Chitting and planting potatoes

[Pieman]

Potatoes in Bags....

Hi All

I have the following chitting away....

Lady Christl
Kerrs Pink
Golden Wonder
Pink Fir Apple

Was going to get the Potato Sacks up and running today but after seeing the forecast for the south tonight (down to minus) have decided to hold fire for 24 hours.....

Question - should I plant all 4 varieties now or stage them over the next few weeks?

I also have some King Edward seed pots but haven't started any chitting as I want them for Christmas (should have a greenhouse in place for moving the bag into for these) - ideally when should I plant these ones?

Thanks

[Eyren]

I would stick them all in at once - Pink Fir Apple is a maincrop salad potato and needs a long growing season. Given the incidence of blight in recent years, the sooner they go in, the better!

Can't comment on the Christmas spuds, as I haven't tried it - sorry!

[timemellowed]

and now another question

I know you are further south than me but can I plant my tatties in bags outside even though it is still cold?

[Sanjo]

I could be completely wrong about this pieman, but I thought King Edwards were late spuds. If you want Christmas spuds I thought - again I could have dreamt this!!_ that you used earlies. ie save a couple from your harvested early crop. Two Sheds advised me last year to put a few in the salad drawer and plant them up in August. It worked for me. Had gorgeous spuds at New Year (didn't need them Christmas as everyone else fed us) I expect an expert will advise you shortly. Sanjo

[Demeter]

Not an expert by any means, but I second Sanjo.
King Edwards are a maincrop (at least I've planted them as such this year!)
And I believe Xmas spuds are normally earlies, I tried Charlotte last year

[lyndap]

My first tub has been out since 14th feb,but its wrapped in newspaper,then inside black binbag for extra protection!doing well though.earthed up again tonight as supposed to be frost!

[selfraising]

Having read lyndap post I've just been outside in my dressing gown and torch and covered the spud bags in fleece and bubblewrap. God know what the neighbours thought! I haven't got any foliage through yet but I'm taking no chances.

[DIG4VICTORY]

total newbie question..

What do you mean by Earlies and Maincrop? Just trying to pick up the GYO lingo.. I get easily confused! haha

[DIG4VICTORY]

Nice work!!

Hoping to get mine all set up tomorrow!

What a bargain!

[coreopsis]

BTW,I know potatoes are not hardy-if you let the bulbs get frozen they have nasty "sweetish"taste(bit like aspartam).If you plant the spuds in the ground,a ground frost comes and the shoots die off,do they start to grow again or not?I'm asking because this will be my 1st tattie growing year and I remember too early chitting-the advice was to knock the shoots down and start again.So?

[Pieman]

I was thinking of using King Edwards for the Xmas dinner as they are the best roasters hence keeping them for the festive period............but all comments welcomed!

[Pieman]

For info.........Wilko's are now doing "Potato Bags" - I picked up a 3 pack holding 40 litres of muck a few weeks ago - very reasonable price
h

[Iamhanuman]

maybe they had caught that frost before they reached you Edwardo?
were they from a reputable source?

also, is it about two to three weeks from planting that you should see some shoots above the soil?

[Naga]

How much was the 3 pack, I vaguely recall seeing them for about 7 quid?

[HayleyB]

I'm nervous about planting my lot yet as I reckon we still have some big frosts coming - eternal pessimist I've some second earlies that I will be using as a maincrop for storing they're Vivaldis. I've heard that true maincrops do not like potato bags as they are more prone to blight. If this isn't the case then I may get some Santes or King Eds.