[dougsta]

The answer will obviously be different up and down the country but I thought it might be interesting to see when people are planting.
I put some of my first earlies in 21st March last year but I reckon I'll be lucky to hit that date this year due to a much colder winter and these cold winds we've had for the last week. Nearest weather station (Benson) recorded -5.2C last night.

[aelf]

I'm thinking Easter now.

[JayG]

It's a difficult start to the year, no doubt about that!

Trouble is, nothing grows much if at all with maximum daily temperatures of about 4-5C (which is what we've been having here for a few days and not much improvement forecast for the rest of the week).

As for night temperatures, recent frosts of about -4C mean a pretty hard time for anything in the ground not designed to withstand it (that's assuming the soil thaws out enough during the day to actually be able to plant anything!)

My spuds were planted on 23rd March last year, which is round about the usual time for most folk, so no need to panic yet (slight hint of nervousness perhaps?) 

[HugglescoteGrower]

I'm away at Easter. ideally I would like them in before I go, but again looking at the state of the ground and the weather we have had lately it may be the weekend after. The ground is covered and the last few days there has been a noticeable change in the weather, so maybe still a chance. I shall use the holes in a trench method discussed on here in recent weeks i think, backfilling the trench in lieu of the first earthing up. That sounds a decent suggestion.

I'm doing four rows of first earlies so may try two rows the weekend before easter under cloches, and two the weekend after, then successional planting of second earlies, main whites and main reds.

[Slowgrind]

Middle to end of this month for me. I will keep an eye on the temps. If it's looking grim at the end of the month I may delay for a week and then go for it using cloches! I only plant a few earlies and second earlies. I also have  some pink fir apple pot's. just for novelty. We usually have the swallows back by about the 18th/22nd of April and I'll risk even the most tender plants out by that time.

[bigben]

We have had so many frosts in Sheffield I think I will leave it at least a couple more weeks maybe until the start of April. I am planning on planting 120 seed spuds, so would struggle to cover or look after them if it did turn cold once they came up.

[Puenktchen]

Hi

I plan for the last week in March. As the monthly outlook in the bbc weather centre says a trend to milder weather at the end of the month, I still have hope.

But -5 degrees this morning was not very promising  .

[Yabba]

Mine won't go in until mid/end april as the bed is usually to waterlogged until then.

¥

[Kristen]

Blimey! Outdoor spuds going in that soon ... I must have lost track of time ... so my Greenhouse Spuds (in Tubs / spud-bags) should be going in NOW! - right?

[mumofstig]

o yes the outdoor ones can go in on St Patrick's day(17th march), in a normal year, so your greenhouse ones should definitely be in by now

[diggerjoe]

neighbour at the allotment  had dug his trenches  and what a sight they were every one the same - he said that the frost was over 4inches down on saturday biuty hes ready to plant on 17th. I will planting mine end March if it stays this cold.

[mumofstig]

Think I may cover the spud bed with some plastic to warm it up a bit

[plum crumble]

On Sunday, the fork bounced when I tried to introduce it to the good earth!

[DD.]

Easy answer.

They'll go in when I'm ready and not a day before.

[andtiggertoo]

I'll be planting all mine over the easter holidays. have just thrown a generous helping of pelleted chicken manure on the bed they'll be going in.