Early spud planting

[murray]

Hello all. Due to unforseen circs. I'll have to plant my tatties (Foremost) within the next couple of weeks. If I plant deep, earth up high and cover with a membrane, will they survive do you think? I have no choice but this, I'm afraid. Opinions appreciated very much. Thanks.

[piskieinboots]

an old boy on our lotties has already planted his, I said isn't it way too early (risky questioning him I thought afterwards)!

So I'd say earth up and hopefully you'll be fine where you are. I don't think I would cover with a membrane but I guess it depends how long you have to be away for

[carlseawolf]

i've planted mine already.

[jacob marley]

The normal planting time for us up here in the midlands is second weekend in march so you should not have a problem unless your ground is heavy and wet jacob

[roitelet]

Over here it is said that potatoes, all kinds, should be planted on 19th March, St Joseph.

I've done it for several years now with great success, except that is for last year when I planted by the moon. Lost the lot to blight

You should be alright as most of the worst frost has past, we hope.

Best of luck

[snake the squadie]

i am in the same boat and wont get another chance until easter so i planted my first earlis yesterday and will plant my seconds and mains at easter. its not realy to early and if they grow ok you will get a longer cropping season

[Flummery]

Make sure the new growth is well covered up. If it comes through when you are away you might need to ask someone to earth up for you. The alternative is to earth up REALLY WELL when you plant. Good luck!

[ConstantGardener]

don't worry - you'll be OK. I always plant my earlies by mid-March, but I cover the ground with a double-layer of horticultural fleece just to be certain - I lost the top growth to a late frost a few years ago and have used fleece ever since. It also has the advantage that if the spring weather is good (like it was last year) you get your spuds a good few weeks earlier than you would do normally, too!

My soil is kind of clay-ey, so I'd say this would work pretty much whatever your conditions. I'm near London, so we have better temperatures than, say, Yorkshire, but even so we can hit a few late frosts around May.

Incidentally, even in the year when I lost the top growth, it came back - I think the harvest may well have been reduced a bit, but it was still pretty good. So you don't need to despair whatever happens.