Covered potatoes with fleece

[Ognen09]

Hi wise ones, after reading all about growing potatoes for that day that must not be spoken of, I planted some Duke of Yorks and some Pentagon in August. The Dukes did really well, not so the t'others. However middle of Oct I covered them with fleece to protect from anticipated frost. This has had the effect of stalling them completely. They have not put any growth on since....mmmm? what should I do?
Thank you in advance!

[bario1]

Hi Ognen,

Fleece or no fleece, I would have thought it's too cold out there for potatoes to be growing happily - however, they may be using what foliage they have to store energy for next year in the form of... potatoes!
Have you had a furtle to see if there's anything happening below the soil?

[Jungle Jane]

I would make sure the fleece doesn’t touch the leaves & if the growths still green & healthy I’d do nothing,maybe earth them up a bit but leave the leaves exposed to the sun. I might move my bag next to the house where there’s less chance of frost. Growth is slow/stalled at low temps at this time of year,as long as the leaves aren’t dying,you could give them a little seaweed or tomato feed for potassium help & a straw mulch for added protection.

[jackarmy]

My understanding of growing xmas pots is simple. whack them in in august, hopefully they will have a nice october and early november and thats it, no more growth, chop tops off and leave in pots till required.

are they in a greenhouse/tunnel ?

[Ognen09]

Have you had a furtle to see if there's anything happening below the soil?

I will be going to allotment tomorrow so I will indeed have a further then. Fingers crossed!��

[Ognen09]

I would make sure the fleece doesn’t touch the leaves & if the growths still green & healthy I’d do nothing,maybe earth them up a bit but leave the leaves exposed to the sun. I might move my bag next to the house where there’s less chance of frost. Growth is slow/stalled at low temps at this time of year,as long as the leaves aren’t dying,you could give them a little seaweed or tomato feed for potassium help & a straw mulch for added protection.

The leaves seem to be fine, I will deffo try some Tomato feed on them tomorrow. Thank you!

[Ognen09]

My understanding of growing xmas pots is simple. whack them in in august, hopefully they will have a nice october and early november and thats it, no more growth, chop tops off and leave in pots till required.

are they in a greenhouse/tunnel ?

No, not in GH or PT. They are in a raised bed with a deep mulch of leaf mould and with a fleece on top. I was going to put them in GH but I haven't put the glass back in after its move yet so that would not have helped much!!��

[Jungle Jane]

If you’re thinking of eating some now I wouldn’t feed them,I was thinking you were harvesting them for Christmas,if they’re going to be out there for another month they’d need some fertiliser.

[Ognen09]

If you’re thinking of eating some now I wouldn’t feed them,I was thinking you were harvesting them for Christmas,if they’re going to be out there for another month they’d need some fertiliser.

Hi JJ, I am hoping to have them for Xmas so I will Defford give them a feed tomorrow. Thank you!��