[garddwr]

I was wondering,next year when should I plant First Earlies and Second Earlies ? This year I only did maincrop and it  was a king edward variety which the man in the garden centre mislead me it wasn't a seed potatoe it was a normal eating potato :twisted: ! Could this have done any harm ?

[peapod]

what do you think a seed potato is?

A seed potato is one that you plant to GET the eating spuds, rather than chitting one from the supermarket. He didnt mislead you.

Im confused as to what you mean G

Paula

[DIGGER]

1ST on St Georges day
2nds  on St Patricks day

So i was told by a yodeller

[garddwr]

Sorry peapod I should of made it clearer.

I thought that a seed potato is one that has been grown virus free e.t.c, my local garden centre sells fruit  and veg and he sold me king edward potatoes that were for sale in the fruit and veg section rather tahn certifed seed potatoes.

Maybe he didn't mislead me ?

I just wanted to know when should I plant First Earlies and Second Earlies and maincrop ?

By doing any harm I mean could the poatoes carry viruses or dieases to the ground rather than us eating them ?

[peapod]

Sorry peapod I should of made it clearer.

I thought that a seed potato is one that has been grown virus free e.t.c, my local garden centre sells fruit  and veg and he sold me king edward potatoes that were for sale in the fruit and veg section rather tahn certifed seed potatoes.

Maybe he didn't mislead me ?

I just wanted to know when should I plant First Earlies and Second Earlies and maincrop ?

By doing any harm I mean could the poatoes carry viruses or dieases to the ground rather than us eating them ?

ah I see G, then if he sold you one from the fruit and veg section (by which I mean the ones for sale for eating) then he shouldnt have done so as a seed pot.

The reason people buy seed pots is because they should be virus free and safe to use.  Using a normal spud from the supermarket however isnt unsafe to eat, (as far as I know) but can introduce diseases into your soil

Cant answer the maincrop question, as Ive only just started spuds myself!

(and they failed :-( )

Paula

[DD.]

1ST on St Georges day
2nds  on St Patricks day

So i was told by a yodeller

Well that's a load of nonsense.

So Second earlies go in on March 17th
First Earlies over a month later on April 23rd.

That was well thought out.

My first earlies go in early April
Second Earlies Mid April
Main Crop Late April

I NEVER plant accordong to any of the Easter rules, this also is a load of rubbish IMHO as the dates for Easter vary wildly.

[Rampant_Weasel]

i plant mine around the end of march depending on the weather....this year it was the 2nd of april for all 3 types.if u have to plant a bit later they usually catch up well.

[paintedlady]

This year I planted 1st earlies at end of March, 2 weeks later 2nd earlies, maincrop went in end of April.  This arrangement worked for me this year because I was still busy with soil & other preparations and getting a bit behind with everything.  Apart from the "blizzards" at Easter and a scary frost in mid-May, there is no hard & fast rule other than watch the weather - little point planting your spuds when there is a severe frost forecast or the bed is cold & waterlogged, and don't be fooled by an early warm spring as it doesn't necessarily continue to a nice warm summer  (anyone remember the scorching hot weekend at the beginning of May, and then the temperatures tumbled a couple of weeks later)  :roll:

[DIGGER]

1ST on St Georges day
2nds  on St Patricks day

So i was told by a yodeller

Well that's a load of nonsense.

So Second earlies go in on March 17th
First Earlies over a month later on April 23rd.

That was well thought out.

My first earlies go in early April
Second Earlies Mid April
Main Crop Late April

I NEVER plant accordong to any of the Easter rules, this also is a load of rubbish IMHO as the dates for Easter vary wildly.

YOU CANT TRUST A YODDELER

[DD.]

It wouldn't have taken a great deal of working out to realise the flaw in the advice - if in fact it was ever given.

What has a yodeller got to do with planting potatoes?

garddwr asked a sensible question. I suspect he was half hoping for a sensible answer.

[DIGGER]

It wouldn't have taken a great deal of working out to realise the flaw in the advice - if in fact it was ever given.

What has a yodeller got to do with planting potatoes?

garddwr asked a sensible question. I suspect he was half hoping for a sensible answer.

HE GOT A SENSIBLE ANSWER based on what i was once told, i may have had the date the wrong way around.
I would never give advise that was purley for the fun.

A yoddler
A LIDDLE OLE LAY YE DEE

a little old lady

Do try a not be so pompous

[DD.]

It would help if you didn't talk in riddles.

Maybe you should stick to that manner of posting in the chatting forum where it is - and it appears you are more suited.

A straight question deserves a straight answer.

[DIGGER]

It would help if you didn't talk in riddles.

Maybe you should stick to that manner of posting in the chatting forum where it is - and it appears you are more suited.

A straight question deserves a straight answer.

No arguing with you, yes sir no sir

END OFF

[gobs]

Dooh! I just wanted to say roots needed planting at week moon. :shock:

Shall not say that now.

Anyhoo, I do get PMT regularly, can get really uptight about anything then, potatoes, usually spread out as said, but as Digger jokes it doesn't necessarily matter a thing. Earlies are earlies as they are faster, so even if you planted all at the same time, they shall come sooner. When the weather and you are ready will do.

[Martin]

Getting back to the original poster's question

Dr Hessayon's Vegetable and Herb Expert says:-

First Early - Plant in late March; a week or two earlier in southerly areas and a couple of weeks later in the north. Harvest in June or July.

Second Early - Plant in early to mid April and lift in July or August

Maincrop - Plant in mid to late April. Some of the tubers can be lifted in August for immediate use but potatoes for storage should be harvested in September or October.

However, they won't grow if the soil is less than 10 degrees C, so if its very cold in late March then you will need to wait. I'm told that when you see wormcasts on the soil then it's warm enough.