Potatoes for Christmas query

[Sarico]

i have some red duke of york sill in my flower bucket.... can i keep some of the big spuds that i will hatvest and plant them later in august for christmas? or should buy seed christmas potato? thanks.

[Sarico]

my Christmas potatoes are just arrived and i didn't know they were so many ( 30 seeds 10 of each variety nicola, javellin and maris peer) so i don't have space for all of them now ( with this weather everything is still flowering) so what i'm suppose to do? should i keep them in fridge untill i'm ready to plant them ( i was thinking a successional sowing 1 or 2 of each a week)? thank for the help

[solway cropper]

Stick em rose end up in egg cartons and let them chit away. You really don't want to be leaving it much more than a couple of weeks before you get them in the ground/compost.

[Two_Sheds]

you don't need to chit in the summer. Chitting is what we do in the winter to get the spuds growing while it's too cold to put them in the soil.

[bearded bloke]

I have Carlingford this year so as ever I had a quick look around for advice,T&M agree with TS ^^ chitting not needed ..............

Second cropping potatoes do not require 'chitting' and should be planted as soon as they are received in August. When planting late potatoes in bags, fill the potato bags by one third with good quality compost mixed with some well rotted manure. Space 3 seed potatoes in each bag on top of the compost. Fill the bags by another third and place 2 more seed potatoes on top of the compost. Finally cover them with more compost until the bags are full. Place the bags in a sunny position and water regularly to keep the compost moist.

When growing second cropping potatoes in the ground avoid planting in soil where potatoes have grown for two years in succession as this will increase the risk of disease. Prepare the planting area in a sheltered position in full sun on moist well drained soil. Dig in plenty of well rotted manure. Plant potatoes in rows at spacing of 45cm (18"). Rows should be set out 75cm (2’, 6") apart. Place the seed potatoes into 10cm (4") deep trenches and backfill the soil to refill the trenches. If risk of frost threatens, protect emerging shoots by drawing some soil over the top of them.

Taken from ..... Potato 'Carlingford' (Christmas) - Second Cropping (Christmas) - Thompson & Morgan

I know yours are different varieties but the method is a constant


Good luck BTW,last year I wrapped around & under my containers with a good amount of straw (seemed to help,as better crop than previous years)

[Sarico]

I have Carlingford...... previous years)

thanks for the info... i have some polystyrene boxes that when get broccoli delivered and they are a good insulation plus when all my tomato get harvested ( i hope so) i will put them in the small grow house... because i have so many seed (30 0f them) is a good idea spread the planting time over a month... i mean if i plant form now till the end of august and first week of settember are they will grow?...

[redser]

you don't need to chit in the summer. Chitting is what we do in the winter to get the spuds growing while it's too cold to put them in the soil.

I also just read of someone potting the chitted spuds in 2 litre pots of compost and growing on undercover for a few extra weeks then potting the lot out when the foliage is up. Cuts down frost risk and allows her to harvest before the blight kicks in. Think I'll try this next year with a few.

[bearded bloke]

thanks for the info... i have some polystyrene boxes that when get broccoli delivered and they are a good insulation plus when all my tomato get harvested ( i hope so) i will put them in the small grow house... because i have so many seed (30 0f them) is a good idea spread the planting time over a month... i mean if i plant form now till the end of august and first week of settember are they will grow?...

All sounds good to me successional sowing should be fine,I intend to split mine with first barrel sown on first weekend in August & second barrel on last weekend Potstubsdustbins is waaaaaaaay more experienced than me & may be along later with some wisdom to add

[maytreefrannie]

As usual, last year gave no Christmas spuds and I emptied out the pots to the compost, bar one which was forgotten. I noticed this had produced haulms earlier in this year and lo and behold, I furtled and there were spuds there - last week we had a good amount from them, plenty for a meal for four or five. Better late than never!

So this August I plan to try again and am hoping this year will bring them during the festive season.