Earliest date for planting new potatoes

[Anton]

Advice please,
Last year was a bit disappointing for my new potatoes. I have hitherto planted them in mid-March, but after I did so last year, the three-month virtual drought hit us. I would like to plant them earlier this year so they get a bit more moisture in advance of any potential hot season. What is your experience with planting earlier than mid-March?

[Andraste]

I've never planted potatoes quite that early Anton but we have learnt that the soil temp & wetness level is most important for us to have success.

We felt we were waiting for ages one year so planted even though our instinct was that the ground was too wet & cold - we had so few spuds it was hardly worth lifting them but if we'd waited a few weeks it would have been better.

We've also had at least one year early in our growing experience when we waited because everyone else on the site said it was too early but they really could have gone in at least 2 weeks before we went ahead as the weather was good early in the year & stayed that way.

I recall reading somewhere that the ground temp reach 6 degrees C for planting spuds so that might be a useful guideline.

[bramble]

I usually plant around St Patrick's day...17th March.
I put black plastic over the soil a few weeks before to help warm up the soil.
It usually works for me as I don't have a big space to grow.
I also grow some in containers under cover until it's warmer.

[Anton]

Thanks for all this helpful advice.



P.S. Is there any way of getting replies or notifications thereoof forwarded instantly to my e-mail box

[Andraste]

I believe you can select to receive email notifications.

Go to 'user settings' (in the drop down list by your username - top right of the screen) then choose the 'notifications ' tab & make your choice

[Penellype]

I grow all my potatoes in 30 litre buckets, and I like to push the boundaries. The variety I use for earlies is Lady Christl.

For the last 3 years I have planted 2 or 3 experimental buckets of well chitted potatoes (I save my own) under a plastic cloche in mid February, 4 seed potatoes to a bucket. These have in general done ok in that they produce around 1kg small new potatoes per bucket (sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less) and are ready from early June. My main planting of Lady Christl is mid to late March depending on the weather, again in buckets, 3 seed potatoes to a bucket. These typically yield 2-2.5kg/bucket in July.

I doubt this would work as well in the ground, which would in general be colder and potentially wetter than the buckets.

[Anton]

Thanks for the advice, Penellype, and the notification tip,
Andraste

[rary]

Like bramble I cover the the soil with plastic to heat up the soil, and once soil has warmed up and you have planted you potatoes, it helps if you then cover the soil again with black permeable weed suppressant, this lets the water through but still helps retain the heat

It helps with gardening questions if you indicate your area of the country

[ameno]

If the soil isn't warm enough, then planting them early gains you nothing. They'll usually still get going and grow eventually, but it won't give you any head start.
The traditional test is to sit on the soil with your bare bottom. If it's warm enough to sit on, it's warm enough to plant potatoes.

[Andraste]

I love that traditional test - never fails to make me smile - although I think me/OH would get banned from our allotment site if we actually tried it out lol

[Anton]

Thanks for all these suggestions. I am Belgium, 20 km outside Brussels.

[Nicos]

I was buying my spuds last week ( Normandy ,France) and was told charlottes shouldn’t go in before 1st May because of late frosts.
( latest date for frosts for me have been the second week of June)…so that’s something to bear in mind.

[Nicos]

Anton - would you like to add your rough location in your signature like I’ve done?….it just gives us a heads up when sharing advice

[chickenman3]

there always bury hill under straw for frost prevention method
after planting in warm compost in a large hill.

[Anton]

Sorry Nicos. Not sure where my signature is. I'm in one of the Flemish municipalities surrounding Brussels, Belgium.

Anton