Frost on Potatoes

[LolaLou]

Hello - I have a few of my early (and don't laugh, one of my over-excited main crop plants) potato leaves just poking through the ground - I earthed them up two weeks ago but they are having a good growth spout again - a couple of the leaves are a tiny bit wilted which I am assuming is frost nip but we are forecast more 'possible' frost on Tues night - should I earth them up again (they are quite large mounds already) or will a bit of frost nip not effect them too much? Any help is, as always, much appreciated

[HeyWayne]

I always cover all foliage until frosts have passed.

Oddly enough, I've just posted to say that mine are not showing at all - which I'm semi happy about.

[LolaLou]

It was your post that made me start worrying about my sprigs of green! I planted mine way too early (but I had mini plants starting to grow instead of sprouts so had to get them in.....erm, 7 March....which is why they are earthed up so tall, to keep them covered!!). Everyone at our allotment is in the same situation....hmmm...maybe I'll go down tomorrow evening and fleece them just in case. What a pain frost can be in the spring!

[womble]

Look at it this way, your plants are growing strongly and you've got the jump on everyone else, your potatoes will have maximum time to grow before blight hits, what with all the earthing up you are going to have to do and the extended season.... slugs not withstanding, you should get a huge crop.

Just feed, feed, feed them, throw anything you have at them and they should repay your effort.

Here's hoping for you anyway, eternal optimism and all that

[Flummery]

Keep earthing up. Spuds are related to tomatoes which can root from the stem. As the potatoes are formed on the ends of roots I have always assumed that the more root you can encourage, the better your yield. Or maybe I dreamed that!

[Alison]

My earlies are through but they're in the polytunnel so have some protection but I'd be inclined to earth up or fleece outside (my main crop only went in on Thursday) if there is frost forecast.

[maytreefrannie]

Whenever I've let frost get at mine, they came to nothing. I'd say cover them with fleece or some way that will protect against the frost.

[Bren In Pots]

I've got 3 in buckets that's started to show green foliage when it stops raining think i'll move them into the greenhouse it might be easier for me than covering them up.

[jacob marley]

If you can get to the plot before the sun comes up you can wash the frost of with the watering can .
They go black when frosted but it is the sun that do's the damage HONEST...jacob

[LolaLou]

Thanks for the advice all - ran to allotment yesterday evening armed with fleece and newspaper - all spuds are now covered up (except for 2nds and main who are still very cosy as they haven't been in too long and are earthed up nice and tall - I like to only do this once....because I'm lazy ). Some small frost damage on a few leaves on my 'special' extremely early main crop (Dark Red Norland) but they seem healthy enough otherwise and are wrapped up now, probably sweating to death in the daytime sun

[bramble]

Mine are all up to the top of their containers. planted them ages ago. Salad pots' Vales Emerald and another one ?
Duke of York up about 2 inches and I am keeping them earthed up just in case.

[binley100]

I've planted Rocket and they are popping up. Dumped a load of compost on them today just in case .Just little tips left showing.

[solway cropper]

Blooming typical!!!
I had to go away overnight last night and left the tatties uncovered and what happens....a sharp frost, so when I got back this afternoon I find blackened leaves. The 'Dunluce' are supposed to be able to cope with a bit of frost and make a good recovery but I'm not so sure about the 'Epicure'. Thankfully the second earlies are not really showing yet so should be OK. I think the trouble this year is that we all got so fed up of the long hard winter that we were tempted to put stuff out a bit earlier than we should have. I certainly was and I'll probably end up regretting it.

[LolaLou]

Isn't that just always the way???!! I was smugly thinking that we'd escaped the frost now.....wrong (obviously)! I had a quick look on the delight that is Jbaseedpotatoes and re Epicure they have the following:

"Epicure seed potatoes are also known as Ayrshires with them being the traditional early potato in that area. Epicure has the ability to recover quickly from a nip of frost and that is why it is so popular in early producing areas."

So I think they'll be just fine.

Minor set backs are sent to test us - just think how nice it'll be unearthing some new tatties at the end of May though.

[amymurphywatts]

frosty potatoes

Hi, can I ask about my spuds. Looks like they have been caught by frost, the leaves are blackened. Should I jst pull them up or is there a chance they will recover? Thanks