Yawn, sorry, one more spud question

[bario1]

Hi, I know the forum is rife with questions about spuds, but... mine have just arrived from T&M, should I bother to chit them, or just bung em in now, as its the traditional weekend for planting? Which will give me better results? I'm not too fussed about how early they're ready.

I finished my epic cold frame project today. So chuffed! Will post a picture tomorrow when I can be bothered to get the laptop out.

Cheers!

[Likac66]

Well, I know that Easter weekend is the tradition, but there are two problems with that this year:
1) Easter is early this year - about as early as it can be.
2) The weather is untraditionally cold.

I would say set them out to chit and consider planting in a couple of weeks if the weather has warmed up. You won't be losing time as they will begin to chit. If you put them underground now they are likely to sulk in the cold weather and not do anything. Worse case scenario, they will rot. So by leaving them out to chit you will probably gain in the long run.

As I'm sitting here typing this, I know it all makes sense, but I'll admit I'm so impatient about getting mine in as well, but I will follow my own advice! LOL

[alldigging]

Plant when soil is 6'c for 3 consecutive days at depth of 4". According to joy larkcom

[Martin H]

According to Charles Dowding, potatoes grow better when the moon is waning, something to do with the tides apparently. So either plant before the 11th April or wait until the next full moon on 25th April?

[bario1]

You're probably right Likac66, a sunny Saturday after all this dismal weather has just made me really impatient to be DOING something. Not sure i can wait another month for the next full moon though, isn't the end of April a bit late to be putting in first earlies?

Happy Easter one and all!

[Aberdeenplotter]

isn't the end of April a bit late to be putting in first earlies?

Nope, they will be ready in about 10 weeks after planting. Although I'm intrigued by this planting by the moon stuff, I've never followed it although I do read the threads here with interest. If your soil is right, i.e not wet and cloggy and the weather forecast isn't too bad then plant, otherwise wait till the conditions are right. There is no need to panic

[Two_Sheds]

its the traditional weekend for planting?

But do you know why it's traditional? It's because the working man only used to get the religious days off from his toil, it's nothing to do with the actual date of the month. Now that we have more leisure time, we can choose a more suitable time to plant, ie when it's warm enough

isn't the end of April a bit late to be putting in first earlies?

"early" doesn't mean you have to plant them early (in the year). It actually means "quick", ie quicker to mature.
eg, Early peas are quicker than maincrop, whatever time of year you put them in. You can put early peas in at the end of the season, so they crop before the frosts come