[Lynne]

I'm just thinking ahead here. My potatoes are chitting nicely and I plan to start putting them in at Easter.

If we are still getting frosts then, as we probably will, (if not snow too) do I cover them with fleece to protect them? Or do I just leave them open to the elements?

[Hampshire Hog]

Once you have planted spuds you need to protect any growth shoots etc showing above ground from frost. You should earth up the spuds as they grow and cover with fleece or plastic or newspapers if frost is forecast. One good reason to not plant too early saves you the trouble of putting covers on and off.

Cheers HH

[dawninspain]

You plant them reasonably deep and they will take a few weeks before any shoots show above ground and you earth up as you go for a bit as HH said - so usually there isn't a problem. Easter is early this year and although its traditional to plant potatoes on Good Friday maybe its best to delay planting to 2 or 3 weeks after Easter instead especially as you aren't in the south.

See what other people think.

[gobs]

And if you still get caught out, just cut back frost bitten foliage and you'll get quick re-growth. You can't tell with the weather. Going by last year you wouldn't plant them out till end of June.

Only can go by the average for your area.

[PAH48]

Hi... well!  you've all answered some of my queeries, saves me puttin' me foot in the rhubarb ag'in  
South Staffs " where abouts Lynne?"
Bye still 'in PAH

[Lynne]

Many thanks for the advice everyone.

PAH: I'm in Perton. Its at the very end of South Staffs and within a mile of the Shropshire border.

[paintedlady]

Going by last year you wouldn't plant them out till end of June.

Last Easter (mid-late April) we had summer weather for about 3-4 weeks and a very dry spell :?   Then in mid May it rained, rained, rained .... until August.

[neil1967]

Don't mean to hi-jack the original post but also have question on the same topic would like to know do I plant all potatoes (earlies, main, etc) at the same time?

[paintedlady]

No.  Maincrop go in later.  I usually plant my maincrop about early May depending on the weather.

[PAH48]

paintedlady  No.  Maincrop go in later.   early May depending on the weather. (QUOTE)
Hi Paintedlady,
correct me if I'm wrong "most likely"  I'm sure someone said on this forum, " plant 'em all at the same time, just leave the main crop to harvest later" :?:
I've got Charlotte, PFA and Maris Piper... Help!!!
Thanks PAH.

[gobs]

Going by last year you wouldn't plant them out till end of June.

Last Easter (mid-late April) we had summer weather for about 3-4 weeks and a very dry spell :?   Then in mid May it rained, rained, rained .... until August.

We had light frost in the beginning of June and around zero temperatures.

[gobs]

I'm sure someone said on this forum, " plant 'em all at the same time, just leave the main crop to harvest later" :?:
I've got Charlotte, PFA and Maris Piper... Help!!!
Thanks PAH.

Probably I was quoting T&M planting advice. Not commonly done by folks.

[paintedlady]

Hi PAH48, well that'll teach me from thinking I could just drop a quick answer in.  I'm no potatoe expert but I plant my earlies late March-late April depending on the weather - little point if the ground is frozen!  And there's something magical about early May - it usually feels like summer is definitely on its way and no turning back (watch the headlines now - blizzards in May - all because I opened my big mouth :oops: )

Now I cheated and had a look at the information on potatoes on this site, so here is the address

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potato/potato-growing-guide.php

It goes on to say earlies take about 16 weeks until ready to harvest, maincrop 20 weeks.

[gobs]

You mean about 10 weeks for earlies, don't you? :roll:

Bad day?

[paintedlady]

:oops: must have been a smudge on my glasses.  The 0 turned into a 6