Potato Sacks - Newbie Question

[tom_birmingham]

Afternoon All,

Good spring day isnt it !

I bought the Charlotte, Swift and Hunter chits with 3 grow bags earlier in the year and chitted them until Mid March. They all went in their bags and there is signs of life in one of the bags, without checking which one I did make a note at home I wanted to check if this was normal, as they are all earlies will that mean their growing times are different resulting in bags growing at different speeds ? Dont laugh, it's just something I thought about and couldnt find a clear answer to it.

http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/gro...s-pid2029.html - here is where I got them from if anyone is wondering.

Thanks,

[Potstubsdustbins]

Swift are a first early very fast on a good year, as little as 8 to 10 weeks.

Hunter are a second early 16 to 18 weeks.

Charlotte are a salad potato I haven't grown it myself but am fairly sure it would be about the same as hunter.

Can I ask are your sack under cover?

[tom_birmingham]

They are in the garden, uncovered and in the sunny spot - I have watered them this week as the soil was drying out a little. Will add fertiliser when growth appears.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Don't give them to much water until the haulm appears above the compost, you would not want to rot the seed.

Have something ready to cover them should there be a cold snap.

[tom_birmingham]

Yeah will do, have my eye on the forecast. So the growing rates match the type of potato I am growing then ?

[Kristen]

Within the category First Early there are some varieties that are faster than others. Rocket and Swift spring to mind - in this instance the clue seems to be in the name!

Other than that the definition is broadly:

First earlies mature in 70-90 days.
Second earlies in 90-110 days
Maincrop varieties in 110-145 days.

However, the length of time depends on temperature too, so if yours have been outside they will be making a slower start than if they had been indoors until the sprouted - and whether they then stay in, say, a conservatory ... or go outside. Times between types will be a useful guide though - 2nd earlies, if planted on the same date, will be about 3 weeks behind 1st earlies