Grow Your Own Magazine

hello new to the allotment game am gonna be planting lots of spuds next year
do i have to "chit" them before planting and when do i plant them

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PRESTON NORTH END
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OH no not the Chitting debate again

You can chit them DD if you want, My friend never bothers & it doesn't seem to make much of a difference.

Planting times, a lot depends on your ground & when your last frost is. If it's heavy clay well you want to wait for the soill to start & warm up a bit otherwise they'll just sit there & do nowt.

I never bother till end of April for my earlies & early May for the maincrop. I know the earlies are late for a lot of folks but I grow about 6-8 tubs of them at home in the greenhouse any way so it's not a problem for me.

Some of the guys on our site plant in Febuary & then moan when the frosts catch them in march/april !

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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/

cheers nick
jason

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PRESTON NORTH END
xbox gamertag billybobs
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I guess you'll have a fairly mild clinmate up at Preston won't you Jason (my wifes folks live in Southport & they don't have too many frosts so you may get away with a bit earlier than me as my plot is nearly 600'asl but is well drained soil.

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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/

I don't know about that Nick. We are in Cheshire and always get hit with late frosts. I usually plant my potatoes around the 3rd week in April.

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[

Hi everyone! I think the weather in Southport is a little milder than upt'ere in Preston. Southport is known as the best area for home grown veg, especially lettuces etc. and there are lots of polytunnels/greenhouses etc.
Anyway - DD try the following website: http://www.seeds-for-success.co.uk or check out this member on the grapevine. Adam has produced some brill, basic info (my level!) on various topics including potatoes - good luck! dexterdog

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

Hi Dinkydoo, My father always planted his potatoes (first earlies) out as near as possible to St. Patricks Day ( 17March) and i do also. It works for me and never been caught out with frost. Only thing that stops me is usually the ground can be too wet. Otherwise fine. Good Luck whatever you decide.

dexterdog, my site is http://www.seeds-for-success.co.uk/i...s/Page3947.htm that is where my guides are

Professional growers (farmers) don't chit anything. I chitted my Charlotte in February to grow in tubs and they did great. I planted other potatoes - Nadine, Rooster - without chitting and they did great. I think you have to decide for yourself but as i see it there is no difference.

thanks guys

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PRESTON NORTH END
xbox gamertag billybobs
add me to your friends list if you got what it takes

I was watching Gardners World...as you do...and they showed that chitting actually produced more potatoes!

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Rachel

Trying to tame the mad thing called a garden and failing

My Garden Mayhem...inspirational blog for me I hope!