Planting potato

[mandyballantyne]

Hi All,

I know it is too early to plant out potatoes, but has anyone else started?

The weather is so mild I am thinking of trying a few, is this a bad idea?

Mandy

[pigletwillie]

Beware as February can be a very cruel month for frosts and rain. IMHO you will be foolish to be too eager as one cold snap will ruin your hard work.

Whilst the weather is so unseasonal it is oh so tempting to plant stuff out but realistically, you will gain so very little in time over tatties planted later that it really isnt worth it.

Sit on your hands or cure the itch to plant by doing extra prep work on your plot, that WILL be worth the effort.

[dwrudd]

After seeing the weather report this morning, I beleive that Piglet has got it just right. Hard frost is forecast tonight in the north west and so make sure that all your fleece is sorted where required.

Your potato 'itch' can be scratched though, why not put some earlies in a container or two and keep away from the frost preferably in a heated greenhouse but a shed would do at a pinch, if you bring them out on warmer days.

Darren

[mandyballantyne]

Ok points taken, I just want to go out and play!! Potatoes can stay on the window ledge for now.

Seriously, thank you I would only be complaining that they didn't grow.

Mandy

[Muddy Sarah]

I know exactly what you mean about itchy hand syndrome, Mandy! I'm really struggling not to interfere with things too much at the mo!

What makes it worse for me is working - all I want to do is go and dig and plant and encourage, and I'm stuck in a darn office all day!! It's only going to get worse as the weather gets better!

Keep trying to sit on those hands!

Sarah

[pigletwillie]

I am one of the worse people for itchy hand syndrome but have been bitten a few times because of my impatience.

Dwrudd has got it bang on though witrh regard to spuds in buckets. I will be potting some up in my 25l drums to sit in the tunnel after this weekend c/w a little fleece hood just in case Jack Frost turns up with a vengence.

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Sarah,

I know what you mean about being stuck in an office, problem is I can see the plot from the window as I work from home most days. It is so hard not to take the phone of the hook and pop over.......

[Muddy Sarah]

Hi Sarah,

I know what you mean about being stuck in an office, problem is I can see the plot from the window as I work from home most days. It is so hard not to take the phone of the hook and pop over.......

Lordy, I don't think I could cope with being that close!!!!!

My little lottie's a 2-3 min drive from my flat, so I do actually have time toi think to myself "so what exactly are you going down there for??" before I get there - has been my saving grace a number of times, or I would probably have planted all sorts of things at random times by now!

I did get caught out thinking I could beat Mother Nature and plant some radishes out of season, but they didn't make it through the frosts we had. I'm hoping that's my lesson learned, and I'll try to restrain myself in future.

Sarah

[Two_Sheds]

I dug up some potatoes yesterday, leftover in the ground from last year (perhaps I should use labels this year?). I put a couple back, to see if they do grow in this mild weather (12 degrees here next to the North Sea) - well, they've got 2 choices.
My hands are itchy to get started...I've made about 3 thousand paper pots to keep me busy (thanks WiZer), but now I am so good they only take seconds each. Perhaps someone could post instructions for a make-your-own-coldframe-from-newspaper?

[shirlthegirl43]

I have spuds in buckets which were planted in October. They have greenery about 18 high - what should I do with these? Is it worth having a broggle? And if we get frost (none forecast here that I know of) will they die?

Cheers

[Two_Sheds]

Shirl, they won't like a frost, no. Can you earth them up? Or cover with bubblewrap or something, in the event of a frost.

[Lesley Jay]

To all you first time potato growers please have patience! Make a note of this years last frost (post it in the weather board) and that will act as a guideline for when to plant your potatoes next year.

The first year I grew potatoes I went off planting times in the book. They were hit with a late frost and the lovely green foliage was burnt black. So now I wait and I normally plant my seed potatoes around April 21st.

[JennieAtkinson]

And I'm even later! Beginning of May, if I'm lucky.

I get quite frustrated having to wait even later than the rest of you, but this year I have diaried lots of jobs that I hope I can get done before hand if get a good day weatherwise, such as painting the fences, tarting up and painting the shed, sharpening and cleaning my tools, and of course sorting out and cleaning watering systems in the polytunnel and greenhouse. That way at least I know I've done a bit each weekend and wont have jobs piling up in the summer.

[shirlthegirl43]

They are earthed up - they were intended for Christmas potatoes but I was late planting them and then decided they were as well in the buckets as in the bin. Now I can't remember when exactly I planted them so don't know when I can check to see if there are any 'fruits'

[kernow]

If your potatoes are caught by the frost,digging will be delayed by as much as 6 weeks and your crop will be a lot smaller.I always aim to be as early as possible,last year i planted 10/04/06 and still had to cover them a couple of times when frost was forecast.We dont see a lot of snow here in Cornwall but we have our fair share of frost.