Planting First Early Potatoes

[SlugLobber]

I've put mine in early before, but covered them with straw, to protect from frost. As has been said, you do risk frost burn, but the tip about watering the frost before the sun gets strong makes sense, as this will raise the temperature inside the cells, too. It's how we quick thaw samples in the lab!

[Thelma Sanders]

A month before last frost is about right, but the foliage may still need covering if a late frost is forecast.

As ever, the weather determines planting and, to a lesser extent, harvesting time. Although potatoes cope with most soils and growing conditions, they will only grow well when soil temperature is at least 7C. Tubers may rot when the ground is cooler. The plants are frost-sensitive, so the shaws or foliage should only appear above the ground after the risk of frost has passed. Plant around a month before the usual last frost, and cover any emerging shaws with soil or fleece if late frost is forecast.

[bramble]

I will plant my earlies on or about St. Patrick's day.
I have done this every year and have always been lucky.

[4Shoes]

If there is any risk of frost, just keep then furred up (covered over) until last frost date past

[It never rains..it pours]

Planted earlies last year on 7th March and they were fine under a black damp course sheet. As doing earlies and seconds this year had planned try the earlies a week earlier, this weekend, but weather forecast has binned that idea. Issue now is how long will the well chitted potatoes keep ?

[Jungle Jane]

Where are your chitted potatoes? Keeping them cool away from radiators slows them down,warmth & age eventually shrivels them up into a wrinkly dehydrated mess,they’re not as good then. If they’re a bit soft don’t worry,it’s not long till March

[Jungle Jane]

When frosts forecast I cover my potato bags with a plastic tunnel cloche,it works well but where the outer leaves stuck out the cover about three leaves went black so I cut them off like it didn’t happen

[mrsbusy]

SlugLobber - I am thinking of doing that - I am going to be away until 23 March and I have quite a lot of used but cleanish straw.

[mrsbusy]

Just a quick linked question - I found my main crop seed spuds were growing sprouts despite being in a cool room in a bag inside a dark cupboard!! i whipped off the sprouts with a sharp knife and put them in my kitchen fridge - will they be all right - what do people think ?

[It never rains..it pours]

Where are your chitted potatoes? Keeping them cool away from radiators slows them down,warmth & age eventually shrivels them up into a wrinkly dehydrated mess,they’re not as good then. If they’re a bit soft don’t worry,it’s not long till March

Thanks JJ, have moved them out of conservatory to somewhere cooler

[Jonnyt]

Just a quick linked question - I found my main crop seed spuds were growing sprouts despite being in a cool room in a bag inside a dark cupboard!! i whipped off the sprouts with a sharp knife and put them in my kitchen fridge - will they be all right - what do people think ?

I think they need to be in the light to chit properly.

[chris_m]

I think they need to be in the light to chit properly.

Indeed. The ones I bought from the garden centre last year were already sprouting in mid-January so I tried to slow them down by putting them in a box in the cupboard under the stairs, the coolest, darkest place I could think of.
When I went in to read the electricity meter in early March I noticed that the box lid seemed to displaced. Upon inspection I found the box chock full of long, white shoots - up to 3 feet long unravelled.
I planted them, on the basis that they had two chances, but they didn't do very well.

This years ones weren't in the garden centre until late January and still weren't spouting, so I've chitted them and they've gone out in tubs in the greenhouse - to be dragged out when a) it gets warmer, and b) I need the greenhouse for the other stuff I intend to grow in there.

[Penellype]

When potatoes start sprouting the shoots look for light. If they are in a light place they will grow slowly into sturdy green shoots, but if you put them in the dark they will become long, thin and fragile as they try to find the light. If they use up all their energy doing this they won't produce very good plants or crops.