Chitting and planting potatoes

[Iamhanuman]

maybe if i cover the sacks in bubble wrap....?

[eddiebirmingham]

i've been told st Patricks day is a good day to plant your potatoes

[Elliesmummy]

potato question

Hi,

my seed potatoes (from wilkinsons) are chitting wonderfully.

i was wondering when they can be planted?

the info says march, but does it mean the begining, middle or end of march? i wondered because of all the frost and snow we have had, will it still be too cold?

thanks

[Flummery]

I would say it depends where you live. Burnley, being about half way up England, suggests the middle! I usually reckon mid-March for mine. To be honest, it's not so much the weather when you plant them that's vital, it's what it will be like when the foliage emerges. Frost on new spud foliage will turn them black and slimy. You could still get a crop but it will set the plants back considerably. As soon as you see emerging foliage, either scrape the earth from each side of the row back up over the new shoots (earthing up) or cover with straw or grass clippings. Anything to keep the frost off the green stuff. When you're sure there'll be no more frost - usually mid-May or even early June in some places, then you can let the foliage romp away.

Best of luck with them.

[shirlthegirl43]

I am trying to get some earlies in this weekend. I know it seems very early to a lot of peeps but Pembrokeshire is famed for its early spuds and the farmers are planting theirs now.

I have frequently read on the vine about St Patrick's day being a significant date for the planting of spuds (earlies?) but I confess to following the farmers example this year!

[zazen999]

Ours go in on St Patrick's day...and we will be having a little tipple on the way home to celebrate [I don't drink often but planting spuds is a good excuse in my book]. They went in in April last year as we didn't get the lottie until then but they were still fine.

The aim is to get them in at just the right time so that they are still underground when the last frosts come, so that no foliage is damaged.

[HayleyB]

I might leave it until mid to end March as I have a feeling we might be in for a longer winter and more frosts - eternal pessimist

[Iamhanuman]

and here's me just about to maybe possibly you never know put them out this weekend

hhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

it is a tad bit warmer here in Essex but i was thinking of bubblewrapping the tops of the rubble sacks i'm growing them in to keep that last (apparently May) frost off them

what do you reckon?

[Flummery]

Should be ok. Just wrap them at night though. If you keep them wrapped up completely in the day they'll get mouldy and soft. I did the same with very early spuds (Feb) in my greenhouse in tund last year. Covered in the evening, unwrapped in the morning. I was eating them in May. Yummm!

[Iamhanuman]

Should be ok. Just wrap them at night though. If you keep them wrapped up completely in the day they'll get mouldy and soft. I did the same with very early spuds (Feb) in my greenhouse in tund last year. Covered in the evening, unwrapped in the morning. I was eating them in May. Yummm!

oh yes, that's right. i'd read that but you know i might have forgotten!
thanks for reminding me.

i would love to be eating in May but I guess it'll more like July now when these are ready to harvest?

[Flummery]

I reckon so. I wonder what meant by in 'tund' in the post above? Could have been tubs - yeah! - n and d next to b and s on keyboard!

[lyndap]

Wyvales are selling second early seed potatoes for 25p each,so if you only need a few different ones to put in different buckets its not to bad a price.

[Elliesmummy]

Thanks,

i might wait another week or two before they go in.

[Iamhanuman]

fothergills are giving away second earlies for free at the moment with free P&P
there was another post about it
hang on....
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...uds_28906.html

[Victoria26]

Oh Chit! My maincrops look ready to go in!

Can anyone help?

I have 7 red rooters which have been chitting for a while. I know its early but they did their own thing.

Will it be ok to plant them just now? I know they're maincrops but will it matter?

Just thought Id ask you all for some pearls of wisdom!