planting potatoes

[4390evans]

Do you think planting potatoes seeds at the beginning of jan makes any difference than planting at the end?

I planted some last year but when I dug them up some were rotted. (they were just old ones from the supermarket)

I think I might sow some at the end of January (payday) anyone got any tips and advice for a novice?

[chris]

Wait until mid-late march to sow them would be my tip..


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[Noosner]

I'd wait until March to plant them, too. If you want, you can start chitting them (putting them in old eggboxes or on newspaper in a windowsill in plenty of light to let them start developing shoots). I do this. It isn't strictly necessary, but it's good to see things starting to grow.

[WPG]

I normally plant them in March too, at the earliest. Last year I didn't plant any till 7th April, due to the late snow.As Noosner says, it's fine to start chitting them in January though.

You mentioned using supermarket potatoes Evans. I tried planting a few of those last year too, and they just went scabby and inedible. Much better to stick with seed potatoes from the garden centre.

[Thelma Sanders]

If you buy from somewhere like Wilkinson, the seed potatoes are only a little dearer than supermarket spuds

[polc1410]

Are you in New Herrington, Sunderland or New Herrington somewhere else?

If the shoots get frosted they will die. If the tubers are big enough they will usually grow new shoots and be fine. But if the tuber is too small or the whole spud gets damaged or the soil is very wet and rots the spud then you aren't going to win any prizes!

Up here that means you don't want shoots above ground in April or possibly early May.

I'd buy some seeds in January (pay day will be fine) while you have choice of seed, store them cool and dark or chit them in light and then plant them mid March and they'll be popping above ground in May. Trying anything earlier I'd be trying in bags against a heated house wall with fleece over or in a greenhouse etc.

[wbmkk]

If you want, you can start chitting them (putting them in old eggboxes or on newspaper in a windowsill in plenty of light to let them start developing shoots). I do this. It isn't strictly necessary, but it's good to see things starting to grow.

I got my first seed potatoes the other day, to put into my new allotment.

I put them on large egg trays in our sun-lounge. This is not a modern type of conservatory, with double glazing but more of a single glazed outbuilding, with a thin roof. Is has no heat. If the frost comes, I am not too sure whether it offers much protection. Maybe I should buy a thermometer. I suppose it would be the same as in my unheated greenhouse.

I never really thought about it before, but wouldn't a frost kill off any wee chitted shoots.

I have nowhere else really suitable for several trays of spuds.

Could I throw over a layer of bubblewrap, once the eyes start to sprout, if there is frost due ?

[Thelma Sanders]

Keep an eye on local forecasts - anything lower than, say 5C - bring them indoors over night - or longer if the forecast is for a prolonged period of cold.

If the shoots get too long you can always rub them off and start again, but if the tubers get frosted then they won't grow!

[Two_Sheds]

planting potatoes seeds at the beginning of jan ...I planted some last year but when I dug them up some were rotted.

That's because you planted them in the wet & cold. They are almost tropical plants: they don't tolerate cold at all

[Bigmallly]

If frost gets the foliage, it will knock them back but shouldn't kill them. A rule of thumb I use for planting out tatties is Good Friday.

[Jeanied]

Isn't Good Friday really late this year? Not that I am complaining - lots to clear before then!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Mine won't be in the ground before the third week in April. The further north you go, the later the last frost.

[Bigmallly]

Isn't Good Friday really late this year? Not that I am complaining - lots to clear before then!

18th April Jeanied...........gives me a bit of extra time to prepare.

[Dorothy rouse]

18th April Jeanied...........gives me a bit of extra time to prepare.

18th April! Brilliant, husbands birthday, so he can help plant tatties, Good Friday, so day off! Excellent!

[rary]

cover your soil with polythene to allow your soil to heat up and when you plant your potatoes recover and cut some slits in the poly. to allow rain water to get through. Or cover your ground with weed suppressant membrane and when soil heats up cut slits in membrane and plant potatoes through the slits