First Earlies going in this weekend!! Anyone else?

[maytreefrannie]

I'm planning to put one or two in a bucket any day now - maybe the next root day? Must check Bride's moon site.

[kittykat8]

my first earlies , second and lates got planted lat saturday, did not dig a trench but a deep hole and filled with compost warmer than soil I thought and then coved with soil. Two weeks ago on my other plot anya and some first earlies went into raised beds covered with plastic.



marion

[Eyren]

Anyone else trying Mayan Gold? They are supposed to be second earlies, but are chitting frantically way ahead of the International Kidney, or Mimi, or Anya...

I have a couple to try, and they had long sprouts on when I bought them, but now they are chitting slowly with the rest of them. I'm sure they were in the "maincrop" section at the Ryton Potato Day

[poly]

I'm trying a few Mayan Gold this year too, I thought they were an early maincrop!

I've already planted a few earlie earlies in (polytunnel), planted at the begining of jan and some a couple of weeks ago, but won't be planting outside for a few weeks yet.

[shaymen]

Wont be putting mine in until after mid march, too early in my opinion now, unless you are going to keep 'em covered. Good Friday is the day but its a bit late this year. Why can't Easter be the same every year !!!

[gojiberry]

6 rocket went in on the 16th Feb followed by 6 charlotte on the 23rd and I will put 6 more rocket and 6 lady crystal in this weekend. I will then keep putting a few in each weekend till they are all planted. The charlotte planted in tubs in the greenhouse at xmas are doing really well with really strong looking foliage but the swift put in lat Jan look quite weak and spindly. Will have to try a bit of nettle fertilizer.

Ian

[toastie]

Partners sisters live in Cornwall, one in Camborne, the other in Carbis Bay and apart from a small amount of snow, don't believe you have experienced the weeks of cold and frozen ground that us in the Midlands have had. Rumour has it that the beginning of spring isn't going to be too warm either.

[magz.mccarthy]

Well, potatoes are in and hopefully happy! Such a rewarding experience. More and more friends are turning out to help with digging etc now that the weather is better. It's so much fun to see everyone digging and planting. Some of them are totally hopeless (one killed virtually all of my leek seedlings in a transplant .. doh!) and some are brilliant, but all having a laugh anyway. I'm glad we're planting too much so everyone can get a taste!

[daleclarke]

Glad I haven't planted mine as we had a surprise frost last night, but looks like it rained first, so the worst type of frost!

[selfraising]

Mine went in three days ago but have covered bed with a double layer of fleece, just in case!

[Jenegade]

Definitely worth trying a few in buckets in the greenhouse Jane to get a nice early crop. These Cherie and Charlotte were lifted on 7th May.
[ATTACH]7461[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]7463[/ATTACH]

Hi Alice, just wondering what your using to protect your potatoes, a sheet of fleece? Is that enough? It's just your not too far for me and some of my earlies have some fairly big shoots, was going to plant them this weekend.

Thanks

(btw did you go to the Dunblane potato day? I got lots of different varieties including a Heritage one called Congo - blue all the way through! )

[Julien@Iller's]

Got mine in too. Did a single 18ft row of Arran Pilot. I have covered them in a 3ft wide strip of clear polythene (left over from the polytunnel last year. I know it would come in useful). I read in John Seymour about the plastic. He says you can feel the soil is warmer. My wife put some in bags in the polytunnel two weeks ago and they are already coming up.

Also very excited

[Flummery]

My early May crop from last year were in the greenhouse in pots, but early in the season they were wrapped in that chunky bubble-wrap stuff. Round the pots and over the top. I took it off the top in the daytime and put it back at night. A bit of a faff but those first potatoes of the year were heavenly!

[selfraising]

Lots of people seem to be using plastic, should I put plastic on instead of double layer of fleece?

[jonohanson]

Popped some rocket in last weekend and some pink fir apple. The rest of the rocket will be going in later in the month.

Some of my seeds have gone a little wrinkley and slightly soft is this ok?