Potatoes very big gamble

[cliff top]

slugs and potatoes

has anybody ever used Bio Friendly Slug Banish to prevent slug damage to potatoes?

[Aberdeenplotter]

has anybody ever used Bio Friendly Slug Banish to prevent slug damage to potatoes?

I haven't but I have used slug nematodes which are also bio friendly and they really do work.

[Alison]

I don't find I get slug damage on my spuds, think they're too busy eating my salad crops

[nerdgas]

Will be planting mine in April this year.

Put my FE's in in March last year and half of them rotted due to soil being too damp and cold....

Probably gonna chuck FE's, SE's and MC's in at the same time.

[armthorpe]

Farmers in Braunton plant out and earth up their early's mid Feb if it's not too wet. Braunton great field is 1 of only 2 open field systems left in the country. Plus it is right by the sea (a big help) with well drained sandy soil.

[kittykat8]

well I have planted 10 rows of potatoes outside and will do 4 tomorrow, I know it sounds daft but was working in teashirt today had to take junper off as it was to warm, ground is wet to damp depending which plot I am on, peolpe planting their sharrots and onions, and most will follow me 1 week later s always.

marion

[Two_Sheds]

I noticed the farmers had the fields ridged up for spuds y'day. Unsure if they've planted yet, but it won't be far off

[Lotsaveg]

I'm in Norfolk and I planted my first earlies yesterday. Used a trowel to sink them individually to a depth of 10 inches and then covered them with fleece. When they start to come through I'll put another 4 inches of soil on top.

[King Carrot]

I'm in Norfolk and I planted my first earlies yesterday. Used a trowel to sink them individually to a depth of 10 inches and then covered them with fleece. When they start to come through I'll put another 4 inches of soil on top.

10 inches seems very, very deep for earlies -any reason why?

I plant mine at 3 - 4 inches deep in a coldframe, I use the assumption that the quicker they get their heads above ground the quicker they'll start to photosynthesize and grow.
If frost threatens I’d earth them over then to protect them or cover the frame with black plastic.

[grenhouse]

I'm in Rotherham too! I planted some earliers under fleece beginning last march and the frost still got them! However, I didn't think the frost affected yield or flavour, they just took an extra couple of weeks.

steve

[King Carrot]

Those earlies I planted in the frame are just starting to show -looks like it might get a bit colder next week even here, so far we've escaped with a low of 0.1C a few days ago.