putting new tatties in

[Normans Mum]

Hi all

My new taters are sprouting nicely Just wondered if any Grapes near to where I live (wet, soggy Manchester)have put theirs in yet? The bed I'm proposing to use isn't too waterlogged and seems in good condition, considering the lousy wet weather we've been having

What have others done? Or... have you not started yet ?

[roitelet]

I would have thought it was still a bit early unless you can cover the shoots when they appear to protect them from frost. We can get it until about 9th May, the end of the 'Lune Rousse'

[Hazel at the Hill]

When I was at the Hill yesterday, one of the chaps had a soil thermometer and it said that the ground was just 2degrees. I'm sure that spuds like it warmer than that!

I'd look at my last frost day (for you is that mid May?) and not put them in more than a month before that.

[Nicos]

6C rings a bell from somewhere for min soil temperature for spuds.

[Hazel at the Hill]

6C rings a bell from somewhere for min soil temperature for spuds.

Thanks, Nicos, useful to know.

[Normans Mum]

Thanks, Nicos., Will leave them where they are in the relative comfort of the utility room then, for the moment.

[binley100]

I've put some Rocket tatties in today but.......they are in a bed that has been heavily mulched with allsorts and are under cardboard and when I dug down the soil didn't seem too cold .......so fingers crossed. Still have a variety of others to plant but will be waiting a while ..

[solway cropper]

If you can give them some protection you can grow some in containers for an early crop. I have 26 potato plants at various growth stages in the greenhouse. The pic shows 5 in a big plastic fish box which I planted about a month ago.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I've put some Rocket tatties in today but.......they are in a bed that has been heavily mulched with allsorts and are under cardboard and when I dug down the soil didn't seem too cold .......so fingers crossed. Still have a variety of others to plant but will be waiting a while ..

The first year at the Hill I put my rocket tatties in 24 Feb - I was incredibly lucky to get away with it! I was eating the first spuds after 10 weeks, which was brill, er, but the variety was a disappointment, taste-wise.

[SarzWix]

I've put half a dozen in the tunnel, but none outside yet. I'll probably wait til April, and keep the fleece handy for when they pop above ground. We've still had frosts in very late May before now, although not for the last couple of years.

[Hazel at the Hill]

My only problem is that I could do with getting the spuds out as I'd like the windowsills where the spuds are chitting for trays of peas and broad beans instead.

No chance at the mo when the soil temp at the weekend was 2 degrees!

[veggiechicken]

I've been putting a spud a week into a bucket under the kitchen table After a couple of weeks there, they go out into the GH. The first ones have been earthed up already.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I've been putting a spud a week into a bucket under the kitchen table After a couple of weeks there, they go out into the GH. The first ones have been earthed up already.

More details needed! so you put them in the gh once they have sprouted in the buckets under the kitchen table? Your greenhouse isn't heated is it? And isn't it a shock to their poor little starchy souls to go from the warm kitchen to be banished the the gh??

[binley100]

The first year at the Hill I put my rocket tatties in 24 Feb - I was incredibly lucky to get away with it! I was eating the first spuds after 10 weeks, which was brill, er, but the variety was a disappointment, taste-wise.

Mine usually go in at this time , no earlier......but we've always found them to be ok tastewise. Sometimes I think different soils make tatties taste different......

[Hazel at the Hill]

Mine usually go in at this time , no earlier......but we've always found them to be ok tastewise. Sometimes I think different soils make tatties taste different......

I quite agree - that's why my 'Jersey Royals' don't taste like Jersey Royals!