Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi, as a first timer i saw an ad for christmas potatoes and hey presto before i knew what i was doing in they went. Now i'm thinking ( a bit late i know but enthusiasms not a bad thing really ) that maybe i need to protect them or something. Can anybody help with a bit of advice pleease?
raine

Well I hope its not too late raine, but I don't know, cos we've just put ours in as well!

Just gonna keep topping them up with compost as they grow (in their 'recycling boxes') and keep them fed & watered - then when it gets colder move them under cover at night.

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

See now I'm really worried Manda 'cos i just planted them in the ground EEK!. Have I just blown my chances of christmas spuds or can anyone help an embarrassed newbie?
Raine

There are previous threads on here talking about Xmas spuds (I've started some!) but they all are for spuds in some sort of container, bucket whatever. So I'm not sure what to suggest raine, but the tops of the spud plants have to be protected from frost.

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

Raine,
I don't know as I'm certainly know expert, but if you have planted them recently, is there any possibility of digging them up very carefully and replanting in containers?

Hi Raine,

you should be OK if you bought them as second cropping spuds. They take around 10-12 weeks to mature (give or take) so all you'll need to do is cover them over with some fleece to keep the frost out & you should be OK. I haven't put mine in yet but I grow them in pots in the greenhouse so I can afford to be a bit late.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Did you buy some spuds Nick or are they home-grown?

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

They are some of the smaller earlies I lifted this year. I found a row of Charlotte that I didn't know I'd planted as well !

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Hah! thats age creeping up on you!

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

thanks very much for all your comments- especially as no-one called me a daft so-and so! I think i'll go with the fleece idea and who knows i might just start a trend! I'll keep you all posted so keep your fingers crossed.
Raine

Never having grown them, and asuming they are earthed up would it not be advantageous to pack straw around them and fill the trenches with straw before adding fleece? Seems to work in eskimo's wellies !

Just a thought!

Mine are in the ground and flying planted last week of July will be
covering with fleece once the frosts start. Will watering them soon
to get some bulk into the tubas.

I think I planted mine to early the greenier is already spilling over the bucket should I start again.

What variety did you plant Diana. Some potato foliage is taller than others. Don't throw them out but maybe plant a variety specifically specified for christmas like Carlingford.

Hi everyone - for those of you who havent had chance to look at, the following threads may be of use regarding christmas potatoes - they are in on the plot, vegging out then confused re xmas tatties, xmas potatoes, spuds in a barrel and potatoes for next year. Lots of useful advice! dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

Not sure what I planted Bramble but have decided to plant another one and take your advice and get some carlingford. They are saying we may get a frost up here in the highlands tonight so will have to put them inside already.

I've just checked on mine in containers to find that a lot of the leaves, and stems were wilted, yellow and dried up, so have cut off all the offending leafage and fingers crossed! dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things