Potato Dilemma

[Dead Dogs]

Hi all,

I have a dilemma.

My potatoes arrived mid January from JBS. I put them in egg cartons and left them in the cold utility room by the window. After 2 weeks I moved them to various window sills around the home. The 2nd early, Kestrel, have good strong shoots about 10mm. The main, Setanta, are a little behind with shoots around 5mm. Alas my 1st early, Pentland Javelin, have tiny little specks for shoots.

The plan was to put the firsts in the poly, with the seconds and main outside. My dilemma is whether to put the seconds in the poly now and the others outside in a few more weeks. Or do I hang on and go with the original plan.

[astisan]

Stcik to the original plan?

Hi, Pentland Javelin are later to mature than other first earlies (it says in my book). If it were me I would just go ahead with the original plan - all spuds eventually catch up and you'll give them a better start and protect them from any frost at the same time. So hang on for a bit - traditionally potatoes are planted on Good Friday, but of course that's very late this year. Hope that helps.

[Flummery]

If Good Friday is late, another tradition says plant on March 17th - St Pat's day. After last year's late, hard frost, I might hang fire till early April! I think yours will be fine.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Last year I did my normal early Swift and by a happy coincidence got some Pentland Javelin free. The Javelin was miles behind the Swift at all stages but I must say it was a very tasty spud.

Colin

[tattieman]

Pentland Javelin are a very good keeper and do not sprout quickly. We find they are excellent for second cropping. I would put the earlies in the polytunnel and then wait for the weather to warm up before planting the rest. No rush yet.

[Alison]

I planted my earlies in the polytunnel at the weekend but my main crop which will be going outside will be waiting a good few weeks yet.

[Dead Dogs]

Hi and thank you all for your advice.

I have let this dilemma roll around in my head for a while now, taking your advice into account. Having finally came to a decision, I though some of you would like to know what it is.

I have no plans to plant any tatties outside until April. It was an itch to start some tatties in the poly that caused the dilemma in the first place.

I will keep to the original plan, with a small modification. I'll put four of the Kestrels in the poly with the firsts. That way I will have a comparison for future planning.

Sometimes you just have to scratch that itch.
But not until this recent snow has gone.