when to plant my potatoes

[keepitgreen]

When can i start planting my potatoes?
I have ordered first earlies, second and maincrop.

I have decided i am going to use containers and was wondering if i can start them off inside? Has anyone tried this?

Also does anyone know the tempreture that potatoes love best?

Thanks x

[PAULW]

It is no good planting your spuds to early just to have the cut down by the frost, down here in tropical Dorset I put mine in at the end of Feb they are then ridged up and covered in straw, I reckon on about 6-7 weeks before they start to show if the ground remains cold as it did this year it takes longer before they show.

[bobleponge]

Last year in super tropical northern France I put mine in around the same time. I didnt cover in straw but certainly ridged them up. I had growth in just under 5 weeks but did have a disappointing crop.

[maytreefrannie]

There's a tradition here of putting down earlies by St Patrick's Day (17th March), many people plant them around that time.

I think I may try them a bit earlier in a container.

[tattieman]

I think February would be early enough. In theory you could plant them anytime you want in containers if you can keep them inside away from the frost but I think they would take longer to mature as the days aren't as long and the sun not as strong or out for as long.
I am no expert in container growing though so I could be wrong.

[gojiberry]

I have already planted up a few containers of spuds and will put the next lot in just after Xmas. Outside I planted my first potatoes out side on the 14th Feb and got away with it.

Ian

[tattieman]

I have already planted up a few containers of spuds and will put the next lot in just after Xmas. Outside I planted my first potatoes out side on the 14th Feb and got away with it.

Ian

Do you find the potatoes take longer to mature?
Swift should be ready in 60-70days as an example.

[PAULW]

Ian
For me it is a time thing, last year I got my first and second earlys in then it rained for the next three weeks, the ground was cold but my theory is volunteers sit under ground quite happy so the cold will not kill my seed spuds and when the ground warms up they will grow away quite happy, I never set the stop watch going when I plant but I have a furkle when I think they are ready and if they are not just wait a week or two, last year lady christl gave me 5lb of spuds per root.

[Gwen11ian]

Funny, I just came online to ask the same question! I was thinking of planting my potatoes in potatobags inside, top filling them as they grow. Once the soil is to the top and the green growth is just peaking up I was thinking I would then move them outside for better light (after being hardened off) and to do their main bit of growing out there. I'm not really concerned about an earlier harvest, but rather a larger one.. I have very limited space and want to make the most out of every square inch of soil. Do you think a warm boost by a few weeks indoors would make much difference? Say I start them off late February and had them out late March, would I see a better return?

[sarraceniac]

My Father (about 150 years ago) was a very suspicious man. He always planted his on Good Friday. I personally suspect that it was because he was a Head Gardener on a local Lord's estate and one of the few days he definitely got off was Good Friday. Lol. But in this part of the country I reckon anytime from mid-March. All you soft southerners (lol again) might manage it earlier.

[SlugLobber]

Don't you believe it (although I am Northern born). We get the coldest temps of the whole poxy country, here, as we're in a 'basin'. Was planning to put mine in during Feb, but in a greenhouse (fingers crossed that Santa delivers).