[spiderlyn]

Great distructions on the bags... Mine were planted 14/07/10.. in bags... waiting another two weeks from said date to plant the other two varities will keep you updated on my diary..

[andy135]

I'm going to cheat! 
I've just blanched and frozen some of my first earlies, and I'll get them out of the freezer on Christmas morning. 

[mumofstig]

Another idea for cheating here
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=58474.msg686199#msg686199

funnily enough Andy you are on the linked thread saying that you were going to freeze
some 

[andy135]

Another idea for cheating here
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=58474.msg686199#msg686199

funnily enough Andy you are on the linked thread saying that you were going to freeze
some 

It just seems a safer bet to me.

[Ma Lowe]

Being extremely new to this growing of veg I have no idea about growing potatoes for Christmas but really want to give this a go.

So what are the best potatoes to grow for Christmas and where do you get them from please.

Ma x

[DD.]

You can get them from a lot of stockists on line, varieties such as Carlingford, but be warned - they are not cheap, especially when you've got postage on top. For example, £8.95 plus £3.95 post from Suttons for 2 kg. No way would I consider paying nearly £13 for a few seed spuds! Check out your local garden centre, some do stock them.

It's a bit late for the other way now, which is to plant some of your own early spuds in August, as but they need to have been lifted in June, a bit of pre-planning is required for this way!

[stephenandbeverley]

As I over bought seed potatoes I still have a load of early seed potatoes left, they have been in a shed for the past few months in a carrier bag, will they still be good enough to use?

Would rather not buy any more if I don't have to.

[mumofstig]

I have some of those, but mine have been kept deliberately at the back of the fridge, so only have tiny chits.....what are yours like?

I'll be planting mine in big tubs in a week or so and then it is fingers crossed

[DD.]

By sheer, incredible, amazing, co-incidence I posted this thread exactly a year ago. Sadly blight got them later on. 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=41910.msg493957#msg493957

[Ma Lowe]

Reading the last few posts I have just realised that we have some of the second earlies (maris peer) and the maincrop Desiree potatoe seeds left from when we planted them.
They too have been in the back of the shed lol. Wonder if these will be ok to plant out??

[DD.]

Maris Peer would be good.

It's an early type you need as you will be harvesting them as "new potatoes" if all goes well. I'm doubtful that Desiree would make good new spuds!

[Spudman]

I'm interested in growing potatoes for Christmas so I wondered if I could plant some of the earlies I have dug up last week? They are Pentland Javelins. Would I have to chit them first, or just plant them as they are?

Tks

[DD.]

Sorry, that won't work.

See this earlier post.

They need (from memory) 60 days "rest" to break the dormancy, so you have to lift very early to have them ready for mid August planting.

[Spudman]

Thanks DD, I missed that one (tried to read the thread at speed  )

[Kristen]

By sheer, incredible, amazing, co-incidence I posted this thread exactly a year ago. Sadly blight got them later on.  

I resemble that photo!

I've only threw away the spuds I bought for last Christmas which have been chitting on my office window ledge since last July - because I needed the egg boxes they were in to chit this years ... hopefully the Planting Department will be more reliable this year!

I've got a picture of them on 28-Dec - a bit too small to eat from Christmas!