains in on Saturday and will put my earlies in this week......

Ok ok so I picked up the wrong box....anyone could have done it.

[Catrina]

I heard on Gardeners Question Time a few weeks ago Chris Beardshaw said that all potatoes could go in at the same time and it was the length of time between picking that made the difference. i.e. (it was something like 120 days 135 days and 140 days) between planting and picking. I cant remember the exact number of days but he quoted but that was the information he gave to a caller.

We have always put our potatoes in at the same time and just picked when they looked ready and had no problem with this. This year we have put first earlies in two weeks ago. But my husband has had an operation on his knee so I have not got round to putting the second earlies in, hopefully they will go in this weekend or next week. We will see what happens this year.

[jacob marley]

Do not bother with the clotches until the spud's are just through if you can clotches without lids on are fine just keep the wind off if frost is about put he lids on and everything will be fine this is how i do it earlies only good luck jacob

[moggssue]

Thanks all! In the end, the earlies just got shoved into the ground a few days ago - but I am watching for frost reports with the cloche at the ready! I know, I'm impatient ... I want my own new tatties!! And some sunshine wouldn't go amiss either