how deep to plant spuds?

[Eden]

Hi there, last year I planted my spuds about 7" deep to keep them from the frost, but nearly every single one rotted away and never came up. The soil was really bad thick clay and very boggy (first time planting in ground and not in tubs :/ ). The soil I have on my new allotment is fab and has been well manured. I'd like to plant my earlies this or next week but how deep should I plant to avoid frost damage? And after planting should I fleece them to give protection? I really don't want to lose them all again! Many thanks
Eden

[janeyo]

Hi this is my first year with potatoes (with anything actually) I used my bulb planter and put them prob about 4-5 inches deep.

Am sure someone will tell you the correct answer!

janeyo

[Nicos]

Depth isn't so important- I think maybe you planted them too early for your soil conditions??

Out of interest, we dig a trench one spades depth and throw in about 4" deep rotted muck and stick the spuds ontop of that.
Then cover with soil just slightly ridged by a couple of inches- and mark off each end of the row with a stick.
As the shoots appear, we cover them over by another 3 " or so of soil from between the rows.
Maybe twice until the frost are gone ( end of May for us)
You shouldn't really need fleece unless you are planting earlies very early!
Easter is the traditional planting time for spuds- but this year it's MUCH earlier than usual- we'll be holding off for a couple of weeks at least.

Get a feel for your soil...Last year was very wet, then warm, then wet again...not good spud weather.
At least you can only do better this year Eden!!

ps- yes you can fleece, either straight away ( to help warm the soil) or when the shoots appear( to protect from frost)

[Flummery]

Sounds like life was just too cold and wet for them. Planting later is good advice.

[jacob marley]

I plant mine 8 inches deep and they take a little while to come up but it helps dodge the frost and you do not have to earth up to much and mine went in yesterday at that depth good luck jacob

[pigletwillie]

We dont trench at all now and plant them like this as its dead easy. Its a bit early for some areas, especially if your soil is cold and wet.

Our main crops will go in around mid April, again about 6" deep.

[Paul Wagland]

We do much the same as PLW, but with a strong dibber (sawn-off fork handle) instead of the scaffold pole. And maybe a bit less deep - say 4 or 5 inches - as it's warmer here in Essex.

[Snadger]

We do much the same as PLW, but with a strong dibber (sawn-off fork handle) instead of the scaffold pole. And maybe a bit less deep - say 4 or 5 inches - as it's warmer here in Essex.

Touche........ But stuck in through a heavy mulch!

[pigletwillie]

We do much the same as PLW, but with a strong dibber (sawn-off fork handle) instead of the scaffold pole. And maybe a bit less deep - say 4 or 5 inches - as it's warmer here in Essex.

Having a shed full of old spade and fork handles made into dibbers, normally I would do the same, the scaffold pole is just that bit thicker and being a bit longer means that I dont have to bend over, other than to put the seed potato in (if I miss when attempting a "drop" in). Its weight also helps with forming the hole.

[jacob marley]

I use an old fashioned Potato Bodger wich belonged to my father in law wich he used to use in the 1930's when they used to plant acre's and acre's and dig them by hand @ so much a Perch (8 yards x8 yards) i think and they called them the good old days jacob

[sanmc]

my first year of growing, and ive planet my potatoes last weeks, its now snowing, will they all rot?

[Flummery]

No - as long as they're undeground they'll be ok. When they come through - can be a month or so - earth them up - scrape the soil over the emerging shoots - to protect them.

[palyniam]

well well

This is my first time growing spuds, I was given one spud and put it in a black plant bucket with compost and the soil from the garden.
The plant bucket I burried some 12" down with just the 1 spud back on the 10th of may 2008..... this weekend I dug it up to find 18 spuds, which we have eaten and were great.

The question is can I do the same now ( 28th August 2008) or is it too late?

Yours Paul

ps if you need to know I live in Leeds west Yorkshire

[Demeter]

Hi Palyniam, welcome to the vine, and congrats on your first potato harvest!

I was at the GC yesterday and they were selling seed potatoes singly, so I bought and planted 2 charlottes. However, I suspect I will be lucky to get anything as it is a bit late really I think - I just thought it was worth a try for 30p, what with global warming and all... If you decide to give it a go, you will need to have a plan to protect them from the frost once winter sets in. Mine are in buckets and will go into the greenhouse when the time comes.

[shirlthegirl43]

I intend to plant my Christmas spuds tomorrow (energy levels permitting). They will be in buckets in the garden and will move to the greenhouse when the tomatoes have been given their marching orders (what a rubbish year they have had).