Christmas spuds

[chasingmytail]

Im reading on a FB page that some people grow spuds in the poly/GH for christmas I was thinking this would be nice. I assume I need the oil drum type of thing to grow in. I was wondering 1. how successful 2. best variety (pref organic) 3. when - now? 4. temp an issue or acceptable in poly.....and anything else.

I have some spuds I forgot about from last summer that are sprouting now in the shed. I am unsure of the variety but assume maris or similar. Can I plant these?

[Scoot]

I just put mine in a 40 ltr pot the other day. Had 2 left off spring which I had no room for so kept them to plant now for xmas spuds.

[Thelma Sanders]

You really need for them to be earlies or 2nds because there aren't that many weeks of growing weather left.
T&M say

Known as Christmas potatoes, second cropping varieties do not need to be chitted, are planted in early August and will be ready to harvest in approximately 11 weeks. You can either dig them up and eat them in late Autumn, or store them for your Christmas dinner! Protect them from frosts to be sure of getting a good harvest - growing them in bags or containers allows you to easily move them to a frost-free position.

[Penellype]

I've just planted 5 30 litre buckets with Charlotte (3 seed potatoes per bucket). Last year I planted 2 buckets on 5th August and harvested one at the end of November for 0.85kg new potatoes and the other around Christmas for 0.7kg new potatoes. These were grown outdoors and brought into the garage at the end of November when frost was forecast - you might get more if you grow them under cover from the start. Keep an eye on them for signs of blight.

[chasingmytail]

another daft question but I wouldnt want waxy spuds for christmas I would want a floury spud for roasts is there a chance of a maris piper style spud?

[bearded bloke]

another daft question but I wouldnt want waxy spuds for christmas I would want a floury spud for roasts is there a chance of a maris piper style spud?

Ahh, now here's the thing, the idea of xmad spuds is that they are boiled as new potatoes, roasties should be taken from your main crop harvest of this year.

[SaraJH]

another daft question but I wouldnt want waxy spuds for christmas I would want a floury spud for roasts is there a chance of a maris piper style spud?

I'm hoping that my maincrop Sarpo Mira and Sarpo Axona will store for Christmas. I'm expecting to harvest them mid October.

[bearded bloke]

Sarpo are reknowned for their storage, so you're looking good Sara

[SaraJH]

Sarpo are reknowned for their storage, so you're looking good Sara

Excellent, thanks BB, I've read that they also have good blight resistance so I'm hopeful.

chasingmytail, have you got any maincrops growing at the moment?