[rutters]

I had a go at growing Potatoes last year with no great success but this year I thought I'd do it properly.

I think that my problem is that my soil is too heavy so are there any potatoes that don't mind these conditions?

What are the most dependable types?

What's all this about 1st and 2nd earlies and 1st and 2nd maincrop? is it so you can have a series of crops? Do they have different planting times?

cheers

[philskin]

hello welcome ,im pretty sure all the spuds go in at the same time it just takes longer for maincrop than earlies , and as for clay soils dig plenty of compost in to it helps break it down ,but someone more experienced will be here shortly

[Ice]

I've got clay soil too and I dig in old compost from pots and seed trays, rotted manure and sharp sand. 

[rutters]

thank you ..do you know when they go in?

cheers

[Salmo]

Earlies give those beautiful new potatoes in June and July. Second earlies and main crop follow on from them.

If you entered in your profile where you live we could advise you on planting times. As a rough guide plant them when the soil has warmed up, end of March/early April. You can either plant them all at the same time and they will be ready top dig in order of earliness, or, if you want really early new potatoes, put the earlies in a little earlier. When early potatoes have flowers they are ready to dig. Better to have the soil warm and be a little late than plant into cold soil. Your clay soil will not warm up quickly.

Any of the seed potatoes in the shops are OK. But some now and put them in a cool but frostfree place with plenty of light. The will produce chits and store like this until the soil is right.

[rutters]

great post..thanks

btw I'm in Middlesbrough, N.E. England