[A Reyt Tayty]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Quote from RHS website.

Seed tubers of potatoes should be planted around late March for first earlies, early to mid-April for second earlies and mid- to late April for maincrops. This varies slightly depending on where you are in the country.

Seems we all have different ideas.

I remember when I was a nipper, the local farmer had "Tayty picking week" in mid October, which would mean he left off planting seed until around May. Go figure.

[goodtogrow]

I grow Desiree every year, some from saved seed, and put them in now cos they're chitting, unlike bought seed, which has growth retardant sprayed on it to delay chitting, I think.

I also always grow them on the flat, using a bulb planter, so only about 100mm deep, and, what some people say is really weird, I don't earth them up later.  Instead I spread mulch along the rows, after having hoed them once or twice.

The idea of earthing them up to get a bigger crop only holds true if the soil is rich enough to support a bigger crop and there's enough water too.  I don't put barrowloads of manure in, and I never water, so I take whatever the soil is capable of giving, which is less than those who really put the work in, but one whole lot easier!