Forum home› Fruit & veg

Potatoes

mardathamardatha Posts: 28
in Fruit & veg

How long can I leave it to plant early tatties? I'm a lot later than most of you but was going to start them now - however the forecast is freezing temps and snow next week so am I best to leave it a bit longer? I don't really want maincrop if I can help it, maybe second earlies.

«1

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    Early potatoes can certainly go in now. They will be underground and unaffected by bad weather. It's just that they are traditionally planted about Easter, and it was early this year.



    I'm not sure what you mean by wanting second earlies not maincrop. They are different varieties. Have you bought the seed potatoes; and what variety are they?
  • mardathamardatha Posts: 28

    Not got any yet, can't grow first earlies here as the season is too short, neighbours all told me to grow second earlies or maincrop Welshonion image

  • Lupin 1Lupin 1 Posts: 8,916

    mardatha are you in the UK ?

    I grow spuds in sacks and can put them into GH if frost is due, mine were planted 18th March and are now outside and growing well. 

    I don't understand what you said about 1st earlies they take the shortest growing time, so even if you started them later they would crop the quickest. 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,723

    I planted mine in sacks in the polytunnel and they're now about 18" tall. I topped up the bags at the weekend and now they need topping up again.

    Devon.
  • GWRSGWRS Posts: 8,161

    Mardatha I wonder where you are , with your nasty weather ?

    Certainly ok to put potatoes in up to end of May 

    got 1st , 2nd earlier in and just put in main crop in allottment , have 2 potatoes sacks in greenhouse , use these for Village show , will put them outside next month image

  • Woodgreen wonderboyWoodgreen wonderboy Posts: 2,322

    I haven't room for lots of pots. so grow them in pots if you get my drift?

  • mardathamardatha Posts: 28

    Just going by what the neighbours in the village told me when we moved here 30 years ago KEF. My neighbour puts his in in mid-May and that always seems to me too late to me. I don't want to be them in tubs or sacks as have a section of the garden ready for them  image

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ;

     

     

     

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114
    Where are you??



    Early potatoes are getting ready for lifting in May.



    If you can protect them from the shoots above ground being frosted you can certainly plant them earlier.
  • mardathamardatha Posts: 28

    I'm at 1000ft in the southern uplands image Frost free date here is 1st June.

  • BoaterBoater Posts: 241

    Er, the avatar with Saltire and "alba" underneath (shouldn't that be capitalized?) provide a clue as to location - UK north of the border.

    First time I've done spuds, I'd have to double check the varieties, all early or 2nd early. Some I planted mid-march the others 2 weeks later, the mid March ones are just showing some leaves, no sign of the others yet so based on KEFs results it probably is true that the season is shorter further north (where are you KEF?). I'm in Dumbarton, so virtually sea level but slightly further north. I have no idea why you can't just plant earlies a bit later and harvest them later, but local advice is generally worth heeding.

    There is no guaranteed frost free date, try using cloches or horticultural fleece once the leaves come up to protect from frost - the ground shouldn't freeze deeply enough now to damage the tubers but I'm sure the greenery will be vulnerable.

    I think 2nd earlies are better if chitted before planting, unless you have access to ready chitted spuds it will be another couple of weeks before you are ready to plant so best to get on it ASAP!

Sign In or Register to comment.