[puffinstuff]

Hi folks,
I'd like to sow some 1st and 2nd earlies.  How soon can I get them in.  I live in the south east and I am planning to sow in builders bags with a combination of rotted manure and industrial compost.  Do you think this medium will be okay?

All advice appreciated.

[RookieJim]

Hi Puff,

I assume you are referring to potatoes?

I'd hold off planting them for a good while yet, mid to late March seems to be the norm, even as south as you are.

I have a friend that plants spuds in builders bags in his garden and he has good results. Although the cost of filling the bags can be prohibitive.

Jim

[BabbyAnn]

The rotted manure and compost should be fine (I'm not sure what "industrial compost" is, sorry - or do you mean commercial?) - maybe some sharp sand too for drainage.

How soon can I get them in.  I live in the south east

Believe it or not, you can get them in the soil now but they won't grow and there is a risk that winter can get a lot colder and tubers die when frozen.  Usually from about mid-March but again, depends on the weather and soil temperature - sometimes it is deceivingly mild by then, other times like last year when winter  just kept on going right through to May.

[Muls]

Hoping it won't be like last year BabbyAnn. fingers crossed for a nice warm pleasant spring.

[mumofstig]

I always aim to plant about st Patrick's day 17th March, weather allowing........

[puffinstuff]

Hi,
Sorry babyann I meant commercial compost.  Do I put the first and second earlies  in at the same time.  What time is best to start main crop if the above don't go in until march?

[DD.]

Earlies, second earlies and lates (maincrop) don't refer to the planting time, but the duration taken to mature.

Generally you start planting and carry on until you're done!

[puffinstuff]

Thank you all.  I think I'll follow the advice for planting from St. Paddy's day.  As I hail from there remembering shouldn't be difficult!!!

[m1ckz]

last week i put a couple of seed potatoes in pots in the cold greenhouse////just to see what happened

[Baldy]

Last year I put a few first earlies (Red Duke of York) in around about now in some large containers in a cold GH.
I got a first crop about 2 weeks earlier than their siblings that went in at the allotment at the end of first week of March - but the crop wasn't as big - whether that was due to going in early or being placed in containers I couldn't say.
I will probably wait a couple of weeks then plant a few of my Lady Christl in the GH to see how they do.
I'm also cutiting back on the amount of space I givce over to spuds at my plot so might as well put a few in very early in the GH.

Cheers,
Balders

[Nikkithefoot]

I usually put some in a bag in the cold greenhouse. Smaller crop, but so worth it for that extra early harvest of new spuds.

Got my spuds today and they are chitting away on the windowsill as I type

[Yorkie]

Last year I put a few first earlies (Red Duke of York) in around about now in some large containers in a cold GH.
I got a first crop about 2 weeks earlier than their siblings that went in at the allotment at the end of first week of March - but the crop wasn't as big - whether that was due to going in early or being placed in containers I couldn't say.I will probably wait a couple of weeks then plant a few of my Lady Christl in the GH to see how they do.
I'm also cutiting back on the amount of space I givce over to spuds at my plot so might as well put a few in very early in the GH.

Cheers,
Balders

Crops in containers are almost always smaller per seed tuber than those in the open ground.

[Growster...]

We grew some Lady Christle (3 per big pot), in the greenhouse last year, and they cropped earlier as everyone said here!

But we also replanted the halms, and got the same amount again a couple of months later, when they were outside!

[Goosegirl]

Ah - I have often wondered if you could replant the hauls after digging up your first decent-sized pots so the tiny tubers left on the haulms have a chance to grow. Worth a try.

[Plot_29@_Lady_Mary]

Ah - I have often wondered if you could replant the hauls after digging up your first decent-sized pots so the tiny tubers left on the haulms have a chance to grow. Worth a try.

Wow! Now this really interesting. Will certainly give this method a go!