Time to plant potatoes

[Alan Glass]

Here in Ireland the temperature has seldom dropped below freezing. The last few weeks have been between 6 and 10 degrees. Is it possible to plant my first early potatoes in February?

[Dead Dogs]

You could try a few and hope you stay frost free.

I plan on planting a few in the poly at the start of March and will be keeping my fingers crossed.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I plan on sowing in pots in the GH next week sometime.

I think with the temps you've quoted you wil be OK to plant out doors, once they show above ground just keep a fleece handy in case of frost.

Colin

[Thelma Sanders]

Garden Organic says that

Dates will vary from year to year and around the country.... soil temperature should be at least 6°C (43°F).

[rustylady]

Go for it. Just keep fleece handy in case you get a sudden frost which will kill any exposed foliage.

[Dead Dogs]

sudden frost which will kill any exposed foliage.

Also watch for strong cold winds. Wind chill will have the same effect. last may it killed off my courgettes and damaged the spuds.

[mudpies]

Planted 5 rocket tubers in the tunnel a couple of weeks ago - just before the big freeze! Double fleeced them and crossed fingers. Couldn't resist a little digging around to check them today...and all is well. Not such good news with the ones I left out chitting...frosted and rotten...so maybe should have planted more!

[Paulieb]

Today, Out of about 50-60 tubers i planted 3 casablanca and 3 sharpes express to go in the gh. A bit experimental but worth the risk for a plate of spuds at end of april. Will have one eye on the weather forecast and fleece at the ready.

[Bigmallly]

I always plant on good friday but thats me just being superstitious. They are chitting nicely though.

[bazzaboy]

I always plant on good friday but thats me just being superstitious. They are chitting nicely though.

I know parsley seed has to be planted on Good Friday, less familiar with potatoes following the same pattern. In the case of parsley I believe it's because it has a long (i.e. BC) association with funeral wreaths, death and evil (e.g. virgins mustn't plant parsley at all or Satan will get them, please be wary!!). The reason parsley takes so long to germinate is it has to travel to hell and back to ask Satan's permission and that takes a bit of time. In the case of potatoes my best pal Google informs me it stems from the Irish potato catastrophe after which growers would take their seed spuds into church to be blessed as part of the Christian celebration of renewed life: faced with such dire circumstances that must have seemed at least a sensible precaution. A more pedestrian explanation is that everyone worked much longer hours in the good old days (when there was work to be done, oh oh) and that Good Friday was the first public holiday affording the necessary daylight hours to get potato planting completed. But Good Friday/Easter can vary considerably because determined by the moon (first full moon after the equinox of March 21st?) so lunar advocates might know of some other reasons why it might be particularly advantageous with regard to water levels, magnetism, gravity etc. Anyone?

[snakeshack]

personally I always plant mine on st patricks day,but good friday is traditional as it was the first public holiday for the poor.

[Currysniffa]

I'm going to grow some swift potatoes in big pots/bags in the greenhouse this year, not sure when I'm planting them yet though, next ccouple of week I guess.

[Two_Sheds]

keep fleece handy in case you get a sudden frost which will kill any exposed foliage.

I have a tub of spuds in the gh, which I wrapped in newspaper last week because of the zero temps. I can see the top of the foliage has wilted in the cold, I'm hoping I've not lost it.

[VirginVegGrower]

I know parsley seed has to be planted on Good Friday, less familiar with potatoes following the same pattern. In the case of parsley I believe it's because it has a long (i.e. BC) association with funeral wreaths, death and evil (e.g. virgins mustn't plant parsley at all or Satan will get them, please be wary!!). The reason parsley takes so long to germinate is it has to travel to hell and back to ask Satan's permission and that takes a bit of time. In the case of potatoes my best pal Google informs me it stems from the Irish potato catastrophe after which growers would take their seed spuds into church to be blessed as part of the Christian celebration of renewed life: faced with such dire circumstances that must have seemed at least a sensible precaution. A more pedestrian explanation is that everyone worked much longer hours in the good old days (when there was work to be done, oh oh) and that Good Friday was the first public holiday affording the necessary daylight hours to get potato planting completed. But Good Friday/Easter can vary considerably because determined by the moon (first full moon after the equinox of March 21st?) so lunar advocates might know of some other reasons why it might be particularly advantageous with regard to water levels, magnetism, gravity etc. Anyone?

In relation to this Year's Good Friday (6th April) there will be a full moon, which coincides with the best time to plant potato tubers, if following lunar planting (synodic)...spooky hey

[Thelma Sanders]

My moon planting book (Kollerstrom) says that St Patricks day is a root day as well! so I'll plant then as usual

Is it the same in your method VVG? it's all interesting stuff isn't it