Potatos

[doozer]

I am new(ish) to this veg growing malarky. Is it too 'late' to grow potatos? I'm guessing like everything else there's some kind of season?

If I were to grow potatos, where would I get some 'seed' ones from...or will a small jersey potato from Waitrose do the trick?

What a wonderful site this is!!

[markwcel]

really to late for seed tatties...but ones from the supermarket that are sprouting are always worth having a go...tatties only really bothered by frost...im planning to plant xmas tatties at the end of august

[SarzWix]

As long as you can protect the foliage from any frost (horticultural fleece spread over them), it should be ok to plant some now, but only the Early types as it's too late to get any maincrops before winter. It takes around 10 - 13 weeks to get a crop from planting.

[shirlthegirl43]

Easiest way to work out if it is too late is to work back the number of weeks taken for the spuds to grow (12 weeks or so for earlies, longer for maincrop) from your first frost date. Of course, if you can keep the plants sheltered from frost then give it a try. Many of the seed suppliers sell seed spuds now for planting soon for a 'new potato' harvest for Christmas. I have been a bit lax this year and still have some seed spuds waiting to be planted

[Two_Sheds]

If you plant now, you must beware of blight, which often comes around in late summer (March-planted potatoes will be mostly fully grown by then).

[Snadger]

'.........a small jersey potato from waitrose' I assume you mean a small Jersey Royal?

If so, you have to realise that Jersey Royal (International Kidney) potatoes are maincrop potatoes that are lifted early. In other words the tubers are not mature and may not sprout/chit!

If they do chit though you may have a chance of growing spuds for Crimbo!

[markwcel]

suttons have 2nd crop for sale now online