[crh75]

I just had a look back at my notes and I planted my potatoes on the 2nd April last year and the 3rd April the year before.  I will not be planting them earlier than that this year, more likely later unless it starts to warm up soon.

[Paul Plots]

tempus fugit. nil desperandum ......... we will all get there in the end. 

Mine are sat sitting in the conservatory looking "pretty"....all labelled and holding promise with their slowly developing little shoots.

Some may wander over to the veg plot if I get time and it's dry enough. I have a 6' glass shower panel and shower door propped over their planting spot. (Well what else might I do with a heavy surplus shower screen at this time of year?) 

The rest will be hitting the plot eventually. 

[Plottered]

Rumours of   a white easter have made me put my planting date back for a couple more weeks at least.......that and the fact that I've only had my mains for the last 24 hours so I'm hoping the delay will help the chitting process. Every cloud has a silver and all that 

[Ema]

:/ how's the frost forecast looking from this weekend? Surely quite deep under ground the spuds will be fine?

[beaker141]

I planted mine on the 6th April last year, and then had to dash down and earth them up on the 6th May when we had a frost. (And then cut everything down around about the 6th August when everything was blight infected!)

This year can only get better, surely!

[Salmo]

I checked my soil temp today, and at 3" below the surface it was +5 C.

Pushed my thermometer down through the mud today. Just 4 C at 3 inches deep.

[Ivor Backache]

:/  Surely quite deep under ground the spuds will be fine?

Ema, imagine you are a potato: you are with your friends in a nice container in a warm but not too warm spare bedroom- someone comes in now and again and checks you are OK and suddenly it all changes. You are plunged in a dark place underground at 3 deg - your friends are all a foot away and you are expected to produce baby potatoes. But its a dream- you rub your eyes (excuse the pun) and all is well.

[Welsh Merf]

:/  Surely quite deep under ground the spuds will be fine?

Ema, imagine you are a potato: you are with your friends in a nice container in a warm but not too warm spare bedroom- someone comes in now and again and checks you are OK and suddenly it all changes. You are plunged in a dark place underground at 3 deg - your friends are all a foot away and you are expected to produce baby potatoes. But its a dream- you rub your eyes (excuse the pun) and all is well.

How I laughed! Very good analogy Ivor! 

[Armleywhite]

Apologies if i've missed it, but what would be the optimum temp soil /air temp to plant them out?

[azubah]

I'm glad I told my spuds they will have to stay in until it is warmer.
I shall wait until it feels right.
I don't know what temperature is the optimum as it might be 10 degrees air temperature in the day and -2 at night and be OK underground but too cold for foliage.
I think it also depends on your soil type. Too much wet is also bad.

[Aidy]

up ere in the sunny warm north west riviera we have an old Irish saying (that comes out every year when someone ask the same question)>>>>>

In with Paddy out with Billie

However>>>>>>  WE HAVE SNOW

Whats that about!!! 

So ours (apart from one mad Irish man) are still wrapped up waiting for the sunny weather.

[fatcat1955]

Yes it may well be +5 degrees but the soil is already sodden if not waterlogged at that depth and with the threat of more snow which will melt making the ground even wetter, mine will be wrapped up and cosseted for a few more week's yet.

[Chrysalis]

Not today...... an unexpected day off school because of snow and blizzards overnight.  Maybe after Easter.....

Today is the day for dreaming in front of the fire and reading a good book..

(Yes, I know there's lots to be done around the house, but I'm feeling lazy and uninspired)  I shall dram of sowing and planting and wait for Spring...

[Italian Bob.]

Spuds in could wait any longer , i figure its colder in the shed than in the ground

Risky but could wait any longer

[Rexmundi]

  I shall dram of sowing and planting and wait for Spring...

Think I'll just dram...love a good malt...cheers