potatoes

[lesleygl]

has anyone dared to plant their seed potatoes yet, i have been a bit afraid to do it as it is so cold. i thought it was too cold. they are still chitting but are looking very shriveled up

[Hazel at the Hill]

Certainly for us it's too cold outside, Lesley - the soil temp at the Hill was just 2 degrees a couple of weekends ago, and we've had plenty of snow and temps down to -5deg overnight since then.

My potatoes are on the windowsill chitting still - they do go a bit shrivelly, but I don't think they are any the worse for it.

I smelt Spring in the air today, and so I'm thinking of letting the soil warm for a week or so, and maybe get them in the second week of April. This is miles later than usual for me, but nature generally knows what it's doing, I think, so I won't worry about it.

[rustylady]

No, mine are still on the kitchen windowsill. If yours are shrivelling are they perhaps too warm?

[lesleygl]

Yes, the might be I will move them somewhere cooler.

[rita1]

i am afraid mine are in the ground, they have been dug in deep with a lot of top soil on top, i only hope they will survive, we have been lucky that we have not had any snow.

[snohare]

If they are shrivelling up it is because they are dehydrating. Cold or warm, the cure is the same. Stick 'em in a bowl of water for a few hours and they will soon replenish their moisture levels.
(This can make a heck of a difference to viability if you have old, wizened seed tatties you need to plant. My Dad's boyhood years as the orra loon on a Deeside farm were not wasted ! )

[solway cropper]

I have 33 plants growing away happily in containers in the greenhouse. If you grow some in containers you can start them away anywhere that's frost free such as a garage or utility room and put them out when things warm up a bit. You also have the advantage of a much earlier crop.

[Hazel at the Hill]

If they are shrivelling up it is because they are dehydrating. Cold or warm, the cure is the same. Stick 'em in a bowl of water for a few hours and they will soon replenish their moisture levels.
(This can make a heck of a difference to viability if you have old, wizened seed tatties you need to plant. My Dad's boyhood years as the orra loon on a Deeside farm were not wasted ! )

Oh! Live and learn! Doing that right now!