[fatbelly]

Hi with the B word close to where I live, I was thinking of planting my Maincrop Spuds at the same time as I plant my 1st Earlies (Mid March). Thus getting a crop ready to lift in a couple of weeks from now & hopefully lessening the change of the B word affecting my spuds.

Would this work ? Do maincrops need more of the 'summer' weather to mature?

I know next season is a long way to go but I have almost given up of some of this season due to the constant & persistent rain & thinking about next year gives me some cheer  .

[m1ckz]

to be honest   i think   WHERE ALL DOOMED

[mumofstig]

Hi with the B word close to where I live, I was thinking of planting my Maincrop Spuds at the same time as I plant my 1st Earlies (Mid March).

I always do It's common practise.

[Stevens706]

Me too, always plant at the same time, just takes a couple of days to plant the all earlies and lates, the name (earlies) only refers to how quick they grow to maturity.

[arugula]

Hi with the B word close to where I live, I was thinking of planting my Maincrop Spuds at the same time as I plant my 1st Earlies (Mid March).

I always do It's common practise.

Ditto.

[fatbelly]

Thanks to all for the replies.
Next March all my Spuds will go in at the same time.

Although this season my Charlotte 2nd Earlies which have now been in 16 weeks are only just coming to any sort of size but with a below average yeild & my 1st Earlies which had be in 15 weeks were all the size of a Satsuma.

[grinling]

going to plant my earlies next year under black matting to save earthing up.

[Kirpi]

Would the black matting help in stopping blight from reaching the tubers I wonder?

I think I got away with it getting to my potatoes this year by using straw and mowings as earthing up as opposed to soil ridges; worked for me.

[Salmo]

Many organic commercial growers grow second earlies instead of maincrop so that they bulk up before blight strikes. Most of them keep OK.