how long to keep fleece on potatoes?

[queen of the cobs]

I've put some fleece over my potatoes (which are not showing yet) How long should I leave it on for? I think we are going to have a stiff frost tonight, but the BBC says it will be above freezing for the rest of the week.

Is it worth taking it off on tuesday?

thanks.

[Eyren]

I suppose it depends on how inconvenient it is to put it back on if the weather turns cold again - I don't suppose it will do them any harm at this stage to leave it on for a week or so.

[fiveravens]

Why not leave it on until the sprouts are growing strongly and all risk of frost has passed? (Which it certainly hasn't yet)

[JO,JO]

i have fleece covering evrythingin my unheated greenhouse except my potatoes at the moment,just in case,if we have a really warm day just take it off and replace at night,i will be doing this til 1st of may just to be on the safe side

[queen of the cobs]

perfect - thanks, I'll certainly do that (it's started to snow again)

[crichmond]

mine are in tubs in the greenhouse and have fleece over them, I plan on leaving it on until danger of frost has past as they still get light even with it on.

[ConstantGardener]

I grow my new potatoes under fleece every year - you put the fleece on when you plant, and leave it there until the shoots are so tall you can't keep it on any more. That's usually about mid to late April, though this year goodness knows when it'll be - I haven't even dared to put mine into the frozen ground just yet.

If you leave the fleece on for that long you'll not only be protecting from late frosts, you'll also be giving the spuds a head start - it's a good way to get really early early potatoes...

[allotmentlady]

I would leave it till middle of April......to be sure, which new potatoe seed potatoes did you use, out of interest?

[Paulottie]

The sprouts are the bit that are frost sensitive so whilst they are still underground your fine. I think they are more likely to rot unless they are in a polytunnel.

I must admit I am suprised that anyone has even put their spuds in yet- fleece or not, I'd have thought the ground was far too claggy and cold...certainly is here. None of the local farmers have yet...The conditions are not right for it this year. By this time last year I had carrots, parsnips and beetroots up; the spuds were in and lettuce set out under fleece. Seed just rots in this...got stuff in the heated greenhouse but I haven't dreamt of hardening it all off and setting it out.

[Alice]

There's no need to take the fleece off and put it back on. Some crops grow their whole life under fleece. For your potatoes if they are underground they will be fine. Once the top growth is up you must protect from frost but you can leave the fleece till it's no longer required. Hope you get a great crop.

[rustylady]

I've put some fleece over my potatoes (which are not showing yet) How long should I leave it on for? I think we are going to have a stiff frost tonight, but the BBC says it will be above freezing for the rest of the week.

Is it worth taking it off on tuesday?

thanks.

Are your potatoes in the open ground, in tubs on the patio, or in the greenhouse?

[queen of the cobs]

they are in a bed - I know it is a bit early for them as yeat, but I noticed that my bag of Desirees had gone a bit mushy at the bottom, must have had a bit of a leak in the shed, so had to throw about half of them away, and just put the rest in the ground and hoped. The ground is by no means frozen here, at least wasn't when I put them in, so I've got my fingers crossed. Will buy some more just in case, I think - nothing so disappointing as a failed crop, eh? (Joy of Joys - saw my first parsnip seedling poking it's head up this morning!)

[crichmond]

If you have any others in bags take them out and put them incardboard egg trays or something similar, you might not have had a leak it may have been from sweating with them all being together especially if they were in direct sunlight.

I have mine in egg trays ine the unheated greenhouse on the benching but I have covered them with kitchen towel to stop the direct sunlight as it can make them gorotten and start fermenting.

Cheers Chris

[queen of the cobs]

it's a shame as they were in a net bag and in my shed (which doesn't have any windows, so not in direct sunlight. Oh well, I'll make sure I chit properly next time.

[Paulottie]

Disagree about sunlight making them rot-you want it to produce sturdy chits. They do definately want laying out in trays in future- in a frost free place.