Planting potatoes when? I am confused!

[matowakan]

My potatoes are chitting nicely , i have earlies and a main crop but am confused as to when to plant them.
some say now and some say when the last frost is gone otherwise they will rot.
Can anyone help me out with some good advice please?
Thanks fiona

[jim]

Dear Fiona,

We put a few earlies in big pots in the conservatory in January for really early cropping. Otherwise they all go in on Good Friday. (A local tradition around here, like no one puts their runners in until the day after Wickham Fair - end of May. Superstition or traditional knowledge?)

Hope it's been of help,

Love and Peace
Jim

[matowakan]

Hi Jim
Thanks for that I will wait until Good Friday.
Now!!!!What about the size of the chits?Does it matter how long they are. Mine are about and inch on some?
Fiona

[Millymollymandy]

So what happens when Easter falls in March? Now isn't there a rule of thumb for when to start planting, sit down on the soil with your bare bum and if it doesn't freeze your butt off then it's planting time, or something like that?

I usually plant my spuds about 2nd week April but will be getting them in earlier this year as I'm going away. But I will prepare the trenches in advance so that the deeper down soil will have a chance to warm up.

[Big Al]

we had this debate over tea and biscuits yesterday at the allotment. Our tats are all in now and the difference between earlies and mains etc is when you pull them out. It was good friday to plant in ye olden days only because the ground was frozen and cold but now with the changing tempriture it's all to pot. If the ground is workable bung them in if that helps.

[matowakan]

Thanks for that advice,I guess it may also depend what part of the country you live in as the South is usually a little warmer than the North?
I also heard that if the groung can take a bare bum sitting on it without feeling too cold it is OK!!!!!

[Big Al]

Thanks for that advice,I guess it may also depend what part of the country you live in as the South is usually a little warmer than the North?
I also heard that if the groung can take a bare bum sitting on it without feeling too cold it is OK!!!!!

If your bum id cold then fart and it will warm the ground up a bit.....

Sorry acting my shoe size again

[matowakan]

That one made me chuckle - I suppose I could eat a load of baked beans......!!!!

[Moonwaves]

The tradition in Ireland is to plant after Patricks Day (17th March). Or at least it's supposed to be very naughty to plant before then. Or something.

[jim]

They'll still go in on Good Friday, no matter when Easter puts in an appearance. Like I said, superstition or traditional knowledge .....

Love and Peace
Jim

[MuddyWitch]

The tradition in Ireland is to plant after Patricks Day (17th March). Or at least it's supposed to be very naughty to plant before then. Or something.

'Cos if you plant 'em much earlier than that they may well fall victim to hard frosts.

T'is after St Paddy for me too, & I'm in the East Mids, so our last frosts are as late as May even with climate change, but the really hard frost are usually over by March 17th. If a hard frost is forcast I just cover any foliage with compost

MW

[Peggy Sue]

We just had our allotment newsletter and the really experienced gardeners reckon it's worth putting a row of earlies in now and the rest later, thats what we'll do.

I read somewhere time really matters with spuds they never 'catch up' like tomatoes and other stuff if planted late. Mind you we had a lovely crop last year despite having to put them in so late because of the snow, and that snow made me a bit less slap happy about there being 'no real frosts these days round here'.

[MrsD'ville mkII]

We use the scientific measure of when we finally get round to it! We need to do masses in the garden over Easter weekend - this is with Mr D'ville fresh from the osteo with tennis elbow and a bust back and me with a 3 month old babe to look after, hey ho.

[matowakan]

Thanks for all the tips,all are duly noted!
My earlies I have just done last week and planning the mains in a few weeks.
Fingers crossed.
Another stupid question!!!....How long roughly before i see anything happening with the earlies??!!

[Jandra]

Another stupid question!!!....

There's no such thing.

How long roughly before i see anything happening with the earlies??!!

... it depends. If it's nice and warm and it's somehat moist but not too wet (in short: ideal) it'll be sooner than when temperatures are on the low side.
I've never timed it, but I put mine in relatively deep (I don't earth up) and it takes a few weeks for them to make their appearance.

Where I bought my potatoes they said to put them in around mid-april (I'm in the Netherlands). But I've also hear people say they always plant them around 1 April.

Good luck,
Jandra