Too late for xmas spuds?

[WiZeR]

I would like to plant some xmas day spuds in an old water butt that's been cut down. Is it too late? If not can someone recommend a variety? A good Roaster.

[Cutecumber]

I would say that it's much too early.

End of August into September is more likely to give you a "fresh" crop at Christmas. An early variety is more sensible than a maincrop - it's not going to give you traditional "roasters", though.

If you plant them now, you will have potatoes but you will have to store them.

I tried it once but didn't get a crop at all, by the way, so perhaps my advice should be taken with a pinch of salt!

[moggssue]

Can you use some of the potatoes growing now to plant in Sept for winter crop, or would it be best to buy fresh tubers (if you can get hold of them at that time of year)?

[shirlthegirl43]

Dr Hessayon says to keep some nice spuds from your first harvests to plant in September for Christmas spuds.

[Cutecumber]

I keep back some from my Spring crop.

You can sometimes find late ones for sale through the seed catalogues.

Disease wise, it's probably always best to buy certified seed potatoes - but for a small crop in a container it is unlikely to cause a problem using your own as long as the plants are healthy.

[Snadger]

Carlingford seem to be the ones to grow and you should be able to get them from all the leading seed merchants.

I tried Christmas Jersey Royals for last year and they are just flowering now!

[moggssue]

Well, that's another good idea you vines have given me so thank you - and to Wizer for asking the question. I'm off on a hunt through the seed merchant catalogues ...!

[noidea]

When would be the best time to buy for Xmas spuds? I was thinking about trying that too.

C

[shirlthegirl43]

Personally I am hoping to keep a few seed spuds back. If they get too wrinkly looking, they will get put into pots but if I can get them to keep till September then that's the way I will go, I will also keep a couple of smaller spuds from the first buckets to be harvested. Otherwise, I harvest my spuds and store them in a bucket of clean, dry compost - keeps the 'new spud' taste (might be totally the wrong thing to do mind you but it worked for me last year)

[SueA]

Thompson & Morgan sell potatoes to grow for Christmas but they're not 'roasters' . They deliver them late July/early August & recommend Carlingford, they have a special offer on at the moment - see link.
http://potatoes.thompson-morgan.com/

[Snadger]

Personally I am hoping to keep a few seed spuds back. If they get too wrinkly looking, they will get put into pots but if I can get them to keep till September then that's the way I will go, I will also keep a couple of smaller spuds from the first buckets to be harvested. Otherwise, I harvest my spuds and store them in a bucket of clean, dry compost - keeps the 'new spud' taste (might be totally the wrong thing to do mind you but it worked for me last year)

An old farm foreman who was my neghbour told me to use Majestic (which is a maincrop) and plant half at the corrrect time and bury the other half in a biscuit tin deep in the ground! Later in the year, say, July or August dig up the biscuit tin, take out the tubers and plant them then. This is how he got his Christmas spuds!
I have planted the Majestic tatties (which are growing well), but couldn't remember why I had bought them? (senility methinks!)

This thread has just reminded me!

Never mind, the way things are going I would have forgot where I had burried the biscuit tin anyway!

[jacob marley]

Personally I am hoping to keep a few seed spuds back. If they get too wrinkly looking, they will get put into pots but if I can get them to keep till September then that's the way I will go, I will also keep a couple of smaller spuds from the first buckets to be harvested. Otherwise, I harvest my spuds and store them in a bucket of clean, dry compost - keeps the 'new spud' taste (might be totally the wrong thing to do mind you but it worked for me last year)

Iwas told this tip by a local nursery man if you have some seed spuds left over from spring planting put them in the salad box in your fridge they will stay in the condition they in until planting he tells it works well

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks jacob - will try to explain to Madmax that they are not to be chucked out!!! He is fanatical about throwing spuds with sprouts on away!

[daisychook]

Growing potatoes for Christmas day is what started my hobby for growing veg!! I did this last year, bought T&M potatoes and planted them September (I think) We had loads ready for Christmas day, it was really nice, we had carrots I had grown and frozen earlier in the year too.

Great idea!!!
Daisy

[Alice]

Noidea, since you're in Edinburgh you can just buy some potatoes from a Scottish grower in the supermarket. Just check the bag for grown in Tayside or whatever. Svottish potatoes are disease free - that's where all the seed potatoe comes from.
I recommend Charlotte. If you plant them in September they should be OK. Worth a try.

Wizer, you're way too early for Christmas, but if you want a trial run with a good roaster try Rooster.