Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

gaztop_3

Spuds are really easy to grow. Find a variety you like the tastes of at the supermarket, put them in the ground (or planter) about three to six inches deep in the spring and watch them grow! That's all I do.

hipomad

thankyou for your replies.
Ras i have taken your advice and potatoes will be with me soon. Will i need to chit them first(if so how please) or put them straight in container,thanks

goldfinch68

You should chit them first. The best way to do this is to save old egg boxes to put them in so that they are separated from each other. Keep them in a shed or somewhere dark so that they can't turn green in the light. Do this six weeks before its time to plant them out. You should soon start to see the little shoots appearing. If you are growing earlies, leave all the shoots on, for maincrop large potatoes, rub all but the 3 strongest shoots off. Chitting promotes early growth. Good luck. You will be amazed when you harvest them and see how many potatoes you have per seed potato!

kittiej

Hello Everyone

Has anyone else put any potatoes in yet?

I put some in about 3 weeks ago and really thought they were going to fail due to the frosts, but upon inspection today they have started growing :j

I'm doing the no-dig method btw and growing them under black polythene.

RAS

if they are up, you need to get a record of your latest frost date and make sure that you keep tabs in things.

Our "official" last frost date is May 17 but I keep an eye on things.

As an absolute basic, I make sure that any potato sprouts appearing above soil level are covered up by earthing new soil round them every week.

A few years ago this paid off handsomely because I picked up a warning about a very late frost (May 29) and had very little to do to protect the crops.

other folk has brown tatties for weeks, which grew out eventually but reduced the eventual harvest somewhat.

kittiej

Thanks RAS

I was thinking of covering them with mulch anyway so fingers crossed they'll be OK.

I just thought I'd experiment seeing as though this is only my second year of growing veg. I just planted 6 pots to see.

RAS

Well worth it but keep a few old newspapers or mags handy to pop over the rows if frost is predicted.

My first tats are in as well.

TrulyMadly

My potatoes are not in yet - we're in the North East. For the last few years I have put them in around Easter time, so a few more weeks before I start.

However I was thinking about putting them under Terram for the first time.No sunlight can penetrate but the rain can get through. Has anyone else tried this?

Top_Banana_2

How can you put newspaper or magazines over them if they are an inch or two high?

angelavdavis

My 1st lot went in a month ago and I am just about to put the next lot in. The 1st lot are just sprouting through the soil so need covering. They are in a sheltered part of the garden so should be OK.