Potatoes, onions and a balcony...3 questions

[Morty_007]

Hi all,
I am a curious bunny this morning and thought that instead of filling up the board with hundreds of questions, i'd post thm all in one and hope for a good response!

so here we go:

1. When do I sow Desiree seed potatoes? I have a pack, but no instructions! (Curiously!)

2. Can I sow my red/white onion sets outside into low raised beds yet...(again, have onions, no destructions) or is it too early. If I fleece them can I?

3. Does frost just hit at ground level? we have an upstairs balcony which we use in summer for all of our veg but I wondered if I could start putting some of my toms up there as space is a premium at the moment! Alternatively, I have a little plastic covered green house...could that safely go up there?

Hope thse questions make sense (sorry if they seem daft!!) and looking forward to all responses,
Morty

[JazzDuke]

1. April (a guess)
2. End of the month (a guess)
3. Temperature everywhere is different. It also depends on the ground which is a large mass and therefore slow to change in either direction or a pot which will change more quickly. Is the balcony on the sheltered or sunny side or does it get every bit of windchill. Common sense and a max/min thermometer should enable you to make an educated guess.

[rustylady]

Seed potatoes plant at the end of March unless it's freezing (as it sometimes is) Old country lore always used to advise planting spuds on Good Friday.

Onions and shallots late Feb (again unless it's freezing)

I wouldn't put tomatoes out in even a cold greenhouse yet - far too early

[Earthbabe]

1. How about I tell you when I'm planting mine and give you a hand with yours,subject to your bendability

2. What variety are they?

3. Air temp is still to cold to use the balcony, so if they must go outside it will have to be the plastic greenhouse possibly close to the house on in a sunny sheltered spot.

Thanks for Friday night

[Morty_007]

1. sounds excellent thanks, though I have decided to do them in BIG planters I have so hoping it's just going to be a matter of throwing them in and then some potting mix after them. I'm taking a rather pragmatic view of gardening this year, in light of events!

2. no idea...they don't seem to have any info...I only buy quality

3. great, thanks. don't HAVE to go outside, just want to fill the already full green house again! I AM being good and not sowing too much yet...there's always next weekend

Friday night was a pleasure, did Mr EB say I ran into him and lil miss EB on Saturday in town, they looked like they had had great fun. Was lovely to see you guys, it's been too few and far between.

Have been working out Mat leave today and looks like it'll be starting at end of April...just PERFECT for some intense sowing and summer socialising!

[Earthbabe]

Have checked the diary for last year and it looks like the desiree went in late June

But then everything was late last year. Hessayon suggests mid to late April and I'm aiming for May at the latest this year. I have a large box in the middle of my kitchen floor which is asking to be tripped over so something has to be done.

Mr EB did mention and Miss EB still had face paint on when I got home from Dorking.

Sounds like good timing for the mat leave and I'm definitely up for some summer socialising especially late July and August.

[NEWTO THE PLOT]

did put mine in last march pots and onion, pots in container too and they seemed ok

[Morty_007]

Miss EB still had face paint on when I got home from Dorking.

LMAO, thats what being a kid is all about...assuming you didn't get home from Dorking yesterday!!

As for the potatos, i'm going to have to be patient huh.

[Earthbabe]

You can probably get away with planting next month.

[nick the grief]

........Is the balcony on the sheltered or sunny side or does it get every bit of windchill. Common sense and a max/min thermometer should enable you to make an educated guess.

Windchill only affects things that generate their own heat - like humans so long as it get loads of sun they should be OK in the plastic thingy on the balcony.

Tatties - round here tradition is to plant around Easter I guess it was the first holiday folks got inthe old days ewhen LJ was a lad but I usually plant mine in May as I'm usually tied up doing other things. Some of the old boys on our site will be getting ready to plant theres now I bet !!

[Lesley Jay]

Nick you need cracking twice!! I am not old and I am female through and through - you should remember that Nick! Is your memory playing up in your old age - calling me a lad???

[Morty_007]

Wish there was athank you button here! Thanks everyone, all input greatly received...and the bit about wind chill...very interesting, thanks NTG

Balcony is sunny side, just to answer the question! Have decided to hang fire for a couple of weeks anyway...got LOADS of other stuff to do. Probably pought to think about the nursery for one!