Early potatoes - how early do you plant yours?

[VirginVegGrower]

I may use 6th April for all my potatoes except those in containers, which I can plant in March, fleece and keep in greenhouse.
Thanks all

[Thelma Sanders]

Paddy's day for me with some frantic earthing up if a late frost is forecast

[The Large One]

last year i planted Rocket and Lady Christel last week of Feb
covered with 36gsm fleece and earthed up as soon as showed through
most the other lottie guys tried telling me it was too early but paid off and had lovely early spuds nearly a month earlier than everyone else did

[Potstubsdustbins]

A few for forcing will go in the pots in the GH in the next fortnight. The rest will follow in early March, if a frost is forecast I just put the dustbin lids on.

Colin

[hollychap]

i planted 3 trial tatty sacks last weekend swift pentland javeline and lady christi in the greenhouse at the lottie i made a double protection by making each sack its own clear poly cover with a bit of luck i may get an earlier than normal crop my birthdays apr30 so thats when i hope to harvest as a birthday treat

[Two_Sheds]

I'm putting one in a 5" pot today, in the unheated (but frost free) gh.

They've been chitting since I dug them up (accidentally: I just left them on the windowsill instead of putting them in the fridge).

[PAULW]

Mid end of feb planted then pull the ridges up, you dont see potato farmers going out every day to cover the shoots over, they are then safe in the ground and will start growing properly when the ground warms up

[solway cropper]

Early to mid Feb. for the container ones in the greenhouse but it really depends on how cold it is. Last year I got the first dinner of new spuds on 29th April. Outdoor ones wait till mid-late March. If you can give some some decent protection like a greenhouse/tunnel I would certainly recommend a feb. planting for an early crop.

[Ananke]

I usually aim for the 17th too but my plot neighbour, who is 84, plants his out mid Feb every year and mounds them up. He hasn't lost a crop yet to frost.

I might try some early this year but the ones I grew from TPS will be going out much later, it has taken three years to get them to this stage and I wouldn't risk losing them.

[spanish_gardener]

Just like to point out that the term "earlies" refers to the harvest time not planting time.

I didn't know that!

[Martin H]

Down here in greater London I'll plant any time from 2nd week of March when the soil is ready. I'm prepared to keep earthing / covering with fleece until the frosts are all history for the summer.

This year it will be mid April. No crop until July

[kathyd]

I'm still waiting to plant mine outside - so much for sunny France eh?! Lol . Planted a few in the polytunnel 10th Feb, started lifting the fleece a week or two ago, then a heavy frost the other night made their little leaves go all droopy and sad looking, even under the tunnel! So fleece back again now. Was planning on sowing the others over easter, but there are snowflakes outside! I can't believe it, we've avoided most of the snow until now! Sod's Law obviously exists wherever you live.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm putting one in a 5" pot today, in the unheated (but frost free) gh.

So, I planted one a fortnight in the gh since Jan, but no shows yet

[Potstubsdustbins]

Just been down the GH and mine planted 5/3 have just started to show. However I did put a heater in there about a week ago.

Potty

[sir david]

Put mine in yesterday ,Desiree and Yara

David