[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Morning all,

Would it be ok to chit my potatoes in a poly tunnel with some fleece over the top to protect from frost?

[m1ckz]

ive got mine in an unheated consevetory...a poly tunnel is much the same i guess

[mumofstig]

It really depends on how cold your tunnel gets - if they freeze then they're useless.

[DD.]

Fleece will only keep frost out for a short period of time, it does not have a heating effect. The temperature under it will eventually drop to ambient. OK for short periods, but not long term.

[Headgardener22]

They need to be kept frost free.

I put mine in the garage until they start to show shoots. Hopefully by then there will be little chance of a frost in the polytunnel.

Plant them out on Good Friday.

[DD.]

My old grandfather used to say that the Good Friday maxim was a load of rubbish as the date can vary by four weeks or so. I tend to agree with him!

It is late this year - April 18th. Subject to the weather, I hope to have planted mine 2 - 3 weeks earlier than this.

A better guide is a fixed date, like St. Patrick's day - a full month earlier this year on March 17th.

[Glosterboy]

I wish you all luck if you plan to plant your seed potatoes this year around about the 17th March. I like I'm sure numerous people here in the south will be still bailing-out their growing area albeit a garden or lottie around about that date. More rain forecasted for this coming weekend. March 2013 was the coldest since 1962. The average UK mean temperature was 2.2C. Selecting a designated planting date?? To my way of thinking planting day? It is all down to soil condition and temperature. Irrespective of what the date? 

[mumofstig]

note that DD said it was a guide - not a deadline 
It's the date I aim for as well 

[DD.]

I chose my words carefully, also said "subject to the weather" and "hope", not "will".

[JayG]

If you want to be a bit "nerdy" about it, check the soil temperature before planting - they won't grow at less than 6C (if it's borderline check the weather forecasts too.)

Over the last 10 years I've planted between 16/3 (2010) and 14/4 (2013) depending on soil conditions.

[Willow_Warren]

My planting is a balance between the weather and the time I have available!

Last year I started planting on the 08/04/13 (Lady Cristl) and finished planting on the 28/04/13 (Sarpo Mira).  I tend to plant in that order but as other will say "early" doesn't mean you plant them "earlier"...

Hannah

[Headgardener22]

I always believe that "Rules are made for the obedience of fools & the guidance of wise men". 

Good Friday means I don't try to put them in too early.

[engineer]

Just found a diary entry for 31 March last year--------Still cold, nothing planted, been snowing/windy and frosty for the last 4 weeks   

Entry for April 7th early potatoes in weather improved 

What a difference a week makes 

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Anyway, back to the subject lol....

They are in the polytunnel in a tray under a propergator lid.....

I would hope that the ambient temperature wouldnt get below zero, but i'm worried now.....

[mumofstig]

mine went down to zero when we had the hard frosts a couple of weeks ago - either bring them in overnight when frost is forecast, or wrap them in bubblewrap or old blankets.