So the question I was once asked by a farmer who is one of our patients.... why are you planting main's so early when you are going to store them?
I was like you sowing in March.
I now follow our local farmers. Mains go in first weekend of May, my earlys 2nd weekend of April.
Done this about 4 years now and always get very good crops, others on site are moaning coz they have lost a good few due to more than average raInfall. They will not learn!
That's interesting Aidy. I have always followed the advice given by the late Joe Maiden, who used to have a radio show on Radio Leeds, and whose book Grow with Joe is an excellent one. He recommended planting all types of potatoes at the same time, 1st earlies, 2nd earlies, early maincrop, maincrop and salad. His rationale was that early potatoes take approximately 12 weeks, second earlies 16 weeks, early maincrop take until August and maincrop until September.
I follow this method, usually planting mid April here in Yorkshire and it works well for me.