How are my potatoes looking

[NatalieCooke]

I've never grown potatoes before so I've no idea what I should be doing.
They've been chitting in a cool bedroom in an egg box for a while.
Are they ready to plant out yet?
Thanks guys

[noviceveggrower]

Hi, they look fine to me. Mine look just like yours but mine are kept on top of unit in the bathroom. Kids are under strict instruction that they can look but not touch.
Like you mine are in egg boxes.
Are they firsts, seconds or main crop?
I hope to get mine in pretty soon. Have nearly dug the area over that they are going in. I hope to have them in by the end of the month and if they forecast any bad weather I will just fleece them up to keep them snug.

[Bigmallly]

They should be able to go in anytime soon, once they start showing there leaves I would imagine your last frost will have gone although as we all know, there are no guarantees so keep an eye on the forecast and just cover them over with soil. I have some in builders bags at the mo & I just keep them covered over with leaves.

[NatalieCooke]

Thanks for the fast reply.
I wasn't sure if they should already in planted out.
I don't know if they are first, second or main it doesn't say on the pack.
They are called Vivaldi.

[Bigmallly]

Vivaldi are 2nd earlies so should be ready to pick in around 16 weeks but can be left in longer for larger spuds.

[noviceveggrower]

You planting them in the ground or pots?

[NatalieCooke]

We haven't got the ground ready yet so they'll have to go in potato bags.

[noviceveggrower]

I used them last year. Did pretty well with them. Think the secret is keeping them well watered.

[Kristen]

If you are able to bring the bags in to somewhere frost free then they can be planted at any time, the chitting potatoes are advanced enough (which will speed up the growing process a bit, but you can plant potatoes that have not chitted - they just take a little longer to mature as they don't have the benefit of the kickstart from chitting).

Once their leaves are above the soil you need to keep them frost free - but that will give you a week or two, from planting, before that happens (depending on how warm you keep them )

I put 3 tubers in each bag - although depends a bit ont he size of the bag of course.

[sparrow100]

I've had 3 in a bag since the end of Feb. They are now near the top of the bag and will get another earthing up with compost and then go in and out on my balcony for a while before finally migrating to the plot blowaway in mid-/end-April to finish growing in the sunshine. The ones destined for the ground will go in in a couple of weeks so I don't need to bother to protect them from frost as I can't get there that easily.