[emma178]

Hi all,

Just wondered when people were going to get their potatoes in?  I perhaps jumped the gun a bit and planted my earliers last week.  Since I plant them in containers and I quickly got them all inside last night due to the frost!

Just wondered when everyone else was going to get their potatoes out?  Since I live in Winchester hopefully I have not jumped the gun too early and will not be lugging potatoes in and out of the house too often. 

Or maybe I should invest in some fleece  :blink:

Thanks

[Ice]

I'll be putting mine out at the beginning of April.  I would keep lugging them rather than risking frost damage which will kill them dead. 

[DD.]

You've no need to worry about overnight frosts until the shoots show.

You'll probably be OK down south, a couple more weeks for me up here. Won't hurt to have something to throw over them for the possible late frosts.

[Ma and Pa Snip]

Hi Emma

We're not that far from you and planted a couple of containers a couple of days ago.
Did a couple more containers today.

Ours will all stay in the greenhouse for now.

I'd carrying on 'lugging in' if I were you,  especially after last nights frost. Even if they haven't sprouted the container soil will get damn cold.

[Aunt Sally]

The winter has been very cold and sunless this season.  If you plant your potatoes too early you risk planting them into cold wet soil which they will not enjoy and they may even rot away before the soil warms up enough.  Container grown potatoes can be artificially kept warm by covering or moving into greenhouse over night.

[emma178]

Thanks.  

I wouldn't have risked it but they chitted so fast that they were 3-4" and looking very ready to be planted by practically sprouting.  Also getting difficult not to damage them when they get that long.  I have learned my lesson about ensuring they stay in a dark place until its chitting time and not leaving the box slightly open.

I didn't put out the second earlies (even though they look just as ready) to be sure of some crop if the frost gets them.

I usually plant early, but mid march was very optimistic even for me.  Hopefully some make it and the mild weather continues.

Good tip about greenhouse/inside protection.  I have a shed with a window that gets quite toasty I will make room for them in there for a while.  And maybe invest in a couple more tubers to be on the safe side incase of rot

[Aunt Sally]

They don't need light after planting until their shoots get near the soil surface.

[drmoonshine]

ok ive just put mine in 4 rows of 4. do you think maybe i would benifit from getting some bubble wrap from work and pegging it down ontop of the ground where i planted and keep checking from time to time for shoots

i guess bubble wrap will keep moisture in and frost off and also heat things up?

win? win? win?

sorry for the post hijeck emma. ive planted mine now i got mine from b and q cheap they needed chitting right away so that i did and there ready to go out so thought it best to get them in the ground

[Aunt Sally]

I wouldn't worry.  It won't affect the temperature at potato depth.

[emma178]

Hijack away.  Glad I am not alone in early planting.  Fingers crossed for both of us

[catmint]

planted mine today, covered with fleece. Hopefully the full moon can give them some magic power.

[azubah]

I've put mine in too. It is a bit early, but I have never lost a crop due to frost as yet...No I tell a lie...I did leave it too late digging them up a year last November and lost a couple of rows...but that was due to winter, not spring frosts.

[lightyears]

done all of mine today, as i always do this date every year, ive not had a problem for 4 seasons and just keep an eye out for frost and cover any shoots that may be exposed. 1 row earlys, 3 rows cara,4 rows pink fir apple. im late on my site btw.

[arugula]

See this recent thread too:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=73244.msg834331#msg834331

[Zippy]

Planting potatoes in a full moon not a good idea as they are an underground harvest plant not top growth. Best time for spuds is when the moon is waning.