Spuds And Your Location..!

[Cloud]

Hopefully mine will be going in this weekend!

[glasgowdan]

I'm in central scotland. My tatties went in at the allotment 2 weeks ago. Not expecting to see any growth for a couple of weeks yet so not worried about the weather. The allotment is at 800 ft altitude and tends to be a bit chillier too, but the poly tunnel will see to that once it's built.

At home I have a lot going on, planted out all the onion sets and a load of herbs, plus leeks and lots indoors.

Got some maincrop tatties that I'll put in next weekend too.

[stella]

I thought traditionally Pots were always in by Good Friday?

[Alison]

Following in Grandad's footsteps and planting Good Friday He would be proud of me!
As a matter of interest, why are some of you planting your maincrop so long after your earlies? I thought the difference was the maturing time, ie maincrop took longer to mature, rather than the planting time.

I've planted my earlies in the polytunnel and the main crop will go outside so therefore want to go in later. Last year the earlies went in a couple of weeks earlier simply because the bed was ready then and the main crop beds weren't!

[vicky]

I've planted my earlies first and so on so that when I harvest I can clear the bed from left to right and re plant the area (So when the labels blow away I can remember where to dig first!).

[Suky]

That makes sense!

[susiewoosie]

I planted my pots (50) out in 15 patio bags just over a week ago. I think I will need to pop out tomorrow and either put more compost on them or some fleece as I'm sure I spotted some growth showing.

Mind you I looked at my shallots and got all excited because I thought one had sprouted but it turned out to be a greenfly

[kittykat8]

I am in cornwall and planted towards the end of February outside, wait for it 17 rows got carried away again that without the potatoes in tunnel

2 rows king edwards
2 rows nadine
2 rows kestral
3 rows each of the Mayan type
2 rows lady crystal
1 rows vidaldi
2 rows Orla
1 rows Anya
1 raised bed of Anya
1 row Accent
1 row Estima

[eieio]

Looking at this thread looks like I am okay to plant my earlies and second earlies today but when should I put my mains in?

Also going to plant my onions today.

Told the kids I am having a mummy day down't lotment! I have done nothing but child emtertainment so far this week.....soft play, cinema, baking more soft play, more cinema next week so it is only fair I have a play day!

[kittykat8]

Down at our attotment everyone seems to plant their potatoes all at once earlys and lates the same time, blight tends to com in eary down year

marion

[jacob marley]

[QUOTE=eieio;643508]Looking at this thread looks like I am okay to plant my earlies and second earlies today but when should I put my mains in?
.

The planting of spuds is quite simple some take longer to mature so plant them all at the same time and they will be ready when you want them .
I am lucky the second weekend in march seem to work for me and the whole lot go in at the same time and when the tops die down it is a natural blight resister because there is no tops to attack thats what works for me..

[reetnproper]

Never having grown potatoes before (gulp) I hope I'm not going to be breaking any 'laws' but I was planning on staggering the planting so we don't get too many ready at the same time .

I only have 10 each of Vales Emeralds and King Edwards and, going by the planting guide on the packet, I thought I'd plant a couple of each this weekend, then couple more Vales each weekend until the end of April and a couple more King Eds every alternate weekend until they're all done or it's the end of May whichever comes first.

This should, I hope, produce enough but not too many potatoes over the maximum harvest time. Of course potatoes can't read and don't therefore know what the experts say , so it may well prove a flop but at least I will have tried .

Reet
x

[gojiberry]

I would agree with staggering the planting of first earlies as they tend to be harvested and eaten at the same time which would lengthen your harvest time. However king ewards are a main crop which is harvested to store so there is no problem with them all being ready at the same time.

Ian

[sagegreen]

Planted half-a-dozen first-early 'Swift' pots' in a frame/hot-box end of feb', these are now some 6-inches high and covered with fleece. Planted a couple of rows of the same variety in the open mid-march, these are now just showing and may also have to be covered with fleece on cold nights. A tasty salad variety, 'Nicola' will be in shortly, followed by maincrop for storing second-half of april depending on weather.

Commercially grown Cornish potatoes will be ready at the end of the month, the first being from polytunnel grown. Will sell for a premium price - but the taste!!

[Herbie]

First early's are in (Arran) hoping to plant the rest this week if we get a few nice days.
The earlys I have covered with fleece just to be on the safe side.